The Vintage Music Haven In New Jersey Keeps Vinyl Dreams Alive

Pulling up to Farnsworth Avenue on a quiet afternoon, I had no idea I was about to walk into one of New Jersey’s most beloved vinyl sanctuaries.

The Record Collector in Bordentown sits like a well-kept secret, tucked into a charming stretch of historic storefronts that already feel like a step back in time.

I had heard about it from a friend who casually mentioned it the way people mention places they genuinely love, not places they are trying to sell you on.

Rows upon rows of vinyl records stretched out in front of me, organized with real care and obvious pride.

I had visited record stores before, but something about this one felt different, more personal, more alive.

The staff greeted me like a regular even though it was my first time there, and that warmth set the tone for everything that followed.

Whether you are a lifelong collector or someone who just discovered the magic of vinyl, The Record Collector is the kind of place that stays with you long after you have left.

A Living Museum of Vinyl History

Walking the aisles of The Record Collector feels less like shopping and more like flipping through decades of musical history. Albums from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s line the shelves in a way that makes time feel genuinely elastic.

You reach for one record and suddenly you are holding a piece of someone else’s living room from 1974.

The store carries an enormous range of genres, from classic rock to soul, jazz to pop, and even spoken word. It is not just a place to buy music.

It is a place to rediscover it.

Reviewers consistently mention how the selection takes them back in time, and that nostalgia is not accidental. John and Sue, the owners, have spent decades curating a collection that reflects real musical depth and passion.

With close to one million LPs and CDs reportedly in stock, the scope of what they have assembled is genuinely staggering.

Even younger visitors have noted finding artists they love buried among the classics. That cross-generational appeal is rare in any retail setting.

The store does not cater to one type of music fan. It welcomes all of them, and that openness is part of what makes it feel so special.

The Warm Welcome You Did Not Expect

Some stores make you feel like you are interrupting something just by walking in. The Record Collector is the exact opposite of that.

From the moment you step through the door, there is a genuine friendliness that makes you want to linger.

Sue has been singled out repeatedly in customer reviews for going out of her way to help shoppers find what they are looking for. One visitor described her as someone who paused her entire day just to assist with a purchase.

That kind of attentiveness is not something you can train into people. It comes from actually caring.

John brings his own energy to the space, knowledgeable and enthusiastic in a way that makes even casual conversations about music feel rewarding. Customers who come in looking for something specific are encouraged to ask, because the visible floor stock is only part of the story.

There is a back room with thousands of additional records that never make it to the sales floor. Staff will happily check if you cannot find what you need.

That extra effort transforms a shopping trip into something closer to a treasure hunt with a guide who actually knows where the treasure is.

Multiple reviewers have called the staff some of the nicest people they have ever met in retail. When a business earns that kind of feedback consistently over years, it says something real about the culture inside those walls.

The Back Room Secret That Changes Everything

Here is something first-time visitors often do not realize until they ask: what you see on the sales floor is just the beginning. Behind the scenes, The Record Collector maintains a massive back room inventory that holds thousands of additional records not currently on display.

One reviewer from Philadelphia came in looking for film score vinyl, a notoriously niche category. Most stores carry a handful of titles at best.

He left with five selections he had been hunting for years, all pulled from a collection that runs far deeper than the average shop.

The advice from regulars is consistent: if you do not see it, ask. The staff knows their inventory well and will take the time to check.

That extra layer of stock transforms the experience from browsing to genuine discovery.

It is also worth checking the store’s Discogs page or their own website before visiting. Having a list ready means the staff can work more efficiently on your behalf, and it increases the odds of walking out with exactly what you came for.

For collectors with specific tastes, that back room is the real reason to make the trip. Whether you are chasing a rare first pressing or just hunting for a clean copy of a favorite album, the depth of inventory here is hard to match anywhere in southern New Jersey.

The store holds its surprises close, and it rewards the curious.

Live Music Events That Fill the Room With Energy

One of the most unexpected delights of The Record Collector is its history of hosting live in-store performances. Over the years, the shop has welcomed an impressive and eclectic lineup of artists that few venues of any size could match.

