About POPvault

We are passionate fans serving fans.

35+ Years in the Making

POPvault didn't start with a business plan — it started with a passion. Founder Brian Poehner has spent more than three and a half decades living and breathing popular culture, music, and entertainment retail. His story is one of the most unique in the industry, and it's the foundation of everything POPvault stands for today.

From Flo's Records to the Front Lines of Entertainment Retail

It all began in 1973 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when a young Brian Poehner walked into Flo's Records and never really left. That first job behind the counter sparked a lifelong love affair with music, pop culture, and the art of connecting fans with the things they love.

From there, Brian's career took off. He became a buyer for Turtles — a regional record chain that grew from 8 stores to over 350 locations nationwide. He learned the business from the inside out: what fans wanted, what moved product, and what made a store feel like home to a music lover.

His expertise caught the attention of one of the biggest names in entertainment: Blockbuster Music, where Brian led merchandising strategy at a national scale. He helped shape the in-store experience for millions of customers across the country during the golden age of music retail.

Building Something of His Own

Never content to just work for someone else's dream, Brian launched his own outlet retail chain — a network of stores that included beloved local names like Manifest, Spinstreet, Bart's, and Record & Tape Traders, all operating under his Music for A Song banner. These weren't just stores — they were community hubs for music fans, collectors, and pop culture enthusiasts.

Brian was also a co-founder of Record Store Day, which celebrates the culture of independent record stores worldwide with exclusive music, video, vinyl, and pop culture collectibles.

But the music industry was changing. The rise of digital downloads and streaming transformed the landscape, and, like many independent retailers, Brian and his business partners sold their stores, which eventually closed. It was the end of an era — but not the end of the story.

POPvault: A New Chapter for Fans

Brian took everything he learned — the buying instincts, the deep knowledge of what fans truly want, the relationships, and the passion — and channeled it into POPvault.

POPvault is a comprehensive popular culture e-commerce store built for fans, by fans. We curate original, quality, unique, and sometimes delightfully bizarre products spanning music, film, television, comics, gaming, and beyond. Whether you're a lifelong collector or just discovering your fandom, you'll find something here that speaks to you.

Our mission is simple: We are passionate fans serving fans. Every product we carry is chosen with care, enthusiasm, and the kind of insider knowledge that only comes from decades in the trenches of entertainment retail.

Why Shop POPvault?

• 🎵 35+ years of entertainment retail expertise behind every product decision
• 🎯 Carefully curated selection of pop culture collectibles, apparel, and accessories
• ⭐ Original, quality, and unique products you won't find just anywhere
• ❤️ Fan-first philosophy — we buy what we'd want to own ourselves
• 🛍️ Trusted curation from a veteran who's seen it all in entertainment retail