By Care Lucas
IN November 2022, Anthony Randall and Robyn York launched a new endeavor— Beach Reads Bookshop, a store in downtown Port Dover that houses pre-loved books. The business was born out of discussions the partners had during the COVID-19 pandemic while they were off work. “It was a time to… re-evaluate what we were doing with our lives, and that kind of laid the foundation for the bookshop opening here,” Anthony said.
Since then, the co-owners have turned their dream into a reality. The bookshop on St. George Street around the corner from the Lighthouse Theatre has become a destination for tourists and local book-lovers alike.
Anthony said the shop provides a personalized experience that is hard to come by these days, offering an alternative to Amazon and big-box stores. “It’s a different process than what you get online. It’s much more personal, more focused—more of a conversation instead of an algorithm,” he said, adding that he and Robyn know many of their customers by name. “We’ve formed some friendships.”
The success of the books prompted Anthony and Robyn to introduce other products, including small gifts and puzzles. Then, last year, they decided to introduce something new. “Being a vinyl collector myself, I was like, ‘Why don’t we try records?’”
After conducting some research into the market, he found a Canadian supplier. Starting small, Anthony brought a few crates of records into the shop.
“With the amount of tourists in over the summer, [and the number] of people shopping more locally around Christmas time… we thought, ‘Let’s just see how it goes,’” he said.
Soon, their inventory had expanded to an entire room filled with vinyl. They have now partnered with Millpond Records, formerly based out of Cambridge, and they have filled their garage with used vinyl for customers to peruse.
The bookshop has already become a shopping destination for road-trippers from larger city areas like Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton. Now, Anthony says he hopes to see travellers coming specifically for records as well.
The market for new and used vinyl records has experienced an extraordinary comeback throughout the past decade, as collectors prove the medium has staying power.

“Vinyl is a completely different listening experience”
Paul Gamble, a Port Dover resident and vinyl collector isn’t surprised by its resurgence. “Vinyl is thriving because it’s fun to collect. It’s a completely different listening experience than streaming,” he said.
Paul said there’s something special about the the permanency and physical feel of vinyl—the art, and the liner notes. “[Digital music] feels disposable in ways and not as appreciated as physically owning the albums,” he said.
Paul said there was always music playing in his childhood home. It led to his discovery of the music of Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Ted Nugent, Van Halen and Blue Öyster Cult.
At 16, he started buying vintage records—Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman were some of his first. He’s been growing his collection ever since. Paul estimates he owns roughly 1,200 albums—a mix of ’60s and ’70s rock, early metal, progressive rock, psychedelic rock and more.
Much like the type of books you read, the vinyl you listen to becomes a part of your identity. Anthony said he’s often surprised to see which customers appreciate records.
“[You wouldn’t always] initially think ‘Hey, that’s someone who collects vinyl,’” he said. “They are coming out of the woodwork.”
He said vinyl offers similar advantages to that of used books. “There was a push toward e-readers… and then it seems to have got to a point where people are getting fed up [with] being on screens all the time. [They] miss the feel, smell and physical nature of a book,” Anthony said, adding that the same can be said about records.
“To have in my hands, something that someone listened to back in the ’60s and held in their hands back then—it’s kind of cool… There’s a certain kind of romanticism or romantic quality to vinyl that isn’t really the same with other physical media, like tapes.”
In addition to offering an intimate experience, Anthony said reading books and listening to vinyl forces you to focus, because you are less prone to multitasking.
Beach Reads Bookshop was also a proud participant of Record Store Day. They marked the occasion on April 12 by hosting a grand opening to celebrate their partnership with Millpond Records.
While customers are sure to find a rare gem in the stacks of new and used vinyl on-site, Anthony said they will also place special orders for those searching for something specific.
For vinyl enthusiasts like Paul Gamble, a new location to browse vinyl is welcomed news.
“Shopping in-store is always fun,” he said. “[It’s] the thrill of the hunt and excitement of finding something you’ve been looking for, especially if you’ve been looking for it for years.”
—
Originally published April 16, 2025