Salem record store continues to grow

Morning Journal/ Mary Ann Greier State Street Records owner Joshua Buck stands inside his music showroom, where customers can find everything from country to classic rock — every type of music genre to suit their tastes. The store is located at 417 E. State St., Salem on the second floor and hours are updated weekly on Facebook/Instagram at statestreetrecords or call 330-942-0509. The store sells records, CDs, cassettes, T-shirts and music memorabilia and also buys records and more.
SALEM — Music lovers looking for their favorite tunes on vinyl, wanting to find a classic record in any genre or even talk about music can visit State Street Records in historic downtown Salem.
The old-fashioned record store is located upstairs at 417 E. State St. and not only sells records, cassettes, CDs, T-shirts and music memorabilia, but also buys records and more.
Hours are posted on Facebook/Instagram pages for statestreetrecords or call 330-942-0509. The business can also be reached via email at statestreetsalem@gmail.com.
For owner Joshua Buck, it’s all about the music and providing a place where young and old alike can find that special record that makes them happy or evokes treasured memories or special feelings.
“People are excited to have somewhere to go,” he said.
As a young man growing up in Erie, Pa., Buck said he was always into music and found his love of records at a young age, hanging out in a local record store called Record Country owned by Debbi Lyon. That business is now closed, but he’s modeled his record store after that store from his youth.
“I remember how important that was to me. That was always my passion, music.,” he said.
Music is part of culture and while the focus is now on digital, there are still people out there who remember the excitement of buying a vinyl record, dropping that stereo needle and listening to their heart’s content as the sound washed over their soul.
Vinyl’s making a comeback and even the big box stores are starting to stock some records, but the selections can’t compare to a used record store.
“Where do young people have to get music in Salem?” Buck said.
State Street Records offers a ton of albums, some CDs, some cassettes and even some 45’s (for you kids, that’s the smaller vinyl with one song on each side). There are posters, T-shirts, books and music memorabilia. Every type of music genre is represented, including rock & roll, do-wap, classical, pop, country, alternative, world music, regional sounds, rust belt rockers from the Ohio-Pennsylvania region such as the Michael Stanley Band, soundtracks, crooners, and vocalists ranging from Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello. He can also order new albums.
When he’s not in the store, Buck said he’s out shopping for more inventory. He can do trades or pay cash for quality items at State Street Records.
He and his wife live in Youngstown and he grew up listening to punk rock and alternative music and that’s how he met Brandon Mohr, who owns State Street Tattoo and the building where State Street Music is located. Brandon gave him an opportunity to start a business and State Street Records was born. The store opened in June.
Buck said the support for the record store has been great.
“We’re just continuing to grow,” he said.