Since Josh Briese took ownership of the long-running shop Tracks in Wax, the central Phoenix record store has gotten brighter. Literally.
No shade to any of the vinyl haven’s previous owners. Those who own businesses have the freedom to do as they please. What Briese wanted was to remove the paper and decor that obscured the view of and from the store’s interior and use the ubiquitous Arizona sunlight as a beacon to draw people in. Doing so added a lightness to the place’s inner atmosphere.
The thoughtful new airy feel, a deep clean and a roomy arrangement of the massive amount of records combine to make it feel like a new place. On our visit, Briese’s daughter ran the counter and let the turntable’s needle fall upon a Rolling Stones record, setting a mellow mood. His wife, who was out of town that day, can be found on site some days, too…