Vinyl Record Stores in New York

As a teenager I would come to this store to buy all my records I love that is still open for business will be visiting soon

The place that let the music reign. A must for locals, travelers and time lords. Epic selection and clutch deals. Impossible finds, inquisitive conversations and the beta tape you’ve been hunting for. The choicest in election, the beats of beats. You must and find your reality in vinyl form.

Awesome spot and extremely extensive collection. Definitely worth it to stop on through and get a knowledge upload from the legendary owner/DJ Ryan Romanski. He will be happy to point you in the right direction. Hope to see you there soon!!

The thing that bothered me is that some of the tapes for sale didn’t have a price tag, so the clerk searched them online on Discogs before telling me how much they cost. That’s just bad business practice…

I'll say one thing about this guy: he's as honest as the day is long. One time I left my wallet on the counter by mistake & he called me up & told me he had it. And there was 10 bucks in it & he wouldn't even take a reward. When I lived on 10th St. & 3rd Ave this was my go-to place when I broke a (guitar) string.

My favorite vinyl store in Manhattan! I've visited it many times and I always take a bunch of at least 20 records home. Second hand records are in very good shape, and they start at 2 dollars, can't beat that. I've built my RnB , soul and disco collection thanks to A1 Record Shop, it feels authentic and the staff is very helpful. If you are a vinyl fan, please take some time to do some serious digging inside this store.

I stopped by A-1 Record Shop on a whim and ended up staying way longer than I planned. The place has such a funky, cozy vibe that instantly makes you feel at home, like you’re digging through a friend’s personal collection. Crates are packed with vinyl from every genre you can think of, and it’s obvious a lot of care goes into curating what’s on the shelves. The staff were super friendly and genuinely love music. They were happy to chat, give recommendations, and never made me feel rushed while flipping through records. I even brought in a few albums to trade and the process was smooth and fair, which I really appreciated. Whether you’re a serious collector or just starting out, A-1 is one of those shops that makes the whole experience fun and memorable. I left with a couple of great finds and already can’t wait to go back.

A1 Records is a crate-digger's dream. Stumbled upon "The Loft" section—a total nod to David Mancuso’s legacy. Walked out with two gems from that crate alone. The vibes are immaculate and the selection is deep. A must-visit for any serious vinyl lover!

A classic and stylish place with records. Well-organized, good selection. I managed to find a great single. I definitely recommend visiting to any music enthusiast.

Amazing store & experience! One of the longest running record stores in NYC and I can see why. Great selection of vinyl, practically all genres represented. They even have bargain priced records outside the store. Pretty easy to get to and found parking right out front. I recommend getting there around noon when they first open. Staff is very friendly & helpful and the customers in the store were pretty cool, too. Music lovers hanging out together & shopping. I can't wait to go back soon! You could literally spend hours here...and lots of money too.

Amazing record store in Brooklyn. If you love vinyl, this is a must. The place is huge and has a vast selection of many different genres. I've bought great records for 1 or 2 $, and they and in wonderful shape and sound great. I totally recommend this music store if you are crate digging in New York.

Cory gave the best experience when I decided to sell my brother's collection. He was extremely professional and knowledgeable and interested in how my brother collected. He made a very hard decision very easy. The transaction was smooth and priced more than fair. Overall a fantastic experience and I highly recommend them if you are looking to seller buy!!

Knowing Academy records in east village since turn of century, I like how they kept the accessible price point here in Greenpoint as well. That said, I still question the pricing basis the condition of discs (well, I come from Japan where there’s much higher bar for condition), but some good findings in $1 bins. 8/31/25 post. I’m leaving for Japan tomorrow permanently. Will miss this place!!

Nothing wrong with this place - I even prefer it to the manhattan locations. Bigger, stocked, but less cramped. Tons of “new arrivals” across many genres at fair prices. Two listening stations. Pretty big selection ton of new and sealed vinyl, as well as an extensive selection of vintage/used stuff. Rock, funk, soul, world, hip-hop. Great stuff for DJ’s too. Some stereo equipment and merch too. No real notes, except maybe they could offer a cash discount like their competitors do.

As a music enthusiast from Paris, I was thrilled to discover Academy Records Annex. The store boasts an impressive selection of both new and used vinyl records across various genres, including classical, jazz, rock, and blues. I was particularly delighted to find records that are hard to come by in France, all at very reasonable prices. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

Great vynils, from old music to new with all genres. I bought some newer ones and even came back to return one and was offered a "trade" and got the vynil I wanted! Really cool store and kind workers.

I liked the selection of jazz records. The store had two players, and even with waiting for others to finish, I was able to listen to my picks and make a great purchase.

