When you walk into Village Vinyl, there’s a good chance you’ll hear something you didn’t expect. You might step through the door to eccentric jazz blaring from the speakers and end your visit to the tune of raw punk rock.
For owner John Lehl, 53, that’s the magic of the shop he’s built — music that fills the room and brings people together.
“I’ve always loved music. My main source of ‘new’ music is whatever people bring in — we listen to it,” he said, as general manager Adam Davey dropped the needle on a worn-down copy of an obscure 1980s pop record.
A symphony of synthesizers and drum machines immediately filled the store.
A lifelong musician, Lehl originally carted his record collection to conventions and expos before opening Village Vinyl in Warren in 2017. It didn’t take long for his inventory to outgrow the space.
“We looked everywhere for a new location for months,” he said. “But we kept coming back to this spot on Van Dyke. It’s more visible, we’ve got parking, signage — about two and a half times the space. It just felt right.”
The new Sterling Heights location has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. Clean, organized and full of personality, it’s the kind of place where crate-diggers can lose track of time flipping through rows of classic rock, modern hip-hop and hidden gems.
“We get along with everybody,” Lehl said. “If you like music, this is the place to be.”
Village Vinyl’s reputation extends beyond what’s on the shelves. Lehl occasionally hosts listening parties — small, laid-back events that attract both regulars and curious newcomers.
“You never know who’s going to show up,” he said with a laugh. “Sometimes we have a great turnout; sometimes it’s just a few people hanging out. Either way, it’s always fun for us to talk music.”
With Record Store Day’s Black Friday event — one of the biggest days of the year — set for Nov. 28, Lehl is preparing for a busy weekend.
“Black Friday will have about 175 new exclusive/limited releases,” he said. “We’ll open early at 8 a.m. and run a sale — 10 percent off new records, 20 percent off used. It’s always a big day for us.”
Lehl plans to keep building on the success of recent listening parties and is already organizing more events for December and beyond.
Whether you’re a lifelong collector or thinking about buying your first turntable, Lehl has simple advice: start small and listen often.
“You can spend a hundred bucks or five hundred on a turntable — it all depends how deep you want to go,” he said. “Start with some used vinyl. It’s more affordable for first-timers and still has that full sound you just don’t get from other formats.”
Owning an independent record store isn’t just about selling music — it’s about creating a space for people who still believe in it.
“Every indie shop is unique,” Lehl said. “What we carry depends on what people bring in, what’s happening locally, what people are excited about. That’s what makes a record store special — it reflects the people around it.”
During the interview, a woman in her 60s walked into Village Vinyl, and Lehl stepped away to help her track down a rare pressing. After a few minutes of searching through digital catalogs, he found a live version and placed the order with a click.
“We have something for everybody,” he said. “And just because you’re not seeing it on the floor doesn’t mean we don’t have access to it.”
Whether you’re hunting down a collector’s item or just looking for something new to spin, Village Vinyl is proof that the record store experience isn’t fading — it’s just getting louder.
Visit Village Vinyl at 34230 Van Dyke Ave., near Irving Road, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.