Changes are coming to Toad Hall Books and Records

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Toad Hall Books & Records, a Rockford staple for music and movie enthusiasts, is undergoing significant improvements to its property, driven by a surge in demand for physical media like vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs.

Owner Nick Naruz, who has operated the store for 20 years, is revamping the parking lot to accommodate 17 vehicles, addressing long-standing issues with the old layout.

“The blacktop wasn’t the greatest, and the layout, with steps, didn’t make much sense,” Naruz said. “We finally have a new parking lot and striping, and we combined multiple lots.”

The upgrade also includes relocating a shipping container to the east side of the 10,000-square-foot store, freeing up space and improving efficiency for customers. The container will now be used for special sales events.

“This is kind of a concept we’ve had for a few years,” Naurz said. “We are going to fill it with really great stuff—$1 records, $3 records, CDs, DVDs.”

Naruz attributes the store’s growth to a renewed interest in physical media, fueled in part by rising streaming service prices.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere without the customers and the clientele,” he said.

Customers like Caroline Flynn value the tactile experience growing for books and records.

“I think technology is taking over and people are spending so much time on their phone,” Flynn said. “And having physical media grounds you. And it’s more nostalgic. It’s more nostalgic.”

Record collector Morrison Schipferling compared vinyl to baseball cards.

“I was never much of sports guy myself. And records are king of like a baseball card for artists and music and whatnot,” Schipferling said.

Toad Hall is at 2106 Broadway, Rockford.