Names like Peter Tork of The Monkees, Men Without Hats, Lisa Bouchelle, and Kelly Carvin have all performed within these walls. There have also been appearances by voice actor Billy West, best known for his work on Futurama, and even Kinky Friedman.

The variety alone tells you something about the spirit of the place.

One longtime customer described the in-store concert setup as reminiscent of the small jazz clubs that once dotted Greenwich Village decades ago. That comparison captures something real about the atmosphere.

These are not polished productions. They are intimate, spontaneous-feeling events where the music is close enough to feel personal.

The back area of the store transforms into a performance space when events are held, creating a setting that feels genuinely unique. Bands like Swift Technique and performers like Mystic Bowie have played there, bringing energy that lingered long after the last note.

For anyone who loves live music alongside their record shopping, keeping an eye on upcoming events at The Record Collector is well worth the effort. These shows are community moments as much as musical ones, and they reflect the store’s commitment to keeping music alive in the most immediate and human way possible.

Collectibles and Memorabilia Beyond the Music

Records are the heart of The Record Collector, but they are far from the whole story. The store also carries an impressive array of collectibles that will stop any music fan mid-step.

KISS merchandise, Beatles memorabilia, action figures, and other vintage music-related items share space with the vinyl in a way that feels curated rather than cluttered.

One customer described it as a great building filled with goodies accumulated over 47 years. That timeline is significant.

Decades of collecting means the variety here goes well beyond what any newer shop could offer. You might find something you did not know you were looking for until it is right in front of you.

For fans of classic rock icons, the KISS and Beatles sections alone are worth exploring. These are not mass-produced novelties.

Many items reflect genuine rarity, the kind of thing that disappears from the market and rarely comes back.

The store also carries rare original pressings of legendary albums. A first pressing of the Velvet Underground’s debut album, for example, has been available here.

Items like that speak to a level of curation that goes far beyond the average used record shop.

Browsing the collectibles section feels like walking through a very specific kind of museum, one where everything is for sale and everything has a story. It adds texture to the visit and makes The Record Collector feel like more than just a store.

It feels like a destination.

The Charm of Bordentown as a Backdrop

Part of what makes visiting The Record Collector so satisfying is where it sits. Bordentown is a town with real character, and Farnsworth Avenue delivers that character in full.

The historic storefronts, the walkable layout, and the general sense that time moves a little slower here all set the perfect tone for a vinyl shopping trip.

Arriving on the avenue already puts you in the right headspace. There is something about a town that has preserved its older bones that makes the experience of flipping through classic records feel even more fitting.

The setting and the store reinforce each other in a way that feels genuinely intentional.

Visitors who come from Philadelphia or other nearby cities often mention that the drive itself is part of the appeal. Getting out of a busy urban environment and landing in a quieter, more intimate town makes the whole outing feel like a small escape.

The record store becomes the anchor of a larger, more leisurely day.

Bordentown also has enough cafes, restaurants, and shops nearby to fill out a full afternoon. Coming for the records and staying to explore the town is a natural progression that many visitors seem to follow instinctively.

The location gives The Record Collector a sense of place that chain stores and online retailers simply cannot replicate. It is rooted in a specific community, and that rootedness shows in everything from the decor to the way the staff talks about the neighborhood.

It belongs here, and it shows.

A Selection That Spans Every Generation

One of the most common surprises visitors mention is how broad the selection actually is. The Record Collector is not exclusively a classic rock shop or a jazz destination.

It holds multitudes, and that range is one of its greatest strengths.

Customers have reported finding everything from Brenda Lee to Taylor Swift, from Jack Kerouac spoken word recordings to deep cuts in film scores. That kind of range means the store genuinely serves collectors across age groups and musical backgrounds.

Younger visitors who might expect nothing relevant to them have walked out with armfuls of albums they love.

The organization of the collection also makes it navigable. Reviewers consistently praise how well-sorted everything is, which matters enormously when you are dealing with inventory of this size.

A disorganized collection of a million records is frustrating. A well-organized one is a playground.

