On my first trip to the Oregon Coast, it was the kind of cold and dreary day I had come to expect and love since moving to Oregon. The rain sort ambled from the sky in a passive-aggressive manner and the ever-present sea breeze of Newport blew the gentle drops righto not my glasses rendering me even more blind. This kind of moody weather always drives me to the nearest record shop or bookstore where I can browse around fantasizing about listening to records beneath a warm blanket, a scented candle burning, and a steaming cup of tea in my hands. Not that I drink tea or ever light the candles I buy. All this to say, there is a warmth when you walk into Northwest Grooves. So much love is dripping from every record bin that its like sitting next to a fireplace after walking around Newport, Oregon’s cold, wet streets.
What to Expect From Northwest Grooves
I’ve raved about many small record stores’ ability to capture their specific personality: The location of the store, the owner of the store, the local music tastes, etc. This is going to be another one of those shops. Located right on the 101 in the heart of Newport, the shop’s gray paint job and acid green door are difficult to miss. Inside, the shop is one big open room, making looking for specific sections easy. Aside from records, the shop sells the obligatory t-shirts, hats, and tote bags, as well as a nice selection of starter equipment: Turntables, speakers, etc. There are also some slip-mats featuring the store’s logo, which I had to grab. Major props to Northwest Grooves for offering a cork version so that the audiophiles on the internet don’t make fun of the fact that I use felt slip-mats.
I KNOW THEY CAUSE STATIC BUT I LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS
Size-wise, the store is just big enough to contain a solid variety of new and used records across all the expected genres. The usual crowd-pleasers are here but this isn’t just a shop your grandparents pop into to buy you a Coldplay record. There is also a cool display of comic books and action figures in the back of the store, as well as a creature from the black lagoon decoration to round out the store’s personality.
Selection at Northwest Grooves
Like many stores of this size, the type of records available is mostly indicative of the owner’s taste in music. The usual suspects are all there of course. If you are looking for a Led Zeppelin or Miles Davis record you won’t be disappointed. However, there are a few sections that are beefier than you might expect at a store of this size.
Most notably, the soundtrack section here is exceptional and is far bigger and more varied than the same section in stores twice the size of Northwest Grooves. Why is the soundtrack section so fantastic? Because the owner fucking loves soundtracks, that’s why. This is exactly what I am talking about when I say that stores that reflect their owner’s tastes and personalities are the best. I never would have imagined that so many soundtracks I’ve been searching for would be simply sitting on a shelf in the middle of Newport. If you are at all interested in adding some soundtracks to your record collection, this is one of the best shops to do it at. This is especially true if you collect horror movie soundtracks.
Prices at Northwest Grooves
Prices on both new and used records here were more than reasonable. The owner could probably get away with having higher prices than an average record store since this is the only shop for miles and it’s in a town with plenty of tourists, but prices were in the mid to low range during my visit.
My Take on Northwest Grooves
Record stores in small towns with lots of tourism can get pretty rough. These record stores can feel more like gift shops. Overpriced crap aimed at people that are eager to spend money while they are on vacation, whom the shop’s owner will probably never see again. Northwest Grooves doesn’t give this impression at all. This is a shop aimed at record collectors and music lovers from Newport and wherever it is you’re visiting from. Truly, I can’t think of anything bad to say about this shop.
Albums Purchased
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack
Address: 414 SW Coast Hwy, Newport, OR 97365