How 2 new record shops are making their name in Philly’s vinyl ecosystem

“Vinyl at heart.” If you listen to WXPN, you’ve heard that slogan many times over. And given our love of wax, we’re here to tell you about two newcomers to the city’s bustling record store world: Echo Echo and High Leverage.

Echo Echo Records is located at 1740 Passyunk Ave. and is owned and operated by Meeme Choi. High Leverage Records opened Saturday at 2644-48 Coral St. in East Kensington and is run by Billy and Elizabeth Philhower.

These two businesses are working to cement themselves as must-visit shops for music fans, but their customer bases are likely divergent to an extent.

“Most of the records I buy for the store are records I personally like, in addition to the used records, which are always evolving,” Choi said. “So far, the people that have been frequenting the store in this neighborhood seem to have a pretty wide range of taste.”

While Echo Echo’s offerings are more eclectic, Philhower has a specific lane for High Leverage: punk, hardcore, screamo, and indie records.

“There aren’t a lot of people selling, specializing, or trying to go deep in on some of the genres I’m really passionate about or find myself listening to,” he said, adding he’s not aiming to punch up, but rather to fill a void.

The Philhowers have found fans of their offerings at record conventions and shows since launching High Leverage just more than a year ago.

“The only audience I had was people I was personally connected with or followed the label I ran previously,” he said. “The feedback at shows has been really positive. People come back [to shows] and say they’re excited to see us at them.”

Choi shared similar sentiments.

“The response from the music community has been positive,” she said. “I’ve met a ton of musicians and people in the industry since the store opened, and everyone has said really nice things. I’m grateful I get to be a part of this music ecosystem in some capacity. My neighborhood, especially my block, has been very welcoming.”

Anyone familiar with Echo Echo’s neighborhood knows how bustling it can be, with plenty of restaurants and retail spaces lining Passyunk. So how does Echo Echo stand out?

Its art gallery-like feel is a major factor.

“I had to work with a modest budget but wanted to create something well-made and beautiful,” Choi said. “My designer Eliot May emphasized the importance of displaying the records in a way that would let them speak for themselves, as well as using natural materials. So, as much as I wanted lots of color and vibrancy, I agreed that the fixtures and the space should be plain-spoken and in time the store would take on a character of its own. The large storefront windows bring in plenty of light, and then the shop takes on a warm glow in the evening.”

In addition to its design, Echo Echo aims to be a space where music curation is melded in with different mediums of art.

“The events I’ve hosted range from album release listening parties and DJ sets to collaborative bar pop-ups and art shows,” Choi said. Most recently, the store hosted a Sylvan Esso record release party where Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn spun Choi’s collection while meeting fans and signing albums.

“I like the idea of creating an immersive environment where people are here to experience more than just browsing records,” Choi said.

Philhower said his space features nods to baseball, which inspired the name High Leverage. Inside, vinyl heads will find several bins of records and a listening station, something Philhower wishes more record shops featured.

“I have a lot of deep-seated opinions about music,” he said. “I want to thread the line between being really intentional and prioritizing music in a way that modern consumers and streamers don’t do. I want the store to be challenging and experimental and push people in different directions.”

And, even if crate diggers don’t come out of High Leverage with a choice selection or two in hand, he hopes they leave the business with a sense of appreciation for the challenge he aims to pose. That said, he doesn’t want music lovers to feel as though the store’s selection is too niche.

“We need to have somewhat of an appeal,” he said. “The city as a whole has been welcoming, and we really want to be receptive to community feedback and partner feedback.”

While Choi and the Philhowers may have differing taste in music, they share the same ethos: preaching the gospel of music and all its glory.

“I always appreciate when customers can take the time to browse my store and be curious about albums they might not be familiar with,” Choi said.

“We really want High Leverage to be something that forces people to take music seriously, but also be a welcoming space,” Philhower said. “Music as an art form, not a commodity.”

“Vinyl at heart” is just one of our slogans. Another is “community, not commodity,” and community is exactly what both Echo Echo and High Leverage are building.