Fetus, Hymie's named top shops by RollingStone.com

The website's list of the 25 best record stores in the U.S. features two from Minneapolis.

September 16, 2010 at 8:01PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles at a recent Electric Fetus in-store gig / Photos by Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune
Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles at a recent Electric Fetus in-store gig / Photos by Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

"Many of the staffers have been there for decades; regulars head straight to the far wall for densely-packed shelves of new and local releases." That's how Rolling Stone.com describes the Electric Fetus in its new list of "The 25 Best Record Stores in the U.S.," where the Minneapolis corner store/stone came in at No. 6, five under famed California indie chain Amoeba Music. The Fetus wasn't the only local shop to make the list, either. Hymie's Vintage Records -- recently relocated and under new ownership -- also came in right at No. 25. The article says about Hymie's, "Rather than the usual stereotype of haphazard you-find-it stacks, the shop is tidily organized and full of superb finds."

"We can be pretty meticulous about the way we do things, so that was nice to hear," laughed Laura Hoenack, who took over Hymie's last year with her husband, Dave (literally making it a mom and pop shop). In April, the Hoenacks moved the store a few blocks away to 3820 E Lake St, next door to Blue Moon coffeeshop. As RollingStone.com noted, "When you get tired [of browsing], you can slip over to the cafe next door for a caffeine fix." Laura said the move has already produced a lot more foot traffic into the store. Making this list should help even more. "We've already had a couple people come in and say they saw us" on the list, she said.

Hymie's new mom-and-pop owners Laura and Dave Hoenack when they were packing up the old location in April.
Hymie's new mom-and-pop owners Laura and Dave Hoenack when they were packing up the old location in April. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Chris Riemenschneider

Critic / Reporter

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.

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