Beverly Records and the Red Palm Bar & Grill are cohosting a new kind of vinyl fair on a Sunday with no interference by your Chicago Bears and with brunch on the sidelines.
The inaugural Bears Bye Week Swap & Haggle from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 in the banquet room of the Red Palm Bar & Grill in Evergreen Park will have up to 15 tables of vinyl.
The popup record shop will be held in the beer garden, too, if weather permits and participation warrants it.
“We have people come in the store all the time selling records and we can’t buy them all because we have so much stock and not much room,” said John Dreznes, owner of Beverly Records, the 50-year-old family business at 11612 S. Western Ave. in Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood. “Unfortunately, we are letting a lot of collections go.”
In the past, Dreznes partnered with next-door neighbor Cullinan’s Stadium Club for overflow space for events such as Record Store Day in April and November.
“Cullinan’s closed so we were looking for a new clubhouse to host Record Store Day events,” he said, “and for a way to build interest for Black Friday Record Store Day without interfering with the Bears game schedule.”
Dreznes has been hosting music-themed trivia nights on Wednesdays at the Red Palm, where the motto is “Island attitude local latitude” and the menu offers tiki cocktails and wood-fired pizza and sandwiches.
On the day of the Swap & Haggle — and every Sunday — the Red Palm hosts a buffet-style brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We have Rumchata French toast and chicken a la King everybody raves about,” Red Palm owner Mike Nix said. “We have our staples — eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, pasta — and change it up for Bears games with chili, brats or burgers.”
Brunch costs $12.95 for adults and $8.95 for kids. Specials include $5 Bloody Marys and $2 mimosas.
During setup for the Swap & Haggle, Dreznes will be on hand to help sellers set their prices.
“The Swap & Haggle is just neighbors, not vinyl dealers,” he said. “You’ll walk away with a bargain.”
Later in the month, Beverly Records will sell new and limited-edition titles for Black Friday Record Store Day.
Beverly Records will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 24 when Black Friday Record Store Day exclusives will feature hundreds of artists, including Chuck Berry, Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, Anthrax, Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson, Queen, Snoop Dogg, Gorillaz, Prodigy and Lou Reed.
Paul McCartney offers two 7-inch releases on red and green vinyl featuring “Wonderful Christmastime” backed by The Roots while a reproduction of Muddy Waters’ 1958 best-of album from the original Chess Records mono reels also hits stores Nov. 24.
“The April Record Store Day releases are more mainstream,” Dreznes said. “The releases for Christmas tend to be a lot more unusual and quirky stuff, presents you’d get for a record enthusiast.”
Vickie Snow Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Beverly Records’ Inaugural Bears Bye Week Swap & Haggle
More Top Picks Popup
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 5
Where: Red Palm Bar & Grill, 3020 W. 95th St. in Evergreen Park
Cost: Admission is free; Sales are cash only; Table rental is $20.
Information: 708-581-3154 or 773-779-0066
Etc.: Brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ($12.95 for adults and $8.95 for kids)
Black Friday Record Store Day
When: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 24
Where: Beverly Records, 11612 S. Western Ave. in Chicago; and other participating locations, with a list at recordstoreday.com.
Information: 773-779-0066