Even if you’ve never been to The Record Man, you’ve almost definitely seen it. The shop is only four blocks down El Camino from Sequoia, sporting a mural of characters from the “Street Fighter” series on the side of the building. For those unfamiliar with the store, if you’re someone who loves collecting music, The Record Man offers what feels like an endless library of records and CDs that a shopper could search through for hours.
Established in 1988 and owned by Gary and Angela Saxon, The Record Man offers a wide variety of music from all genres, like rock, pop and jazz. The store boasts thousands of records from many different eras including different record formats such as 78’s, 45’s and 12’s. The exact amount is unknown, but the store has held over a million records throughout its over-35-year lifespan, according to co-owner and titular record man, Gary Saxon.
“Since 1988 when I started my business, it has become clear to me that in many ways The Record Man is more than just a business… it is a vast record library and a great musical archive,” Saxon says on his website, The Record Man.
The building is undoubtedly quaint, with a very classic, mom-and-pop atmosphere which I find very welcoming. You’re immediately greeted with an almost intimidating amount of records aligning the walls, inviting you to look through them. The first room, of 10, features the most modern music and is without a doubt the smallest collection. This may be disappointing for some who are only interested in recent releases, but for those who are interested in finding older records they’ve likely never heard, the rest of the shop is a treasure trove.
Many of the records are used, though in working condition. There is a possibility that you could get a scratched record, but, fortunately, you can play your record on store-provided players to check for any clear issues before your purchase.
Tragically, The Record Man faced a structural fire in 2021. While most of the damage was to the outside of the building, smoke damage claimed records from most of the gospel, international, rat pack, and WWII radio sections, laying waste to over 85,000 records. Those looking for such categories of records may find themselves disappointed in the lack thereof.
The future of The Record Man is currently uncertain, as the owners of the land the building sits on, Premier Properties, are planning to eventually build housing there sometime in the coming years, which would result in the closing of the shop. If exploring through a seemingly unending library of music is something that appeals to you, I strongly suggest you visit The Record Man for as long as you still can.