One of the great things about living in the Hancock Park area is that Hollywood, in all its glory and misery, is just fifteen minutes away. Walking Cahuenga Blvd near Hollywood in the evening a few weeks ago, I was struck by how quickly bars and restaurants change, how many new venues and shops are tucked in along Hollywood Blvd now, pushing out many of the older, dicier establishments, and how young the crowd was out enjoying a Hollywood evening.
Walking into the Record Parlour, an “Emporium of 20th Century Entertainment” on Selma Ave off Cahuenga, was like walking into a mash-up of past and present in music, all crammed into a warm and inviting small loft space, brimming with energy. The Record Parlour was jammed full that night, not only of old turntables, vinyl and audio gear from decades past, but also with a crowd standing to take in a young band from Europe playing live on a small stage.
Almost a mini Amoeba Records, but set in a charmingly vintage setting, the Record Parlour showcases (and services) the audio gear you remember seeing as a child in the homes of your uncles and friends, as well as some 15,000 vinyl albums from days gone by.
Co-owners Chris Honetschlaeger and Chadwick Hemus opened the Record Parlour about a year and a half ago to sell albums on vinyl and repair vintage audio gear. They now also provide event and production space and rent out jukeboxes for parties, and sell everything from stereo turntables, amps and speakers to a compact record player that plays 45’s, all packed tightly into its pretty pink case. The gear is stacked about, with price tags that will make you gawk –  and wonder why you didn’t save at least some of that junk from your family’s basement Rec Room.
The Record Parlour 6408 Selma Ave Hollywood, CA 90028 323-464-7757 Open Mon-Sat 10:30 am – 11 pm Sundays 10 am – 7 pm  Â