The Beat Merchant Record Store

Frankie Neilson knows the nostalgic feeling that finding a rare record can provide. Whether young or old, there is a longing for something from the past that we know might not come back, but to get a glimpse of it again even for a moment … well, that’s pretty special! Frankie is the owner of Steveston’s The Beatmerchant Record Store. A walk inside is like stepping back in time. This little shop is a treasure trove! One can uncover stacks upon stacks of records that transport you back to the Golden Age of rock, blues, jazz or soul, and every genre in between.

While this independent record store might not be impressive in size, it is incredibly well-stocked with the iconic vinyl, CDs, posters, T-shirts and more that music lovers hanker for. Are you looking for a rare Rolling Stones Happy Birthday Mick box set or an Oasis box set — a real collectible with five albums? You’ll find them both here. “The Rolling Stones box set is selling on eBay for $300 and I have it for $200,” says Frankie. “I had a customer looking for a Carl Perkins record (he wrote Blue Suede Shoes for Elvis Presley), and I was able to find two of them for him.” Beatmerchant carries a wide genre of music styles but is perhaps most famous for its extensive selection of psychedelic and British pop sensations hailing from the 50s, 60s and 70s.