Yale University Properties will welcome Grails, a music playground reimagining the record store as a cultural destination, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1020 Chapel Street on Wednesday, October 22, at 11 a.m. with founder King Kenney and distinguished community partners including New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and Hope Chávez, executive director of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven.
Nestled among The Shops at Yale, Grails embodies the lifelong passion of Kenney, a marketing executive, arts advocate, DJ, and music journalist whose journey through sound and culture informs the store’s vision. It is conceived as a gallery of recorded art, an emporium of music-themed curiosities, and a community hub for fellow travelers who speak the language of music fluently.
“At Grails, music is both artifact and legacy, a joy to be shared, preserved, and passed on,” Kenney said.
True to its name, Grails distinguishes itself through a fiercely curated selection of near-mint original pressings, ultra-limited editions, and culturally iconic albums—the kinds of treasures music lovers eagerly pursue as their own grails. It is a space designed not merely for transaction, but for connection—a direct response to the digital drift of music consumption and a celebration of the physical artifact.
The space also carries forward Kenney’s commitment to community through the Grails Scholars Program, which funds need-based, tuition-free music education for New Haven Public School students in partnership with the Neighborhood Music School. Customers can contribute directly through a donation round-up program, with Grails matching every gift to double the impact. “The most honest version of myself has always been the one connected to music,” said Kenney. “It’s the thread that runs from my grandfather beside his turntable to my father the DJ. At Grails, we’re building on that legacy. This is more than a store; it’s the culmination of a personal journey to find a center and create a home for those who, like me, find their joy in the grooves of a record and the community it inspires. The Grails Scholars Program ensures that joy and opportunity are passed on to the next generation.”
Hope Chávez, executive director of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, said Kenney’s pioneering vision and ambitious initiatives with Grails will enrich the community. “I'm so excited that this business is coming to New Haven to add to our city's economic development through the arts,” Chávez said. “King is a tastemaker, community-builder, and an entrepreneur of the highest caliber. It is an honor to have him choose New Haven as both his home and destination for his dream business. Grails will serve our arts ecosystem by promoting local musicians, curating high-value events and experiences, and giving back to the artists and institutions that make us the cultural capital of Connecticut.”
Kenney’s path to Grails is as eclectic as the store’s intended inventory. A former record store employee, music journalist, marketing professor, and DJ, he later channeled his analytical prowess into an M.B.A. from Howard University and a successful career as a growth executive for tech firms and cultural institutions. This unique fusion of deep musical passion and proven business acumen is further informed by his recent tenure as interim executive director of the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, North Carolina—a pillar of the city's historic Hayti district, renowned as a “Black Wall Street" for its robust Black entrepreneurialism and self-sustaining community following the Civil War. This experience underscores a commitment to cultural stewardship that now fuels Grails’ mission to be both a cultural sanctuary and a sustainable, community-oriented enterprise.
“We’re thrilled to welcome King Kenney and Grails to The Shops at Yale,” said David DelVecchio, director of real estate asset management for Yale University Properties. “King’s vision unites creativity, community, and commerce in a way that celebrates both heritage and innovation. Grails will be a space where music, culture, and connection thrive — enriching the spirit of Downtown New Haven.”
Nestled among The Shops at Yale, Grails embodies the lifelong passion of Kenney, a marketing executive, arts advocate, DJ, and music journalist whose journey through sound and culture informs the store’s vision. It is conceived as a gallery of recorded art, an emporium of music-themed curiosities, and a community hub for fellow travelers who speak the language of music fluently.
“At Grails, music is both artifact and legacy, a joy to be shared, preserved, and passed on,” Kenney said.
True to its name, Grails distinguishes itself through a fiercely curated selection of near-mint original pressings, ultra-limited editions, and culturally iconic albums—the kinds of treasures music lovers eagerly pursue as their own grails. It is a space designed not merely for transaction, but for connection—a direct response to the digital drift of music consumption and a celebration of the physical artifact.
The space also carries forward Kenney’s commitment to community through the Grails Scholars Program, which funds need-based, tuition-free music education for New Haven Public School students in partnership with the Neighborhood Music School. Customers can contribute directly through a donation round-up program, with Grails matching every gift to double the impact. “The most honest version of myself has always been the one connected to music,” said Kenney. “It’s the thread that runs from my grandfather beside his turntable to my father the DJ. At Grails, we’re building on that legacy. This is more than a store; it’s the culmination of a personal journey to find a center and create a home for those who, like me, find their joy in the grooves of a record and the community it inspires. The Grails Scholars Program ensures that joy and opportunity are passed on to the next generation.”
Hope Chávez, executive director of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, said Kenney’s pioneering vision and ambitious initiatives with Grails will enrich the community. “I'm so excited that this business is coming to New Haven to add to our city's economic development through the arts,” Chávez said. “King is a tastemaker, community-builder, and an entrepreneur of the highest caliber. It is an honor to have him choose New Haven as both his home and destination for his dream business. Grails will serve our arts ecosystem by promoting local musicians, curating high-value events and experiences, and giving back to the artists and institutions that make us the cultural capital of Connecticut.”
Kenney’s path to Grails is as eclectic as the store’s intended inventory. A former record store employee, music journalist, marketing professor, and DJ, he later channeled his analytical prowess into an M.B.A. from Howard University and a successful career as a growth executive for tech firms and cultural institutions. This unique fusion of deep musical passion and proven business acumen is further informed by his recent tenure as interim executive director of the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, North Carolina—a pillar of the city's historic Hayti district, renowned as a “Black Wall Street" for its robust Black entrepreneurialism and self-sustaining community following the Civil War. This experience underscores a commitment to cultural stewardship that now fuels Grails’ mission to be both a cultural sanctuary and a sustainable, community-oriented enterprise.
“We’re thrilled to welcome King Kenney and Grails to The Shops at Yale,” said David DelVecchio, director of real estate asset management for Yale University Properties. “King’s vision unites creativity, community, and commerce in a way that celebrates both heritage and innovation. Grails will be a space where music, culture, and connection thrive — enriching the spirit of Downtown New Haven.”
Yale University Properties & The Shops at Yale
The Shops at Yale is made up of the Chapel Street Historic and Broadway Districts in Downtown New Haven and includes a mix of retailers and restaurants, such as Apple, lululemon, Warby Parker, J.Crew, Claire’s Corner Copia, Villa Lulu, Sweetgreen, More Amour Boutique, Shake Shack, Raggs, and idiom Boutique. Yale University Properties manages Yale University’s commercial properties, including retail stores, office spaces, and residential units in New Haven. Enabled by Yale's community investment program, University Properties is committed to enhancing the quality of life in New Haven through the development of high-quality retail and office environments and investment in surrounding neighborhoods. As a result of University Properties’ community investment program, Yale University is one of the largest taxpayers in the city of New Haven.For more information contact All About Jazz.
