Joe's Records to Open Throwback Mall Store in Memphis

St. Louis-based retailer brings classic record store experience to Wolfchase Galleria.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Joe's Records, a St. Louis-based record store chain, is opening a new 4,200-square-foot location inside the Wolfchase Galleria mall in Cordova, Tennessee. Owners Joe Smith and Jennifer Seifrig plan to model the new store after the mall record shops of the 1980s and 1990s, offering a wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, and music-related merchandise. The couple sees an opportunity to fill a void left by the closures of larger retailers like Spin Street and FYE in the Memphis area in recent years.

Why it matters

The opening of Joe's Records at Wolfchase Galleria represents a resurgence of the classic mall record store experience, catering to both younger vinyl enthusiasts and longtime music fans. It also highlights the continued demand for physical music retail, even as online sales have disrupted the industry. The store's prominent location and focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere could make it a destination for Memphis-area music lovers.

The details

Joe's Records will occupy a 4,200-square-foot space adjacent to the main entrance of Wolfchase Galleria, near the mall's carousel. The store will carry new and used vinyl LPs, CDs, and a wide range of music-related merchandise like t-shirts and posters. Owners Joe Smith and Jennifer Seifrig plan to model the store after the mall record shops of the 1980s and 1990s, with an "aggressive" inventory and a focus on creating a friendly, inclusive environment for all customers.

  • Joe's Records officially took over the Wolfchase Galleria property this week.
  • The store is expected to open in May 2026 after a couple months of preparation.

The players

Joe Smith

Co-owner of Joe's Records, a veteran record seller with nearly 40 years of experience in the music retail business.

Jennifer Seifrig

Co-owner of Joe's Records and business partner of Joe Smith.

Wolfchase Galleria

A shopping mall in Cordova, Tennessee, operated by the Simon Property Group, where Joe's Records is opening its new location.

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What they’re saying

“We're very excited to be coming to Cordova and the Memphis market.”

— Joe Smith, Co-owner, Joe's Records (commercialappeal.com)

“Which was the biggest market we'd ever been in and that's when things just exploded.”

— Jennifer Seifrig, Co-owner, Joe's Records (commercialappeal.com)

“Memphis has some cool record stores, but per capita I think there's a real need, especially in East Memphis, Germantown, Cordova, there's really nothing there.”

— Joe Smith, Co-owner, Joe's Records (commercialappeal.com)

What’s next

Joe's Records plans to spend the next few weeks building out the new Wolfchase Galleria store location and hiring a full Memphis-based staff, including a manager, assistant manager, and multiple sales associates, with an expected workforce of at least seven to start.

The takeaway

The opening of Joe's Records at Wolfchase Galleria represents a resurgence of the classic mall record store experience, catering to both younger vinyl enthusiasts and longtime music fans. It highlights the continued demand for physical music retail and the opportunity for businesses to fill voids left by the closures of larger chains in the Memphis area.