Across the street from Thalia Hall in Pilsen, 606 Records is miles away from the 606 park system on the city's North Side, but it shares the same namesake: the first three digits of every Chicago zip code. The new store (which officially opens on October 24) is the brainchild of former Virgin Records buyer Tim Unsell and tech industry veteran Drew Mitchell, who met at a party on their street four years ago. Though they came from different backgrounds, the two bonded over their mutual love of collecting records and began searching for a neighborhood in need of an all-vinyl record store—when they began looking for a space, Pilsen's Pinwheel Records didn't exist yet.
606 Records may bear a locally inspired name, but the selection of records at the store has a decidedly global reach. Among the racks, you'll be able to find titles from small international labels like Blackest Ever Black (London), Homeless (Melbourne), Exiles (Buenos Aires) and Clone (Netherlands) alongside offerings from local purveyors like Thrill Jockey, Numero and Kranky. Unsell and Mitchell are especially interested in offering music from what they call "dark horse labels"—frequently overlooked operations that release albums made by exciting new artists.
The shop is stuffed with row after row of records, but the aesthetic is uncluttered, placing an emphasis on easy musical discovery. "We wanted something different," Mitchell explained, citing a desire to create "a record store that wasn't run-of-the-mill and took our cues from smaller shops in the UK and Europe." The result is a striking, minimalist space that boasts lighting by local designer Steven Haulenbeek and a mural from Land and Sea Dept partner Cody Hudson. A set of turntables built into the counter at the back of the store make it ideal for hosting DJ sets, while a selection of turntables, slipmats and books make it a great place for aspiring selectors to stock up on supplies.
The store will kick off its opening weekend with a grand opening party on October 24 from 5–9pm, featuring food, drinks and (of course) a series of DJ sets. Given its proximity to local music scene institutions like Thalia Hall, Thrill Jockey and Numero, visitors can expect future in-store events and collaborations with 606 Records neighbors. As Mitchell put it, "We are a small store but have some not-so-small ideas."
Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas
Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas
Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas
Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas
Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas
Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas