Independent record shop Long Live Vinyl brings music lovers together with retro vibes and timeless grooves.
In the 1960s, the record player wasn’t just a device—it was a lifestyle accessory as essential as shag carpeting and avocado-colored appliances. Nestled in the corner of countless living rooms, these spinning musical oracles brought rock, soul, and psychedelic grooves to the ears of America, all while sitting atop a sea of shag so thick it could probably host its own ecosystem. Families would gather around, pretending to listen to The Beatles or Motown hits, but let’s be honest, half the time they were just mesmerized by how the record player seemed to defy logic by spinning backward, while the music played forward.
Bringing the era back to life in the heart of the Palos Park community is Mike Keysboe, owner of Long Live Vinyl Records, located at 12916 LaGrange Rd., Palos Park. The small, independent record shop is designed to connect shoppers with the music they love in the most intimate way possible: by physically visiting the store and browsing records, organized alphabetically and by genre.
“It is an absolute joy to serve the beautiful community of Palos Park,” said Keysboe, of Orland Park, who grew up in Downers Grove. “I was really excited when I saw the location for sale and I had to jump on it right away.”
Keysboe’s love of vinyl began in his youth as he recalled riding his bike to neighborhood records just to peek in the window. During his teenage years, his passion grew during at his first job, when he started working at Sound Warehouse (later renamed Music Warehouse) in 1983.
“I worked there until the spring of 1986, when I moved with my parents to Portland, Oregon, where I worked briefly at Tower Records,” he said. “Being homesick, I ended up moving back to Illinois in November.”
He returned to Sound Warehouse in early 1988 as the store manager, staying until 1992, when he was recruited by Best Buy. He worked as a music manager there until 1997.
“The music retail world changed dramatically at that time, and I ended up changing careers, eventually becoming a teacher,” Keysboe said, who is his last year of teaching the fourth grade before retirement at Karel Havlicek Elementary School in North Berwyn School District, said. “As I near the end of my teaching career, I’ve always missed record retail and dreamed of owning my own store. The vinyl resurgence in recent years has been exciting, and I felt the time was right to make my dream a reality. What better way to spend your retirement than doing something you truly love?”
Keysboe is correct. Vinyl record sales have been increasing year over year since 2007. This unexpected renaissance in the digital age has made vinyl the bestselling physical format for recorded music.
In 2022, for the second year in a row — and only the second year since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991 — vinyl albums outsold CD albums in the U.S. Vinyl continues to be the leading format for album purchases for the second straight year, according to figures announced in the U.S. 2022 Luminate Year-End Music Report.
Keysboe opened his store officially on Oct. 6 is proud to be a part of the lyrical phenomena. Long Live Vinyl Records and has already drawn a stream of regulars, including Kamil Rzeminski of Palos Hills.
“My fiancé bought me a record player last Christmas, and I thought it was the coolest gift ever,” Rzeminski said. “Since then, I’m always on the hunt for cool, vintage records.”
Long Live Vinyl Records held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 22. The event featured live music, local officials, and tasty desserts and refreshments, courtesy of Keysboe and his staff.
In addition to new and used records, the store sells turntables, accessories, cleaning solutions, posters, T-shirts, and more. Customers can also bring in gently used records to sell, and Keysboe will offer a fair price if he’s interested in adding them to his collection.
“I love everything about this store,” Rebecca Petan, Commissioner of Public Works and Recreation for the Palos Park District, said. “It reminds me of my teenage years – coming in and flipping through albums.”
As vinyl continues to make its mark in the digital age, Long Live Vinyl Records offers a nostalgic yet modern space where music lovers can connect with the past and discover something new.
For Keysboe, it’s more than just a business—it’s a passion project that allows him to share his love for music with the community, one record at a time. Whether you’re a lifelong collector or a first-time listener, the store promises an experience that’s as timeless as the vinyl itself.