Webster Records was founded in 1953 by Roy and Dorothy Gleason. The original store was located in Old Orchard at the wedge where Lockwood and Big Bend merge. It was known for it's personal service right from the start. There were over 100 record stores in the metropolitan area at that time ... so record stores were very much neighborhood oriented. They opened a second store on Hampton in the late 50's but closed it when they moved the Webster store up to the Old Webster Business area in 1958. That year the Doubleday Bookstore moved and Roy decided the Old Webster area was better for the store location so they moved into the old bookstores location...keeping some of the old book fixtures and using them for 78 record album displays. They also added two listening booths. By this time another Old Webster merchant; Lemcke's (which is still selling appliances today) had switched from records into TV's and stereos and Roy believed Webster Records could fill the music void.

They remained strong until about 1977 when a competitor; opened a store down the road and started selling "discounted" records. This coupled with a slow down in the record industry lead to some lean years and ones in which only the keen business sense of Roy and Dorothy and some very loyal customers allowed the store to survive.

In 1986, Dan Warner purchased the shop and along with the continued help from Roy and Dorothy started building for the new era of Compact Discs. With the sales improving and customer base growing, a bigger store was needed by 1990 .. so a move across the street to our current location at 117 West Lockwood was made in May 1990.

In early 2006, Jennifer Bellm became the third owner of this fabled shop.  She is an avid jazz guitarist and collector of music of all kinds.  Her skills have already begun building our customer base and strengthening our shops position in the music world.

Webster Records is proud to be Saint Louis' Oldest Music Store. Throughout the years ... one reason has allowed us to grow and prosper....We believe in TOP customer service and will strive to provide this at all times. We currently have over 26,000 CD's in stock and can order ANY Compact disc in print. There is a lot that has changed in the last 50 years ... but a trip to Webster Records whether it is by the Web, phone or in person ... will surely be an enjoyable one.

We're the 4th oldest music shop in the United States. Stop by and find out why we have flourished for so long.....