Let’s Boogie Records and Tapes, a family-owned record store in Bridgeport, celebrated its 50th anniversary last month, according to an April 27 announcement. The milestone was recognized by Mayor Brandon Johnson at City Council and comes two years after the passing of the store’s founder, Neal Keller.
The anniversary highlights the longevity of one of Chicago’s oldest record stores and its ongoing role as a gathering place for music lovers. Despite changes in technology and music consumption habits, Let’s Boogie continues to serve as a community hub for those who appreciate analog formats.
Neal Keller opened Let’s Boogie at 3321 S. Halsted St. in 1976 out of his passion for rock and roll. “My dad wanted to start a record store in 1976 because he was a big fan of rock and roll,” said Jason Keller, son of Neal Keller. “My dad wanted to have a place in the neighborhood that was a local spot for convening, a safe spot for the kids to come in and hang out.” After Neal’s death in April 2024, Jason Keller took over management with his brother-in-law Phil Lesnik and wife Sarah Lesnik.
The shop is now open on Saturdays only but still stocks new artists alongside vintage records. Events such as bagel pop-ups and tarot readings are hosted there, continuing its tradition as an inclusive space. Many original features remain intact: posters from the late ’70s still line the walls; there is no digital point-of-sale system; bins hold vinyl records while boxes underneath contain more yet-to-be-sorted treasures.
Regular customers sometimes become part-time staff or helpers at Let’s Boogie. Genevieve Melton joined after being drawn by her interest in physical media: “They’re really big on crediting all studio musicians… So it’s really interesting seeing how many people are involved in the creation of a record,” Melton said. John Gestautas—an early employee—recalled working with Neal between 1979-1983: “Neal was one of those guys that understood music and a young person’s connection with music,” he said.
Looking ahead, Jason Keller aims to maintain both tradition and community spirit established by his father while adapting where necessary.