Genre sections are clearly defined, and staff can point you toward specific areas quickly. If you have a particular artist in mind, asking is always the smartest first move.

The team knows the inventory well enough to save you time and steer you toward exactly what you need.

For collectors who specialize in niche categories, that depth of stock is the real draw. Film scores, spoken word, international pressings, and genre-specific deep cuts all have a home here.

It is the kind of store where you can visit ten times and still find something new every single time. That staying power is not luck.

It is the result of decades of intentional curation.

Rare Pressings and the Thrill of the Hunt

There is a particular kind of excitement that comes with finding a rare record in the wild, and The Record Collector delivers that feeling more reliably than most. The store carries original pressings of landmark albums, items that serious collectors spend years tracking down.

A first pressing of the Velvet Underground’s debut album has reportedly been available here, priced around one thousand dollars. That is the kind of item that makes dedicated collectors plan road trips.

It also illustrates the range of what the store holds, from budget-friendly used CDs to genuinely museum-worthy vinyl.

The pricing reflects the quality and rarity of what is being offered. For common albums, there are often multiple copies available at different price points.

The staff encourages shoppers to ask, because a less expensive version of the same record may be sitting in the back room waiting to be found.

That transparency is refreshing. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the store acknowledges that collectors have different budgets and different needs.

Whether you want a pristine original or a clean everyday copy, the conversation starts with a simple question to the staff.

For anyone who has ever experienced the particular joy of finally holding a record they have been searching for, this store understands that feeling deeply. The hunt is part of the experience here, and the staff treats it with the seriousness it deserves.

That respect for the collector’s mindset is woven into everything about how the shop operates.

Store Hours and Planning Your Visit

Getting the most out of a visit to The Record Collector starts with knowing when to show up. The store keeps a schedule that rewards a little planning.

It is open Thursday through Monday, with hours running from noon to five on most days and noon to four on Sundays.

Tuesday and Wednesday are closed, so showing up mid-week without checking first would be a wasted trip. Marking the hours before heading out is the kind of small preparation that makes a big difference, especially if you are driving in from Philadelphia or another nearby city.

The mid-afternoon window tends to be a comfortable time to visit. The store is not enormous, but there is enough to see that a rushed visit feels incomplete.

Giving yourself a full hour or two means you can actually browse properly, check in with staff about specific albums, and explore the memorabilia without feeling rushed.

Bringing a list is always a good idea. Whether you reference the store’s Discogs page or their own website beforehand, arriving with a few titles in mind helps the staff point you in the right direction quickly.

It also makes it easier to spot gaps in your collection while you browse.

Parking in Bordentown is generally manageable, and the avenue itself is walkable enough to extend your visit into the surrounding neighborhood. The store can be reached at 609-324-0880 for any questions before your trip.

Planning even a little turns a good visit into a genuinely great one.

Why The Record Collector Deserves a Spot on Your Travel List

Some places earn their reputation quietly, through years of showing up and doing the work well. The Record Collector is exactly that kind of place.

With a 4.5-star rating across nearly 200 reviews and decades of community presence, it has built something that goes beyond a simple retail transaction.

Visitors come from Philadelphia, New York, and points further away, drawn by a combination of inventory depth, staff warmth, and the kind of atmosphere that feels increasingly rare in modern retail. The store does not try to be everything to everyone.

It knows what it is and delivers on that with consistency.

For music lovers who have never experienced a serious independent record shop, this is the right place to start. For longtime collectors who think they have seen it all, the back room alone might change that assumption.

The range of what is available here, from everyday used CDs to four-figure original pressings, means there is genuinely something for every level of collector.

The live events, the memorabilia, the knowledgeable staff, and the historic setting all combine into something that feels more like a cultural experience than a shopping trip. That is not a small thing.

Places that make you feel something when you walk in are worth protecting and worth visiting.

The Record Collector has been doing this for decades and shows every sign of continuing. Making the trip to Bordentown is worth it, and the store will make sure of that the moment you walk through the door.

Address: 358 Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown, NJ