Pgh Independent: We went to the oldest record store in the United States, located an hour east of Pittsburgh

If there’s an older record store in the United States, John George hasn’t heard of it.

Thousands of used and new 45s and LPs line the walls and shelves at George’s Song Shop in downtown Johnstown, PA, some 70 miles east of Pittsburgh.

“I didn’t expect it to come back the way it has today,” said George, between phone calls on a recent visit. “CDs are out; records are what people want.”

Opened in 1932 by brothers Eugene and Bernie, John George took over in 1962 at age 19, following the sudden death of his father, Eugene, from a stroke. (John’s uncle Bernie had already sold his share of the business to Eugene before leaving to pursue a musical career in New York.)

The store has “been in my blood all my life,” he told Parade Magazine in a 2018 interview. Today, in addition to new and used 33s, 45s and 78s, there’s a sizable collection of CDs, some 8-tracks, even a small “Steelers” section. 

“Most people coming from Pittsburgh are looking for…