Music lovers wondering what Rehoboth would do after Kempmill Records left the west corner of First Street and Rehoboth Avenue need worry no more. Record and Tape Traders, a music institution in the city of Baltimore, recognized the potential market and took over the existing space. The store opened Nov. 7, and according to Manager Matt Wilcox, the company looks forward to meeting the demands of demanding music aficionados.
“Record and Tape Traders is based out of Baltimore,” Wilcox said. “They have 10 other stores surrounding the Baltimore area. They’ve been around for over 20 years.”
Concerning the music selection, Wilcox said customers can expect a diverse range.
“We will have all the new releases, even of less familiar artists, every week,” Wilcox said. “We have a lot more obscure, independent releases than other familiar establishments. In the warehouse in Baltimore, the buyers there purchase import recordings you can’t get anywhere else and ship them here. In the first week, I’ve seen a lot of people say ‘wow, I’ve never seen that before.’”
In addition to the new releases and imports, Record and Tape Traders offers a tremendous selection of previously owned items.
“Well, basically we’ve got a large, used selection, which is something this area has never seen before,” Wilcox said. “We buy all kinds of media: videocassettes, Playstation games, DVDs, CDs, cassettes. When you have all kinds of people bringing stuff in, it really expands the selection. All of our previously owned items are in good condition. We don’t except any damaged items.”
Wilcox said the pricing of Record and Tape Traders items will be relatively inexpensive. New releases will range from $11.99 to $15.99. Used items range from $5.99 to $9.99, on average. Wilcox said Record and Tape Traders also offers a new service unique to the area.
“People interested in buying a CD are welcome to come in and listen to it before purchasing,” he said. “That doesn’t just include used items, they can listen to new releases as well. That’s another thing this area has never seen before.”
In addition to the media offerings, Record and Tape Traders sells a large selection of novelty items. People browsing through the store might chuckle at the Rolling Stone bobbleheads, band T-shirts and tongue-in-cheek refrigerator magnets. Candles and incense are also sold. A selection of tobacco-smoking accessories is also available.
For those interested in creating music, there are a selection of bass and guitar strings to fix a broken one.
“The sales staff is very knowledgeable about music,” he said. Record and Tape Traders is currently open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Sunday hours are from 12 to 8 p.m. Wilcox said the hours are subject to change due to the winter season. Record and Tape Traders can be contacted at 227-9563.
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