Meet Kelly, one of the owners behind The Records Department, a record shop about an hour northwest of Chicago. Kelly runs day-to-day operations, planning events, and keeping the fun alive and an integral part of the community.

The Records Department is more than just a place to buy vinyl. It’s a carefully curated indie record shop that blends new and used vinyl, showcasing local music, and a dedicated art space. There you can find everything from ultrasonic record cleaners, to gear from trusted brands and more. Housed in the historic Ray Wolf Building in Woodstock, IL, The Records Department invites you to stop in, and hang out.

When not at the shop Kelly enjoys live music and digging through bins at other shops. However, she is also a potter with her home studio, wheel, and kiln "…though it’s been mostly gathering dust since the shop took over my life" she says.

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

It started as a joke, a dream we leaned on to get through the drudgery of everyday life. We dreamed up every detail, even scoped out real estate—but never took it too seriously. On bad days, my partner and I would collectively rage "let's quit our jobs and open a record shop."

Then one day, an opportunity came up: renovated space for rent in an old courthouse. And the name we’d picked out ages ago—The Records Department—suddenly felt real. We had no record shop experience, no industry connections, just a few bucks in savings and a dream. And we’ve been going hard ever since.

What is a day in the life like?

Ah! Don’t ask that—if you knew the truth, no one would ever open a record store again. Running a small biz with zero employees? It’s a full-time hustle layered on top of… well, a full-time hustle. We made the wild choice to reinvest every single dime back into the shop the first two years, which means clocking a day job while building this place from the ground up.

We went from 10 crates in a tent to a 300-square-foot room to a full-blown 1000-square-foot shop packed with thousands of records, audio gear, and custom merch. We hit our two year mark in August, so I'd say our decision was smart.

Favorite sale / relationship made from behind the counter?

When we first moved to Woodstock and were still on the fence about opening the shop, I spotted this seriously cool 8-year-old in the park rocking a Cannibal Corpse shirt. That moment sealed it—I knew this town had the kind of people who would get what we were trying to build.

As fate would have it, that kid and his family wandered into the shop not long after, and we hit it off instantly. His mom is now one of my closest friends, and both she and her son have shown their art in the shop and helped us run our DIY patch station at the Pride Festival each June. Record shops just have a way of pulling the right people together.

In your opinion what has been the coolest thing to come through your shop / thing you had to keep / almost couldn't put out for sale:

Since we mostly deal in new vinyl, it's pretty easy to bring home copies of all the records I personally love—but now and then, a used gem comes through that stops us in our tracks. One of the most unforgettable finds was a privately recorded and pressed recording of a judge’s ruling in a 1960s civil rights case. We didn’t even catch the exact title, but the gravity of it was unmistakable.

One of our favorite regulars is a constitutional law expert who helped us host a "Know Your Rights" series recently in the shop, and we knew immediately it belonged in his collection. We gifted it to him, and he was speechless, a rarity for any lawyer!

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

Honestly, one of the hardest parts of running a record shop is pushing back against gatekeeping that too often shows up in music spaces. We work hard to foster an environment that respects all records, from mainstream pop to obscure pressings, because every listener deserves to feel welcome. A big part of the job is reeducating folks who were taught that knowledge should be hoarded and taste should be policed—mentalities that not only alienate people but also hurt the industry. When music becomes exclusive, it stops growing.

What has been the craziest experience that has happened at the shop?

We kicked a Nazi out once! That was wild, fun, and necessary. None of that here.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you're doing?  

Find folks who are and also understand the unique challenges small businesses face. If you are lucky, you will find one that loves records and is excited to help you succeed.

Make best friends with the Small Business Development Center; in Illinois every county has one. They have valuable free resources! Liking records doesn't make you good at business: bookkeeping, or HR, marketing, or whatever.

Find folks who are and also understand the unique challenges small businesses face. If you are lucky, you will find one that loves records and is excited to help you succeed. We wouldn't be where we are now without the help of ours.

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you're excited or worried about?  i.e. innovation, or trends you're seeing.

The overall growing support of vinyl, even in trying times, makes us hopeful. Records stores have long been gathering spaces for communities, and we need that more than ever.

Are you a vinyl collector yourself?  What drew you to it?

I love records. We literally bought our house because it had one perfect room to turn into a listening space and show off our vast collection. For me, records aren't just something you buy—they're a way of life. It's about the ritual of listening, the thrill of crate digging, and the joy of sharing sound with friends. Your collection becomes a living journal of who you are, where you’ve been, and what you care about. It’s not just music.

Who has been influential to you and your growth as a professional in this industry?

Honestly, it’s my business partner Michael. He brings a totally different set of skills and perspectives to the table, which keeps us balanced and constantly pushing each other to grow. His way of thinking has made the shop more well-rounded and has forced me to get out of my comfort zone, learn new things, and be a little less stubborn—most of the time. We decided to get married after we opened the shop, so yeah… pretty glad it’s all working out.

Anything else you want to share? If not, tell us what you're listening to right now?

Mr. Phylzzz. Chicago noise band we have had the pleasure of having in the shop a few times. Incredible talent unlike anything I have ever encountered: and crazy kind folks too.