While the City of Cleveland continues to pour resources into opportunity corridors, medical marts, and design districts with minimal returns, a small group of entrepreneurs are doing their part to transform Waterloo Road in the North Collinwood neighborhood into the vinyl district. Granted, record collectors won’t spur our region’s slagging economy like some of those other big ticket projects, but for the crate digging crowd, there will be no finer destination than Waterloo.

Already home to a unique collection of art galleries and boutiques, Waterloo is also the site of the area’s premiere live music venue, The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, (Who happen to have a choice selection of used vinyl in their basement vintage store, This Way Out) and one of the area’s most personable and knowledgeable independent record stores in Music Saves. Now, Waterloo can boast of a third destination for music fans: Blue Arrow Records and Books.

Located just down the street from the Beachland Ballroom at 16001 Waterloo Road, Blue Arrow Records and Books, is the latest venture by Pete Guylas, one time co-owner of Renaissance Parlour in Coventry. While the floor of Blue Arrow Records, exquisitely lacquered with vintage album covers, will be a draw in of itself, it’s the contents of this 1300 square foot space which will have vinyl freaks coming back for more — quality used LPs, 45s, 78s from the ’50s to present day, covering rock, soul, jazz, R&B, and country. And, should your shopping buddy be immune to the vinyl craze, Blue Arrow also stocks books, magazines, t-shirts, furniture, and other vintage wares.

If all this sounds too good to be true, and you’re waiting for the catch, here it is — Blue Arrow Records isn’t open, yet. Their grand opening celebration is this Thursday, March 26th at 7 PM.