In a rare inversion of Brooklyn culture being exported to the Midwest, the Chicago-based vinyl retailer Signal Records is setting up its third store at 1254 Myrtle Ave., per an Instagram post.

With preexisting locations in Logan Square and Wicker Park, an encroachment into Bushwick was probably inevitable. Where else could their customers have gone? Now located off the Central M and beside Mood Ring (1260 Myrtle Ave.), the store promises “Japanese, African & Brazilian imports,” among other selections. Local Discogs inventories are surely being adjusted. 

Signal itself opened its two locations in Chicago, in 2022 and 2023, respectively, started as a spinoff of owner Blake Karlson’s now-defunct industrial label Chicago Research. 

Karlson’s newest Signal joins a wave of new import-focused records stores in the area, like 690 Woodward Garage (a garage at Palmetto & Woodward Ave.) and Fringe Records (6-56 Woodward Ave.), both in nearby Ridgewood, along with Bushwick’s slightly older and more dance-heavy Octopus Records (204 Irving Ave.).

Signal’s new address at 1254 Myrtle Avenue was also once home to the Love Gallery, a local thrift store and hub for the Our Food NYC mutual aid group. It was run by local rapper and perennial political candidate PaperboyPrince, who most recently lost to DSA candidates Christian Celeste Tate and Claire Valdez in their runs for the 54th State Assembly district and 7th congressional district. Prince also ran, briefly, for mayor last year, and told us they were going to run on a platform of New York City statehood, before never mentioning the idea ever again. “My campaigns never stop,” Prince said at the time, though their Love Gallery would stop operating on Myrtle Avenue by October.  

Signal, which did not respond to a request for comment, writes that they are “hoping for [a] late September or early October [opening],” per their announcement.