America's Most Revered Independent Record Stores

Any list attempting to name the best record stores in the US would necessarily elicit more dissenting opinions than a list of America’s best mothers. People are passionate and particular about their favorite record stores, and any list that doesn’t include hundreds of them is bound to disappoint.

There may soon not be so many to argue over, given the attrition rate of record stores. One store, for example that most certainly would have been on any list—Village Records in California’s Mill Valley, considered by many record collectors to be the best store ever—shut its doors on Sept. 30, ending over four decades in business.

Here, while they still stand, is a list of at least some of the shops across the nation that music fans revere. Count on most of them having daunting amounts of new, used and rare vinyl records and CDs, and a staff that knows more about music than you’d ever want to hear. Stores with particular quirks and qualities are noted.


Atlanta, Ga.:
Ella Guru
2993 N. Druid Hills Road, (404) 325-1350
When a store is named after a Captain Beefheart song, it has a lot to live up to, and Ella Guru doesn’t disappoint, with a vast selection of alternative and rare vinyl and CDs.

Austin, Texas:
Waterloo Records & Video
600-A N. Lamar, (512) 474-2500
This Austin institution has been a vital part of the town’s music scene for decades.

Berkeley, Calif.:
Amoeba Music
2455 Telegraph Ave., (510) 549-1125
1855 Haight St., San Francisco, (415) 831-1200
6400 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 245-6400
While other stores fade, the Amoeba superstores have become must-see destinations. Hardcore collectors can wallow for hours through their bins, while some come just for the memorabilia displays and free performances (which have ranged from new unknowns to Sir Paul McCartney). Some argue that Amoeba is hulking and soulless, but at least it’s alive.

Cambridge, Mass.:
Twisted Village Records
12-B Eliot St., (617) 354-6898

Chicago, Ill.:
Dusty Groove America
1120 Ashland Ave., (773) 342-5800

Council Bluffs, Iowa:
Kanesville Used Records
530 S. 4th St., (712) 328-8731
Most likely the largest collection of used vinyl in the Midwest, with other 750,000 items.

Encinitas, Calif.:
Lou’s Records
434 N. Coast Highway 101, (760) 753-1382

Long Beach, Calif.:
Bagatelle Records
260 Atlantic Ave., (562) 432-7534

Los Angeles:
Record Surplus
11609 W. Pico Blvd., (310) 478-4217

Nashville, Tenn.
Ernest Tubb Record Shop
417 Broadway, (615) 255-7503
For over 60 years, singer Ernest Tubb’s shop has been as much a part of the Nashville scene as the Opry, and nearly everyone in country music has made the pilgrimage to its bins.

The Great Escape
1925 Broadway, (615) 327-0646

New Orleans
Jim Russell Rare Records
1837 Magazine St., (504) 522-2602
Unlike many other Crescent City musical institutions, Russell’s shop of recorded treasures survived Katrina relatively intact.

Louisiana Music Factory
210 Decatur Street, (504) 586-1094
A bit of everything and a considerable lot of Louisiana-made music of all stripes.

New York City

Bleecker Bob's
118 W. Third St., (212) 475-9677
When Bleecker Bob’s—originally named Village Oldies—opened in Greenwich Village in 1967, “Sgt. Pepper” was a newie. Plenty of the records predate the Beatles, or even WWII, but the store was also one of the first to embrace the punk scene and continues to be abreast or ahead of the times.

Sound Library Records
165 Orchard St., (212) 460-4800
A deeper hip-hop selection than many stores, and a resource for DJs seeking new beats.

Strider Records
22 Jones St., (212) 675-3040

Oklahoma City:
Size Records
8915 N. Western, (405) 607-4805.

Omaha, Neb.:
Homer’s Music
1114 Howard St., (402) 346-0264
Check the website for five other locations in Nebraska and Iowa.

Princeton, N.J.:
Princeton Record Exchange
120 S. Tulane St., (609) 921-0881

Reno, Nev.:
Recycled Records
4930 S.Virginia St., (775) 826-4119
812 N.Virginia St., (775) 322-4644

Seattle
Bud’s Jazz Records
102 S. Jackson St., (206) 628-0445
You’ll find a bit of everything here, but, as the name attests, this basement near Pioneer Square is packed with jazz.

Easy Street Records
20 W. Mercer St., (206) 691-3279
4559 California Ave. S.W., (206) 938-3279

Ville Platte, La.:
Floyd's Record Shop
434 E. Main St., (337) 363-2138
For 51 years, the world headquarters for Cajun, Zydeco and swamp rock music, no great surprise since owner Floyd Soileau produced and released many of Louisiana’s seminal records in those genres on his Swallow and other labels.

SOURCE—Jim Washburn for MSN City Guides