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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Neighborhood Restaurant Group plans to open a record store at 2016 Mount Vernon Ave. in Del Ray this August, the company announced Tuesday, filling a gap left when Crooked Beat Records closed its longtime location earlier this year.
NRG founder Michael Babin said in an email to customers that Evening Star Café chef Nathan Anda and NRG beverage director Greg Engert will join him in opening the shop, which the group is targeting for a mid-August debut. Babin described the project as a long-held ambition shared by the trio, who have previously opened vinyl bars including the B-Side in Merrifield and Junebug in New Orleans' Warehouse District.
"Del Ray needs a record store and with the neighborhood losing the beloved Crooked Beat, we felt like we needed to act," Babin wrote.
Crooked Beat Records, which had operated in the basement of 2417 Mt. Vernon Ave. since 2023, closed its Del Ray location Jan. 31 after flooding from a January rainstorm caused extensive damage to its inventory. Owner Bill Daly said at the time the store would announce a new location, and Babin's email noted that Daly may bring Crooked Beat back to the neighborhood.
"We've since learned that Bill may bring Crooked Beat back to the neighborhood, and we're rooting for that — two stores on the Ave would be amazing," Babin wrote.
The new shop will open in the space currently occupied by Mulberry Lane, a children's play café, which is ending operations July 3. Babin said the location is "making way for a passion project long in the making."
The announcement comes alongside other changes to NRG's Del Ray footprint. The group plans an expansion of Shorty's Deluxe, including a larger menu, evening hours and café seating, with more details expected in the coming weeks. The opening will also coincide with Evening Star Café's 29th anniversary.
Customers can register for updates on the new shop, which Babin said will include an invitation to the opening party and a chance to win a $100 gift certificate.
