SHOP LOCAL: COSMIC DAVE’S VINYL EMPORIUM

There is nothing better than the rustic sound of your favourite album at the drop of a needle.  From the Foo Fighters to Bahamas, Cosmic Dave’s Vinyl Emporium is sure to have something musical that tickles your fancy!  We’ve got the inside scoop on the ins and outs of what it takes to own a record business with the one and only, Mark Browning.  Whether you want to browse the wide array of records, purchase a turntable or put in a special request –this vinyl emporium is more like a vinyl haven!

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Tell us about yourself and Cosmic Dave’s Vinyl Emporium.  How long have you been in business and where did the inspiration to open a record store come from?

Cosmic Dave’s has been opened for 9 years. I’ve been a touring musician with OX since around 2002 in addition to doing college radio publicity for a Toronto publicist at the same time so the record store was kind of a glorified office for me to do publicity and the behind the scenes work for my music career. I grew up with music and records and I have always had a passion for the format. Back then, new vinyl was tough to find as there were lots of crumby, dusty old records in pawn shops and grimy record stores but not a lot of the old fashioned record stores knew anything about new bands. Even when I was on tour across Canada I found that the only cities that had stores with new vinyl were basically Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. My idea was to specialize in new vinyl, which I still do, but now I have quality vintage as well.

How do you decide what vinyl records get put on the shelves? 

I just know records – from years of purchasing them and listening to them. Funny thing is I have a horrible memory for names, but I can remember the most obscure details about bands, records, etc. Apart from me just being interested in discovering new vinyl, a lot of learning comes from my customers. We’re in a significant period for music these days as there are so many great bands putting out great records. It’s a shame in the modern music industry that so many of them toil in relative obscurity.

In addition to a wide selection of records, what else can be found at the emporium? 

Within a year of opening the store I started to sell needles, turntables and amps – basically all the necessities needed to listen to records. Cosmic Dave’s is the exclusive dealer for Pro-Ject turntables and Grado headphones, in addition to having Ortofon, Grado, and Audio Technica needles. Just this past week we’ve begun to stock Teac turntables, Harmon Kardon & Sherwood amps as well. I’ve sold tons of great vintage turntables and amps over the years but sadly; the age of vintage equipment is coming to an end. The great old Japanese stuff from the 70s/80s is just reaching the end of its lifespan.

Do you find it challenging to find a distributor who distributes older vinyl?

I don’t use a distributor for vintage vinyl – as far as I know, there isn’t any! People just come in with their old records and I pay them a fair price or trade. I’ve never actively searched for collections because I haven’t ever had to.

What do you think is your store’s all time best seller?

One of the major differences in the modern record store business is that musical tastes are so varied. In the old days (I worked at Sam the Record Man in the 90s) there were records that pretty much everybody bought. This is not the case anymore. Adele records sell, Foo Fighters records sell, Mumford and Sons records sell but I also sell a variety of of lesser-known (but great) artists such as Father John Misty, Shotgun Jimmie, and Daniel Romano. Reissues of classic stuff are starting to really sell well too. Artists such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin’s entire back catalogue were repressed recently and the new pressings are far better than the old originals.

Where can we find Cosmic Dave’s Vinyl Emporium and where can we find more information?

We’re located in the Donovan, across from Tucos Taco Lounge on Kathleen Street. Our Facebook page is a great way to get in touch! We do many special orders, which is a quick way to tell us what you’re looking for, no deposits required!