Julie M. CohenAs Hunter Mack gazed at vinyl-filled shelves and pointed out favorite musicians, he smiled and said, “It’s amazing.”
The Arlington resident had seen signs on the 113 Trapelo Road storefront announcing Want List Records and was excited to be able to stop in. The store, which held its soft opening on Jan. 20, is still a “work in progress,” said co-owner Brian Coleman.
Mack was particularly pleased to see two turntable listening stations, allowing customers to slip on headphones, explore unfamiliar acts, and expand their music knowledge.
“I love being in record shops and finding new stuff,” said Mack.
Coleman and fellow co-owner Dave Belson are eager to introduce customers to bands, provide them with copies of their favorites, or just chat about music in general. They hope the store will become a place to shop and socialize.
“Record stores in general are community hubs,” said Mack. “It’s not just [for] shopping — it’s [for] interacting.”
Coleman and Belson were glad to find the space at the former home of the Blue Butterfly shop in Cushing Square, after outgrowing their cramped digs at Newton’s Mall at Echo Bridge.
“It’s just what we wanted,” said Coleman, a music aficionado and author of books on the history of hip-hop and other topics. The friends are thrilled to finally have storage space for their many crates full of inventory.
The business partners, who have known each other for decades, including when they were DJs at Boston College, are eager to become part of the Belmont community as they settle in.
Back in Newton, the store had a small section dedicated to musicians from that city. In the shop’s new location, they hope to show off the accomplishments of creators with Belmont connections.
“We would love [to display] local artwork,” said Coleman.
To that end, one wall will feature a rotating art gallery, and the first pieces due to go on display are by Belmont native and retired Tufts professor Michael Ullman. The historic, black-and-white photos feature musical legends including James Brown, Chet Baker, Alice Coletrane, and Sun Ra.
“These are amazing [photos] — people should see them,” said Coleman.
When they aren’t checking out the art, including a massive painting of punk pioneer Joey Ramone by Mary Galli, customers can explore multiple music genres. Aside from rock, funk, jazz, and more, you may even spot a Taylor Swift album or two. However, the shop won’t just sell records, displayed in moveable shelving built by Belson himself — it will also feature CDs, cassette tapes, some books, and magazines.
Coleman and Belson are always looking to buy good-quality records by artists from Bob Marley, Soundgarden, and Joni Mitchell to Thelonius Monk, Tito Puente, and The Stooges. A more complete inventory can be found on their website.
In the future, they’d like to host guest DJs and coordinate events with other Belmont businesses. For now, the store is helping to raise funds for local musician Mark Erdody who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Coleman and Belson are selling some of Erdody’s record collection in the shop, with all proceeds going to Erdody.
To learn more about Brian Coleman’s nonfiction books, visit Good Road.
Want List Records
113 Trapelo Road
Hours:
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
