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ZIA Record Exchange opens largest store in central Phoenix

ZIA Records is opening a new location at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road on Nov. 9. It will be the record store's largest location. (Photo by Tyler Griffin)
ZIA Records is opening a new location at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road on Nov. 9. It will be the record store's largest location. (Photo by Tyler Griffin)

ZIA Records is opening a new location at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road on Nov. 9. It will be the record store's largest location. (Photo by Tyler Griffin)

ZIA Record Exchange plans to open its biggest store, holding more than 20,000 records, on 19th Avenue and Camelback Road on Nov. 9.

The lease for its 19th Avenue and Indian School Road location expired, prompting the growth.

ZIA general manager Brian Faber said in an email that the new and used books section will stock around 20,000 titles, while ZIA will expand its CD, DVD and Blu-Ray collection. The video game section will double.

ZIA is introducing a print-on-demand T-shirt line with more than 1,000 prints.

Faber said ZIA still sells just as many vinyl records as other formats, if not more.

“It's always cool to see people find treasures in the bins and leave feeling excited and happy,” he said.

Tempe ZIA store manager Eric Becker said the online store helps keep profits up, but the company still sells more products in stores.

“Customers tend to appreciate the recommendations that we can give them,” he said.

Becker said he sees everything they stock in the stores, from vinyl to CDs to VHS to accessories, sell, but Blu-Ray discs have become increasingly popular.

Becker said ZIA offers cash or trades for used products to sell in stores.

Mesa Community College English sophomore Alex Halaszyn works at ZIA’s Tempe store and said his interest in records started in fifth grade when his dad bought him a record player.

Halaszyn said he and his dad used to go to Goodwill and buy records for a quarter.

“He taught me how to take care of them and the importance of records,” Halaszyn said.

When Halaszyn got his driver’s license, he was able to explore even more and start his own collection, he added.

Halaszyn said he now has around 500 records. He plans to transfer to ASU to finish his English degree and become an English teacher, but he wants to continue collecting records as a hobby.

 

Reach the reporter at hblawren@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @hannah_lawr


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