A few years back I held a job in Balaclava and often used to spend my lunch breaks digging around a local goldmine known then as Warren’s Records. I’d first heard about Warren’s from the inimitable Mr Geoffrey Nees who I believe worked there at one time. He told me that it was a good place to have a look and that the proprietor, Warren was something of a character. Both these things were true.

Warren however had to let the business go a couple of years back. Thankfully it didn’t disappear or get turned into a convenience store. It was taken over by Paul and Renae, a husband and wife team who obviously recognised the shop to be a true record lover’s paradise, and renamed it accordingly.

The main change that anyone familiar with Warren’s will notice is that the shop is now considerably easier to navigate. The vast array of 45s, LPs, 12s and even old 78s is still there, but arranged in a much more user friendly fashion. Record Paradise also now carries  books, CDs and DVDs plus the odd vintage turntable and some replacement stylii.

Record Paradise is a great example of what fresh energy and love can do to a business. Warren’s was truly awesome, but perhaps a little intimidating to the uninitiated. Record Paradise is still a goldmine, but you won’t spend quite as long or get quite as dusty finding what you seek.

Record Paradise, 100 Chapel Street (almost at corner of Carlisle) St Kilda. Tel 03 9534 9344.

Record Paradise also holds a garage sale – more like a mini record fair – in Brunswick every so often. Here you’ll find about 10,000 records plus books, CDs and tapes. The next one is on Sunday August 7 from 10am – 4pm at 15 Union Street Brunswick.