A very lovely little record shop in an unassuming part of New York City! Spent a good hour and a half here and found some absolute gems I've been after for months after digging long enough. Perfect for browsing and staff are super lovely which is a bonus. Will definitely return when in NYC!

A beautiful selection of jazz, old school and contemporary. Was so pleased to find some of my favourite albums by South African + West African musicians in the crates— records I’ve been looking for for a long time. A really nice atmosphere with turntables for you to listen to unsealed records. Will definitely be back!

Great selection of vinyl, picked up some nice house bits, bit a massive selection but decent fir that late 80s House vibe

Super nice staff, amazing selection, and reasonable prices. Go explore!

This place is crammed and I mean crammed with all genres of music, CDs and vinyl, also a smaller range of DVDs. I guess it depends what your taste is and what your looking for but even if they don’t have the item your wanting you can spend ages in there just listening to the tunes and browsing through the never ending products. A few bits were a bit pricey but all in all seemed well priced and loads to choose from.

One of my favorite shops in NYC! I love stopping in to peruse the CD shelves - I never leave here empty handed.

Needed a niche item which they did not have but the associate helped me better understand what I was looking for and recommended places to check! Top quality service.

This is a great place to go for hard to find items. The staff are mellow but helpful, and even if I don't find what I'm really looking for, I seem to come across something else I want. In that respect Academy Records &CDs can be dangerous... in a good way! 👍

An amazing gem of a record store! I had an incredible time browsing around their selection of records, books, and art pieces. The owners of the store are very kind and knowledgeable. I was not very familiar with African music, but the owners recommended two artists to me. I’ve already started listening to my new CDs, and I’m immediately a fan! I highly recommended going this store and chatting with the owners to get some recommendations for great music!

An amazing spot, been there since the '60s. The owner is warm and incredibly knowledgeable (and I believe he produces and issues a lot of the records here too) and happy to make recommendations and play any record you'd like. Most records are about $25, are from amazing African and Caribbean musicians, and generally not findable in other places or platforms. If you aren't a fan yet of African funk and jazz, go here and you will be. I really can't recommend this place enough.

This is my new favorite record store. I found wonderful records, CDs, and tapes there, from Guadeloupe, Dominican Rep., Haiti, Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, and Senegal. They play any record you want and they can describe the sound and style of everything they have. I love Konpa, Zouk, Fuji, Mbalax, Sabar Wolof, etc., but my exposure is limited to a few albums by a very few artists. Well, it won't be as bad after today! I even found some old Gwo Ka. Robert was a wonderful guide. PS: I would ignore the few bad reviews. One should respect their elders. Walking into someone else's space without paying attention to signs or lowering your music volume (or removing one earbud or moving your headphones off a little) so you can have situational awareness shows a lack of common sense. If you don't have the decency to not isolate yourself sensorally at all times from your surroundings, don't be surprised when someone has to find some way of getting your attention, especially if it's someone from an older generation or originally from a culture with less personal space. Instead of blaming others, H. Rosé, take responsibility for your self-centeredness.

Gen of a store that I imagine record-collectors would appreciate even more than me. Owners saw which records we picked up and played them for us! So nice

Don’t be fooled by lack of photos of this place - owner doesn’t like (or allow) photos being taken, but this is a true NY gem of a store. Great stock of original records of African music (Nigeria, Congo, Senegal etc.), 45s, CDs and a lot of original, still sealed cassettes. Wow! There’s even some original 8-tracks here, so just do youself a favour and get here to explore. It’s well worth the trip!

I’m so grateful to Harry at Almost Ready records and the ladies at Watchung booksellers for telling me about this amazing shop. I was looking for Frank Sinatra CDs as a secret Santa gift for someone who shares my love of the chairman. I called and Harry was so amazing he pulled several of the Sinatra CDs he had in stock ready for my arrival and they are the perfect gifts!!

Cool little record store with a very nice fellow running things. Great music playing adds to the atmosphere as does the eclectic decor and deep musical selection. A class act in curation. Will be back when I have a chunk of time to explore properly.

Awesome selection! We have been wanting to stop by here since it opened, but just haven't had a chance yet. So glad we stopped in as it was great. We left with a whole arm full on our first stop and there is plenty more that we left behind that we will most likely go back for.

Nice vinyl (and CDs & cassettes) selection, convenient location on Bloomfield Ave.

Not a huge record store but Geoff says it’s the best prices we’ve seen in a while. Well organized, with a nice 45 section.

