Students Browse Through Records The Xavierite
On Apr. 2, local record store Beverly Phono Mart (BPM) returned for a second pop-up shop in the Wiseman Lounge. During the sale, they sold vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, and merchandise, to bring what they feel is an important part of life to the SXU community.
Located in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago, BPM is owned by Mallory McClaire and Chantala Kommanivanh, a married couple who opened the store in October 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BPM sells news and “I USED to love” vinyl records, CDs, and cassette tapes ranging from artists like J Dilla and Erykah Badu to Mitski and Japanese Breakfast, and even classics from Miles Davis and Nancy Sinatra. The shop also sells merch such as t-shirts, jackets, and tote bags. BPM also ships orders within the U.S. through its website and offers floor space for patrons to lounge.
During the sale, they sold a variety of vinyl records, ranging from city pop compilations to classic jazz albums, and even some recent Hip-hop and R&B. They also sold CDs and cassette tapes, as well as pins, incense, and record cleaning kits. There was also a rack with BPM t-shirts and hoodies, as well as socks with artwork from a variety of albums.
Throughout the day students came and went from the lounge, browsing through the records for sale, talking about music, and inviting friends to see what was available. Some bought music for themselves and some shopped for family.
When asked what music means to them, McClaire detailed how she grew up with music and knew from an early age that it was what she wanted to base her life around. From the music played in her home as a child, to the festivals she attended with her family, and later in her studies in college, music for her has “always been what I’ve enjoyed and what I knew I would be connected to in some way,”.
Kommanivanh said for him, music is “the sound that comes out of a vibration that every human has,” and is the “frequency we hear without speaking.” He explained that everyone walks around with their personality or “vibration”, and when music represents that vibration, we can connect with one another, even if there are no words exchanged.
McClaire voiced that she and her husband grew up listening to college radio and learned a lot about music through it. Likewise, being on the same street as SXU’s campus encourages them to be involved with the university’s community.
“We found community and we were able to explore our interests in the world or art and all these other things, and it seemed like a very natural fit to support what you all are doing here,” she said, as to why the store continues to come to campus.
The two owners affirmed that they would “come back anytime you’ll have us,” so readers should look out for any future pop-ups next year. McClaire teased that Beverly Phono Mart has much in store for the future, and hopes that students will find themselves in the store for their events.
For those who’d like to check out Beverly Phono Mart, the store is just down the street from the SXU campus on 103rd St. The store is open from Wed. to Sat. from noon to 6 p.m., and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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