Each Tuesday, Behind the Counter speaks to an independent record store to ask about its recent favorites, best sellers, and noteworthy trends.
Dandelion Records and Emporium in Vancouver, British Columbia, is run by the husband-and-wife team of Jeff Knowlton and Laura Frederick. The two merged their interests in music and art to form what was formerly known as simply Dandelion Records. As they added more inventory, expanded to include goods such as books and art, and moved to a bigger location, they added “Emporium” to the store’s name. Though its name points to a massive retail experience, Dandelion offers an intimate experience with a carefully curated selection of new and used vinyl and well-designed products.It’s the sort of place Andy Samberg calls when he needs a rare record a.s.a.p.
What are the origins of Dandelion Records?
Dandelion Records and Emporium is owned by my husband, Jeff Knowlton and myself, Laura Frederick. We met in Victoria when Jeff was working as a museum exhibit designer and I was manager of a design store. Jeff was an avid record collector, and I had an interest in music and a background in retail, as well as art and design. We moved to Vancouver in 2006, and Jeff began selling records at a well-known flea market. That was the beginning of the roots of the store. In 2007 we opened Dandelion Records in the basement of a shared gallery space. It was pretty small and dingy, just the sort of place to find great records. The following year we moved into our own store space at Main and Broadway. Our vinyl selection continued to grow, and in 2008 we moved to our current location at 2442 Main Street. We expanded the store to include a selection of books, bags, stationery, and other items, and changed the name to Dandelion Records and Emporium. Jeff and I both work at the store, and currently there are no other employees.
