SUMMER SCHOOL ZONE: Park Ave CDs: Orlando's hidden gem

Orlando is home to many wonderful sights and things to do — Walt Disney World, Universal Resort, ICON Park, SeaWorld and so much more. 

However, for some, that might be too much. Perhaps they want a chill place to hang out while also feeling like they are not wasting their day away.

Enter independent record store Park Ave CDs.

Founded in 1984 and located at 2916 Corrine Drive, Park Ave CDs has served and supported the Orlando community for more than 40 years. Park Ave CDs sells vinyls, CDs and cassettes for music lovers. They also sell books, DVDs, VHS, Blu-rays, T-shirts, posters, specialty sodas, toys, Japanese candies, buttons, stickers, greeting cards and unique gift items you won’t find anywhere else. The wide variety Park Ave CDs has to offer beyond vinyls is enough to keep customers coming and to open its audience to new people who might have not considered shopping or browsing here.

From George Clanton to Korn and hip-hop to city pop, Park Ave CDs covers a wide variety of artists and genres, which is one of the brightest spots of this store. The variety at Park Ave CDs is impressive and will have fans of an artist looking through the selections and finding new artists they might not have heard of — making it one reason many shoppers keep on coming back. 

Alongside the variety, vinyls also are affordable and priced appropriately. As vinyls continue to gain popularity, some retailers have increased prices. However, at Park Ave CDs, prices are reasonable and affordable.

Another reason to come back is the staff. From my experiences at Park Ave CDs, I have been treated with such respect and kindness, and staff members actually have recommended artists to me while I’m browsing. The employees make you feel at ease and let you do your own thing without constantly breathing down your neck, which always is good.

The main reason why you should pay a visit to Park Ave CDs is because of the environment. Not only are the staff super kind, but also the customers make the experience much more enjoyable. Those who shop at Park Ave CDs are some of the nicest people I have spoken to casually. While looking for an artist, someone will strike up a conversation with me about music and other topics. It is a very friendly and soothing environment, and it brings me to ease when I shop here. 

Park Ave CDs also will have listening parties when an artist is releasing an album as well as events for certain albums. For example, when Olivia Rodrigo released “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” the store hosted a listening party for that album, bringing the community closer together and being able to bond over their shared love of an artist. Similarly, on Friday, July 24, the shop hosted a signing event with Rick Ross. Not only is this super cool and unique, but also this allows fans of artists to meet and connect.

Park Ave CDs is a truly wonderful place that music lovers should have on their bucket list, and even for non-music lovers, it still offers a variety of things to view and explore.