Mona Dehghan's Favorite Shop Is Permanent Records

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New York City has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around our fantastic city that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.

Image via Permanent Records

Mona Dehghan is the communications manager at Brooklyn-based Domino Records, home to fashion-forward talent like Arctic Monkeys, The Kills, Animal Collective and Franz Ferdinand. She loves Permanent Records, a friendly store in Greenpoint where the staff always remember her face and are always the first to turn her onto new bands.

Even as a self-proclaimed lifetime music obsessive, I realize that I go to record stores much less now than I ever used to. But Permanent Records in Greenpoint reminds me of all my favorite record shops from growing up on the West Coast. Just like I think the medium of radio, no matter how it morphs, will never be obsolete because of the desire for the human connection which companies like Spotify and Pandora (though extremely awesome) can never provide, I believe the relationship between record store clerk and music aficionado is completely irreplaceable. The folks at Permanent always remember me, no matter how many months it's been since I've stopped by, and they always have a knowledgeable and friendly way of turning me onto new bands I haven't heard.

They also organize their records in intuitive sections and have amazing taste when it comes to the box sets and vinyl on display. You can almost always find a good deal in the New Arrivals vinyl section, and the staff is really great about hooking you up with deals and an occasional small freebie if you go in often. If all that weren't enough to make it my favorite local record haunt, the owner Marjorie Eisenberg, has been super supportive with my own DIY record label I started. Her enthusiasm and empathy (as another self-made woman in the industry) made me a fan of her store for life. It's that sort of unpretentious, genuine sense of music and community that reminds you why we need to hold on to the last few record stores we have.

· Permanent Records [Official Site]
· Domino Records [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked NY]

Permanent Records

181 Franklin Street Brooklyn, NY 11222