Not your average record store. We also house a pop-up cafe (Homecourt Collective), shared workspace (w/ wifi), and gathering spaces hosting various cultural and community events.

But as a record store, we specialize obscure and classic - Soul, Funk, Jazz, Latin, Rock, Blues, World Music, New Wave / Industrial, Hip-Hop, Disco, House in LP, 12inch single, & 45rpm formats.

‍

The shop’s name says all about who we are. Our name is taken from the two kanji characters 宮 and 城 meaning, shrine and fortress. It’s about protecting something almost intangible and very precious. Influenced by the hyper-curated, hidden away vinyl shops of Tokyo, Japan, our goal is to become your 'secret spot.' The crane that you can see on our logo is a symbol for longevity and prosperity in Japanese culture. Miyagi Records embodies all these concepts.

We founded Miyagi Records in late 2019 as a humble side project with the intent to one day grow it into a shop. During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, as working musicians, our professional world shut down, and we saw that as an unlikely opportunity to fulfill Miyagi Records’ potential. It became a way for us to stay connected with music lovers and to continue sharing our love for arts and culture, and in the process, creating our own path to prosperity. That is Miyagi Records’ origin story.

We acknowledge that most of the music we love and sell was created by musicians of color, and this informs our business ethics. As a BIPOC-owned store, we want to serve the diverse Southside community by showcasing the vibrant musical legacy of Chicago’s Southside and by offering all our patrons high quality customer service and fair prices.

We are a proud member of Rebuild Foundation’s Creative Entrepreneurship program: because our values align so well, collaborating with Theaster Gates and his organization is key to implementing our vision. As we join the Arts Block, whose footprint once included boxer Joe Louis’ famed Rhumboogie Café, we aim to honor the area’s rich cultural history.