A new record shop in Fenelon Falls is taking visitors back in time to an age of big hair, groovy bellbottoms, and soulfully good music. Not only is EastEnd Electric Records the new go-to spot for used and new records, it’s also a ’70s photo op, performance stage, and celebration of independent artists.
Even from the outside of the building, the vibrant orange brick and rainbow logo tell customers that EastEnd Electric Records is not like any other music store. Described by co-owner Cody Valliant as an “Instagrammable, experiential, destination record shop,” with swanky blue walls adorned with movie posters and a ceiling tiled with album covers, EastEnd Electric Records is a retro blast from the past.
“We really have a fondness for retro culture and design,” explains Vaillant, who also works as a sound operator for The Grove Theatre in Fenelon Falls. “Before we moved here, our apartment was virtually a one-to-one re-creation of what you see in the shop — the same colours, the same design elements, some of the same furniture and artwork. And we decided to bring our living room to the community and invite people to come in and sit down, have a coffee, enjoy a show, and browse a great selection of both new and used records, including independent and unsigned acts.”
Vaillant owns the space alongside his wife, Maggie McCallum, a graphic designer from Janetville. The couple met in Toronto and bonded over their shared passion.
“We’re both huge music fans,” explains McCallum. “He’s a musician and I’ve always loved ’70s and ’80s music and it just kind of grew from there, and we wanted to create a space where people can buy all this great music that we grew up with.”
Living costs encouraged the couple to alter their original plan of opening the store in Toronto. They were looking to buy a house in the Kawarthas when their real estate agent casually mentioned an available commercial space in the village of Fenelon Falls that was being used for storage. The couple took a chance and began planning EastEnd Electric Records the very next day.
Though vinyl records might seem outdated in the age of Spotify and Apple Music, the couple explains that there’s a surprisingly big demand for the medium right now.
“I think people are kind of getting sick of the disconnect with the digital world these days,” McCallum says. “They’re looking towards that nostalgia of having that physical element to music, and even just being in a record store — it’s just that warm feeling that people seem to like so much.”
“Not to mention the draw of the aesthetic and the lifestyle that it brings to your home,” adds Valliant, sharing that music is a form of self-expression and a way to get to know each other.
“They’re really discovering that ownership of a physical item (is more personal than the) ethereal idea of ownership that just exists in a cloud somewhere,” Valliant notes. “They’re making connections with the artwork, with the physical item itself. They’re learning the subtleties of each of their personal albums. Even on a bad copy of a good album, you’ll remember where that little click or pop is. It’ll become yours.”
The couple adds that in the short time EastEnd Electric Records has been open, they’ve enjoyed seeing and helping their customers branch out from their interests and discover new music.
“A lot of the youth are coming in looking for newer acts and newer albums, which we do carry,” explains Valliant. “But in that process, they get exposed to a lot of other genres like the older classic rock, country — even some punk rock or electronic. And I see their interests picking up again and they may come in and buy Boygenius or Kendrick Lamar, but then they end up taking a look at Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.”
For those who may be unfamiliar with the vinyl medium, the store has listening corners where customers can jive while getting tutorials on how to use the equipment.
“We want to have a safe space where people can ask those questions and not feel silly for asking, especially women,” McCallum points out.
Customers can also get their groove on with regular live performances from local, independent artists right inside EastEnd Electric Records. Upcoming Saturday afternoon concerts include Rory Taillon (July 15), Cassie Noble with Kalyna Rakel and Dan Gurman (August 5), and The Soviet Influence (August 26). The all-ages alcohol-free shows all start at 2 p.m. and cost $10 at the door.
VIDEO: Po’Boy Jeffreys & Calamity Jane perform at EastEnd Electric Records
But the shop’s support for the independent arts extends beyond music, as the couple rents out vender space to a range of small businesses. Between the rows of classic vinyl albums, customers will find “inappropriate home décor” from Subversive Sisters, scrap metal artwork of band logos, handmade jewellery, magazines, and even hot sauce. The store also sells CDs from local and indie artists who don’t yet have their music on vinyl.
“We are both independent artists so we both know how hard it is to make a go of that in a professional way,” explains Valliant, saying they are always on the search for new vendors.
29 Sparrows Leather Company has even created custom leather record mats and tote bags that are sold exclusively at EastEnd Electric Records. Customers can also find collections of vintage clothing, including some pieces that have been handmade by McCallum herself.
Though McCallum and Valliant only began on their business venture, they already have plans to grow. Valliant explains that down the road a few years, he hopes to bring in an audio system that could record the store’s performers direct to vinyl.
“We want to help smaller artists that otherwise couldn’t afford such things,” Valliant says. “I’d like to use this stage as a ground to show that they’re talented artists and that there is interest in them. It’s kind of our way of shaping that local culture and music.”
EastEnd Electric Records is located at 14 Oak Street in Fenelon Falls. To browse and shop online, visit eastendelectricrecords.com. You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
