Zzz Records

Imagine you owned a record store and received an offer to buy a collection of 10,000 records. As a store owner, you’re always looking for quality used product to stock your shelves with, so you jump at the chance. You’ve done this before, you know the drill, and you’ve been in many cobweb-filled storage sheds and garages before. This time you are led into a basement filled with records and old file cabinets. You’re told that there are even some records stashed away in the cabinets. Your eyes light up at the treasures you might find. Perhaps a 1962 copy of the Beatle’s first 45 single “Love Me Do”? That might fit in one of the file cabinets. So you open one and look in…

A large, coiled-up snake looks back at you.

I didn’t make this up. This actually happened to Nick Niceswanger, store owner of Zzz Records.

“I couldn’t tell if it was alive or dead, and wasn’t about to test it,” Niceswanger says. “So, I shut the door, went upstairs, and asked, ‘Did you know that you had a snake down there?’ The guy said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s Butch. He’s just a bullsnake. We let him catch the mice down there.’ I did end up buying the collection, but I left the file cabinets there.”

Bullsnakes may be large and intimidating, but they are not venomous. Still, I wouldn’t want to encounter one in a dark basement. For Niceswanger, it’s just another day. With a younger generation of music lovers embracing vinyl, he actively hunts to satisfy the demand.

“Most of the big names from the 60s, 70s, and 80s are tough to keep in stock. This would include artists like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and many others. “

It’s a good problem to have for this little store in Des Moines, Iowa. They’ve changed locations a couple of times since opening its doors in the fall of 2000. They are located on Ingersoll Avenue, right next to Blades Barbershop and a few doors away from Audio Labs.

According to Niceswanger, vinyl records account for up to 90% of the store’s sales. Further evidence that the format is alive and kicking and hopefully here to stay.

Zzz Records has hosted music events, “most unusual title” contests, and runs the Des Moines Music Collector’s show. The event includes thirty dealers from all over the midwest.

What excites Niceswanger is that a whole new generation has discovered the joys of owning music, so he prices it for young wallets. He wants to be there for them. He also doesn’t want them to get carried away.

His advice?

“Take your time and shop around!” he says. “It’s easy to get carried away and spend a lot of money right off the bat. But, if you’re willing to be patient and shop for the best price, your wallet will thank you.”

Especially when it comes to used records. The fact that record companies are pressing new releases is terrific. But there’s an ocean of used music looking for a home. “If you’re willing to shop at indie stores or flea markets and flip through their used albums, sometimes you can nab some great finds for not a lot of dough.”