Alpena record shop Noise and Toys settles into new Werth Road location
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ALPENA – Ryan Edmonds has settled into the new location of his small business Noise and Toys after moving the longtime record shop from its downtown location to a standalone building on Werth Road.
The shop, which sells new and used vinyl records, CDs, tapes and music-related novelty items, held a reopening earlier this month. Edmonds, now the sole owner, said customers have responded positively to the larger, more open layout.
"We had a reopening Aug. 8; everyone so far has been loving the new place," Edmonds said. "Seeing everything in one big open space is nice rather than having to go to the back of the store for one thing."
The new location also solves a persistent downtown problem.
"The new location offers parking, which was an issue downtown because it can be hard to find a spot sometimes," Edmonds said. "Some of our customers are older and they appreciate the opportunity to be able to park near the building and walk in."
Edmonds became involved with the business almost from the start. His former partner, Steve Szucs, opened Noise and Toys nearly a decade ago. Edmonds began stopping in randomly, contacting people he knew would be interested in the shop's inventory and gradually organizing the store and suggesting changes. Szucs eventually invited him to become a partner.
"My former business partner Steve Szucs opened Noise and Toys eight years ago," Edmonds said. "I have been a co-owner the last seven years until recently when I became the sole owner."
Szucs has since retired.
Edmonds kept the original name to avoid confusing long-term customers. Under his direction the shop expanded its selection of new vinyl and brought Record Store Day events to Alpena. The focus has shifted more heavily toward music; the extensive vintage toy inventory that characterized the early years has largely given way to music-related novelty items.
Moving the collection proved challenging. The store carries about 6,000 records, and records are heavy. Once everything was in place, Edmonds used the blank slate of the Werth Road building to install new shelving and arrange the stock the way he wanted.
"We built new shelving at the new location where previously we made due with what we had," Edmonds explained. "Here, I had a blank slate, so I was able to build new shelving and lay it out the way I wanted."
Customers now find it easier to browse, he said. Plans are underway for a listening lounge too; Edmonds said he is gathering the necessary equipment and expects it to open in the future.
The downtown location played an important role in establishing the business, Edmonds said. "The downtown location helped us establish ourselves as a business. It allowed people to have the opportunity to stop in and check us out. Then we built a regular clientele through the years, and I believe the new location will help us grow that even more."
Bob's Bullpen is scheduled to move into the former Noise and Toys space on North 2nd Avenue.
Since the move, the shop has drawn both familiar faces and newcomers, Edmonds said.
"We have had a good mixture of old and new customers since the move," he said. "There have been a lot of people coming in that think it's a new business, not realizing Alpena even had a record store."
The store continues to order new releases weekly. Customers who usually buy online can place orders through Noise and Toys and pick them up on release day without shipping costs or delays. The shop also buys, sells and trades used records, CDs and tapes.
"We do order new stock weekly so people who are used to ordering records online are welcome to order their records through us and have them on their release date without paying and waiting for shipping," Edmonds said. "We do buy, sell, trade used records, CDs, tapes and I am always rotating new stock."
"You never know what might come in," he added. "If I don't have it the first time you come in, I might have it the next time."
Noise and Toys is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at its new location at 2080 Werth Road.