Great spot - coffee selection is relatively limited (no espresso machine), but what they have is good and the staff is uniformly nice. Really, I go for the record selection, which is much better than it has any right to be. I mostly stick to the unsorted “new arrivals” where they stick all sorts of used vinyl albums across rock, punk, new wave, and jazz. A little bit of everything and anything. The rest of their collection is fine but less interesting. Also for sale are vintage t-shirts and other memorabilia. Small space, but it’s convenient and local and opens early so you can dig in the crates any time of day. A face

A vinyl shop, with coffee ☕️ tea 🫖 and cozy vibes.

Excellent little vinyl shop with the BEST individualized drip coffee in the neighborhood. Seriously, as a black coffee drinker, this coffee is PERFECT. No bitterness whatsoever.

Great quality coffee with courteous service and friendly staff always. Feels like a place, everyone is welcome and to chill. Dogs are welcome too greeting with a treat. Charming outdoor setup with social distancing compliance during reopening. I have also bought the beautifully made bag by one of the staff (see photos). 10% off any record purchasing if you bring the bag along to carry the records.

Been meaning to check this place out for a while… Chill small record shop, the cold brew isn’t the greatest but at least they have it! Grabbed a Led Zeppelin record…

Great place for used records! I walked out with 13 LPs the first time I visited here. Now I visit this place every time I’m in Brooklyn. This store may be smaller in size compared to other places in Brooklyn, but I found more hidden gems here. Well-procured selections in multiple genres. They also keep their LPs really clean. Even their $1 sections are not to be neglected. I also sold some of my old records here and I was happy with their pricing model and extra discount they provide for sellers like me. Strongly recommended for fans who remember the golden age of music.

Great shop design. More alternative tunes but also a good electronic/house section (new and second hand stuff). What really stands out is the fact that the records are all really clean and well sorted. Welcoming staff who answers all your questions. I highly recommend!

Super well-curated selection and very fair pricing. Staff was really friendly!

I love the Johnson St. location so stopped by this one as well. It’s definitely smaller, but the same amazing organization, staff, and quality. I would go to the Johnson St one since it’s bigger, but definitely definitely stop by if you are in the area. It’s amazingly priced and everything is labeled regarding condition. Again, my favorite record store in NYC.

Really great shop. Friendly staff, great selection, and reasonable pricing! A really great spot to browse and find new favorites and old friends.

Even inside a barber shop the selection is genuinely incredible. I picked up Flower Boy for about the same price as online and there were plenty of other ones like it. They have a great selection of rap, hip hop, soul, rock, Latin and a bunch of other gems. I see people complaining about the price and I’m honestly surprised by how inaccurate people are about vinyl pricing. Vinyls are 30-50 on a good day and the only thing I found that was over 50 was the only Frank Ocean they had (which was the only bootleg they had) which makes pretty good sense to me. I highly recommend that anyone in the area checks it out. Hell, I walked 20 minutes even though there’s a larger store closer to me, but in my opinion had worse selection and variety.

Neat concept and a very good curated selection, I was able to find a pretty rare African Jazz record from a series I'd been looking for. Price range is decent for a shop in the city (maybe a tad high but the quality is there) and taking into account shipping on discogs.

Love this shop! Great selection and awesome, knowledgeable staff. Stopped in and saw some live music by chance. Very cool!

I went to this store a few times while visiting NYC and loved it! incredible finds that I couldn't get back home which made this store stand out from others I went to. The staff were so kind every time I went here and you can tell they love what they do!

Great store with a very friendly owner. I negotiated with him on some prices and found him to be both reasonable and fair. Highly recommended if you’re in the NYC area!

Excited about the new location! So spacious. After visiting 10+ record stores in two weeks after I returned from 15-year absence from NY, this shop is the closest to my image of what a record shop used to be and should be. Nice feeling to dig through and between piles of boxes. 8/31/25 post. I’m leaving back home to Japan! Will miss this shop so much!!

Captured is a record store that reminds me of the days of yore: well organized, curated, high volume shop that is angled specifically at record collectors & people who like to dig for their titles. The singles/7” selection is absolutely wild & I wish I gave myself much more time to leaf through more (1.5hrs is not enough!). The majority of the inventory is used, peppered with a healthy amount of reissues. I saw titles in the new arrivals sections that I haven’t seen in ages (pricing: think Discogs median +/- for coveted titles, de rigueur for 2025 shopping) & I pulled a ton of singles for what I felt were a very fair price. Thanks, Captured, I’ll be back again! 🙏

Amazing record store in NYC! They had a great selection of used vinyl broken up into many genres (which I love to see). I also loved the amount of original posters and photos they had of bands for purchase. The staff were a little unfriendly but other than that, very quality!

