Claire Romholt was amazed last April when she arrived at Hi-Fi Hits in Williamsville and saw a line of 150 customers waiting for the store to open.
History may repeat itself on April 18 when "National Record Store Day" is celebrated and with special releases by the likes of Pink Floyd, Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, the Grateful Dead and Tom Petty.
"I'd be shocked if there isn't a line, just based on the calls we are getting," Romholt said.
National Record Store Day debuted in 2008 as a means to lure shoppers - be it record collectors or just everyday fans - into locally-owned and independent stores.
The retailing strategy has worked.
Record stores now consider the annual day, usually held in mid-April, has a key part of their annual business plan.
"We not only get the 'one-day' customers, but we get a lot who come many other times during the year," said Phil Machemer, Revolver Records owner.
Revolver has locations on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo and Transit Road in Amherst.
As recently as 2023, more than 1.8 million records were sold in the U.S. on National Record Store Day.
"It is as important to us as Black Friday or Christmas Eve," said Chris Baran, owner of Soul Stop Records on Delaware Avenue in Tonawanda.
Hi-Fit Hits' Romholt agrees that National Record Store Day ranks right up there with Black Friday and is a retailing boost for small, independent stores.
"We really look forward to it," Romholt said.
National Record Store Day a big boost for retailers.
National Record Store Day a big boost for retailers.
