By Kevin Collison
Josey Records has flipped around the corner to 1815 McGee in the East Crossroads, bringing along its 60,000 LPs, thousands of 45’s and a small frustration.
“Having two floors, it’s been a big of a challenge trying to get people to notice the basement,” said Christian Labeau, store manager.
“You can put up a ton of signs but nobody sees them.”
Other than those subterranean blues, Labeau said the new space is actually slightly larger than the shop’s previous digs at 1814 Oak. Josey left for new quarters last April after its rent bumped up significantly.
The new shop is snuggled along other businesses along McGee and the store has a friendly neighbor, Mod Art Gallery. The two have collaborated on First Fridays and the always popular Record Store Day.

The new Josey location on McGee has slightly more retail space than its previous shop on Oak…if you include the basement.
Labeau said the new location has worked out well, with good foot traffic on McGee.
Up until covid hit, Record Store Day was an annual event celebrated on the third Saturday in April when record labels often dropped new releases. Labeau said food trucks, live music and beer from its old neighbor on Oak, Brewery Emperial, were part of the festivities.
Last year, to promote social distancing, there were three different record drops.
This year, it’s down to two. The first was June 12, the next is today, July 12. Josey will have special hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Regular business hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Josey Records already has a good, collaborative neighbor on McGee, Mod Art Gallery.
Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.
Related Stories
Nick’s Picks | Messi, Jail, Buses, and More …
World Cup Team(s) Arrive It’s starting to feel real. The first World Cup team has landed in Kansas City. Defending champions Argentina touched down at KCI airport on Sunday and will begin practicing today at Sporting KC’s training facility in Wyandotte County. Much of the attention, of course, is focused on Lionel Messi. The soccer…
World Cup ‘Statement Piece’ Evokes Best Version of Kansas City
Before I moved to Kansas City almost 56 years ago, I had been here only once — for a brief visit to the Kansas City Press Club when I was attending the University of Missouri School of Journalism. But because of that visit and the fact that I grew up in the Midwest (Woodstock, Illinois,…
KU Center Helps Women Gain Foothold After Incarceration
A flier from her probation officer was the turning point for Jodi Whitt, who had spent more than two decades in and out of the criminal justice system. The piece of paper introduced Whitt to the Technology Education Program offered by the University of Kansas’ Center for Digital Inclusion. Since 2019, Whitt has risen through…