Awesome little hidden gem of a record shop. Great rare and off-the-beaten-path albums available here, and the selection rotates often.

Captured Tracks in Brooklyn is hands-down one of the best record stores I’ve ever visited. Their vinyl collection is incredible—carefully curated with everything from classics to rare finds and cool indie gems. You can tell the team here truly loves music. What really sets this place apart, though, is the customer service. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and more than happy to offer recommendations or help you track down a specific album. It’s the kind of spot that makes you want to hang out, flip through crates, and talk music for hours. Whether you’re a serious collector or just getting into vinyl, this place is a must-visit. Brooklyn is lucky to have it!

Great place to buy quality vinyl! Vinyl is in mint condition and at a reasonable price! Wonderful selection of hard to find records in THE central location at Essex Market! Record store owner does not bother you and lets you browse at your own pace! Excellent stickers to add to your collection! Well curated and organized record store! Can’t go wrong with Catalyst Records! The Market Bar is a chill place! You’re not going to find a better value for a drink in Manhattan! Can drink unbothered and relaxed! Cool place for intellectuals!

Wonderful 70’s vibes and the seller played music from that decade too, and he was dressed to the part. We bought one Hamilton Camp record there.

Hosted an event for us, very friendly inviting space. Lots of great merchandise & Gary is a pleasure to work with. Most definitely recommend for events or even if you just wanted to check out a chill record store!

Probably the owner don't remember about me, but I'm from Italy and we bought a vinyl there in october (2024). He's also italian and was a great experience to know him and chat along. He was so nice he even left me and my friend a phone number in case we would have had problems with packing the vinyl in our bags, so that we could have asked for a change. One of the beste experiences I had in NYC. Wish I could travel in New York more often.

just WOW! It was freezing outside and I was hungry so I popped into Essex market and immediately saw this shop. I’ve lived in New York for eight years and only been in the market a handful of times. Gary the super friendly owner ( abnormal for a record store and New York.) tells me they had been open since 2022 and were on the bottom floor for a time. The selection is awesome. The pricing is great. Can’t wait to check out some of their live music!

It is a special place to me. I am always glad to buy CDs without limitations here which I did today if only we had more time to listen to music I come here every time I am in NYC which is not that often. Ps to Bruce: very happy to talk to you and your colleague today. A guy from Switzerland 🇨🇭

One Of A Kind Legendary Record Store In Downtown Manhattan Featuring Great Free Live Music Concerts From Both Local And International Talents Every Tuesday Night! Check The Downtown Music Gallery Website For More Details! Jesse Dulman Native New Yorker

This place is a must for lovers of free, improvised, and experimental jazz. Tons of vinyl and CDs, many of them obscure. The Tuesday night free concerts are not to be missed; Bruce always lines up incredible musicians in fascinating combinations. There's no kitchen or bar, so bring your own snacks and beverages. Bruce Lee Gallanter is a hero to the jazz community; his tireless and unstinting efforts play a big part in keeping weird jazz happening in NYC, and if you don't subscribe to his weekly newsletter, you should. Thanks, Bruce!

We went for jazz vinyls- good selection but service was 10/10 ! The owner was so helpful and nice

Downtown Music Gallery is an institution in the Downtown NY music scene. Bruce is a walking encyclopedia of creative, experimental, and various non-mainstream music. If you want to find obscure music that is not Taylor Swift or something along that line, this is the place to go, no question.

Tucked away on the second floor of a non-descript building, Duty Free is the definition of a hidden gem. The type of record store you stumble upon, and wish you had known about sooner. I’ve pulled some rare Brazilian records as well as an array of dance floor friendly 12” on the cheap. If you’re a DJ you’ll love this spot as the owner has an eclectic taste complete with two listening stations, which makes the experience fulfilling.

Hidden gem that provides sound & silence all in the one place - pull up for a quiet reflection or conversation & enjoy the curated list of drinks & vinyls

A wonderful place to chill out with your pals. You can buy and listen to records With an amazing caffe. Very relaxing. Highly recommend.

Duty Free Records is inside Silence Please on the second floor of the building, a little hard to find if you're just walking by. I was there for a tea tasting/ambient DJ set last night and got to check out the store. They have an amazing selection of used dance/house vinyl (in addition to other genres that I didn't really explore) at very affordable prices. And listening booths so you can preview before buying, which I really appreciate. Will definitely be stopping by a ton when I'm in the area, highly recommend for the vinyl heads out there!

