Rehoboth’s Extended Play triples size with new location

After more than two years in one of the smallest retail locations in Rehoboth Beach, record store Extended Play has tripled its size with a recent move to the Village By The Sea shopping center.

Owner Steve Fallon opened Extended Play in July 2018 in the space next to Dos Locos Stonegrill. At the time he estimated it to be roughly 400 square feet. The new location, Suite 8B, across from Arena’s Deli, is about three times the size, he said.

Fallon said the extra space was the reason for the move. In addition to more room for records, the space allows for the display of the business’ audio equipment, he said.

“Too many tiny hands could touch things in the old place,” said Fallon.

Estimating 2,000 vinyl records sitting on the floor now, Jackson Beckner, Extended Play store manager, said the new location will allow him to sort out and display the remaining 4,000 records the shop has in storage.

“More space means more inventory,” said Beckner, clearly happy to have the task in front of him.

The first day in the new space was Nov. 18, but Fallon said the first week is more of a soft opening. Starting Black Friday, it’ll be full tilt, he said.

Black Friday also happens to be a record industry release day. Fallon said there are roughly 150 releases. Box sets, colored vinyl and new albums will be part of the release, he said, adding the first two hours of business Black Friday will be by appointment only.

“These records tend to be for the collector who’s a completist,” said Fallon.

Gidget’s Gadgets remaining open

Fallon also owns Gidget’s Gadgets, which is located on Rehoboth Avenue. In early November, he announced on the Gidget’s Gadgets Facebook page that he was looking to step away from the business because of health issues.

Those issues remain, but Fallon said he’s hired a friend to run the Rehoboth Avenue store.

The friend is James Fitzsimmons, who, because of COVID-19, is currently an unemployed Broadway stage manager. Fitzsimmons has agreed to manage the store for at least the next year. He said the play he was working on pre-pandemic, “How I Learned to Drive,” just announced it won’t be starting up until spring 2022.

Fitzsimmons, who has known Fallon for 25 years, is no stranger to Rehoboth Beach – he was the managing director of the Henlopen Theater Project for a few years beginning in late 1999. It’s definitely different from New York, but the Big Apple is just as quiet right now, said Fitzsimmons.

Fallon said the agreement with Fitzsimmons is a perfect fit for this moment in time.

The hours of operation for Extended Play, 149 Rehoboth Ave., Suite 8B, are noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and noon to 7 p.m., weekends. For more information, call 302-226-8469 or email extendedplayrehoboth@gmail.com.