Cincy Native and Music Enthusiast Signs Lease for 3CDC Storefront

Alien Records to Open on Vine Street

CINCINNATI (October 21, 2024) – A Cincinnati native and lifelong music enthusiast, Timothy Henninger recently signed a lease with Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) to bring a record store to 1207 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine (OTR). Upon completion, the 1,240-square-foot space will be home to Alien Records – a new and used record store equipped with listening booths.

Henninger recalls spending time in some of his favorite Westside record stores as a kid in the eighties. They were a place of comfort for him – somewhere he felt at home during his difficult teenage years. Now, he hopes to provide the same type of meaningful space to others at Alien Records.

“I’ve had so many memorable experiences in record stores throughout my life,” Henninger said. “Michael Jackson’s Thriller was the first album I ever bought with my own money, and I just kept coming back for more. I hope I can give others the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy music like I have. I want it to be a sort of refuge – a place they can escape for a little while.”

Henninger has always appreciated having a physical product versus a digital file when it comes to music and hopes to share his appreciation for vinyl with the community. Alien Records will carry primarily vinyl records, but will also sell CDs, cassette tapes and a variety of other music-related media like VHS tapes and DVDs – and the foundation to the beginning of the store’s used inventory will be from Henninger’s own collection. Alien Records will also operate as a buy, sell, trade (BST) store, meaning customers can come to shop current inventory or to sell or trade albums from their own collection. Additionally, it will be a place where record players can be serviced or repaired.

“Bringing a record store to Vine Street is such a fun way to further diversify the types of businesses in the area and add to the unique shopping experience in the neighborhood,” said Lindzie Gunnels, Commercial Leasing Director with 3CDC. “Collecting records and perusing record stores is a pastime that many people enjoy and we’re excited to create this experience in OTR!”

The design of the space will look clean and polished with white walls, black floors and a variety of monstera plants throughout. It will be lined with handmade stained wood record bins crafted by Ryan Harrigan of RH Quality Construction and equipped with a minimum of two listening stations where customers can experience music in the store prior to making a purchase. Alien Records also plans to host a number of special events like new music release parties and live performances by artists selling their albums.

Upon opening, Alien Records will operate seven days a week from 11AM until 7PM. Grand opening plans will be shared as they are finalized.

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