Yo, been meaning to review this place. Great staff awesome selection perfect location. Lowkey the perfect date spot. Would give six stars if I could

I love how there is no pressure to just browse—seriously I bought nothing but browsed for a good 40 minutes. Staff is so kind and actually the recommendations here are so so so fascinating (definitely not the usual stuff)! The staff posted notes all over the store with their recommendations and I just found it so interesting to read. Never knew about Grauzone, but Eisbär was such a fun find!

what makes this record store special are the 8 track cassettes, working 8 track cassette players and other other equipment, and the extremely friendly staff! i never have more than a couple bucks to spend on each record but this christmas was an exception and i splurged a little bit. the nice lady behind the counter helped soothe my indecisiveness and point out what was individually unique about each record. really a flawless experience.

Delighted to discover this shop, with a wealth of unusual music. The fellow behind the counter was playing some exceptionally unwelcoming industrial experimental music when we arrived so was super happy to hear that actually! Plenty of choices from avant garden to reggae, film soundtracks to used vinyl. A small selection of 7" singles and CDs too. And walls covered in rare items. Will certainly be returning next time I'm in NY.

Diana was super helpful in getting me setup with a turntable for our gelato shop and she had some excellent suggestions of records that I picked up!!!

I go here monthly to buy a record, always has a good selection of contemporary and classic staples. Friendly staff with great knowledge of music and its history.

I love how there is no pressure to just browse—seriously I bought nothing but browsed for a good 40 minutes. Staff is so kind and actually the recommendations here are so so so fascinating (definitely not the usual stuff)! The staff posted notes all over the store with their recommendations and I just found it so interesting to read. Never knew about Grauzone, but Eisbär was such a fun find!

what makes this record store special are the 8 track cassettes, working 8 track cassette players and other other equipment, and the extremely friendly staff! i never have more than a couple bucks to spend on each record but this christmas was an exception and i splurged a little bit. the nice lady behind the counter helped soothe my indecisiveness and point out what was individually unique about each record. really a flawless experience.

Delighted to discover this shop, with a wealth of unusual music. The fellow behind the counter was playing some exceptionally unwelcoming industrial experimental music when we arrived so was super happy to hear that actually! Plenty of choices from avant garden to reggae, film soundtracks to used vinyl. A small selection of 7" singles and CDs too. And walls covered in rare items. Will certainly be returning next time I'm in NY.

Diana was super helpful in getting me setup with a turntable for our gelato shop and she had some excellent suggestions of records that I picked up!!!

I go here monthly to buy a record, always has a good selection of contemporary and classic staples. Friendly staff with great knowledge of music and its history.

Broad selection of genres at extremely reasonable prices. Got a right few bargains in the bins outside. Turntable available so you can give them a spin before you purchase. Adrian seems a sound fella as well. Recommended👍👍

Good selection, cool spot. Unfortunately, as a few previous reviews note, this guy is so condescending.. Customer service not his strong point.. Hopefully he works on this. Jack Black in High Fidelity vibes, minus being funny.

Excellent collection. Ended up buying 6 vinyl. Worth visiting.

One room shop for the seasoned music heads with a very good used selection plus a very excellent curation of new product on the forefront of edgy contemporary dance/jazz/outsider folk/spacey electronic/experimental & reissue stuff. I could have easily spent a grip of cash if i was still buying vinyl. Only drooling today.

One of the best record stores in New York. Some very nice people work here — shouts out to Russell — and they treat their returning customers so well. The space is not big but they have a wide selection just about for every taste. It’s one of the few stores in NYC where you can find new experimental/electronic releases that are otherwise only available online. Used records are reasonably priced. Bring cash!

If I could give I give zero stars. I wouldn’t recommend spending your hard earn money here. Better shopping at bigger record stores with more professionalism. I placed an order about a month ago no delivery. Send two emails to find out status no respond. Send a dm to social media account and they responded by telling me to send an email about the status of order. The website said nothing about being a pre order. A respond would be nice but even better would be my order actually getting shipped as this order is was placed with good intentions and expectations of having it on time for someone’s birthday. I’ve placed orders overseas and they’ve arrived faster.

Can I give them zero stars? I ordered a pre-order in December 2024 along with two other items. I was told the other two items would be received when the pre-order came out. I was then told the other two items were not in stock when the pre-order came out. I have not received anything 7 months later and am now being ghosted as I asked for a refund. SO if you want to work with a record label or associated store that steals from its listeners then by all means buy something from them. But I'd advise purchasing artists on this label elsewhere...UPDATE: After 7 months I did receive all three items in my purchase.

Edit: I received my first order that was directly ordered from the Firetalk website. I was advised that I should order from UK retailers, as its complicated and expensive for small business to print off a label and charge me for postage? Unfortunately I had originally ordered a release through Bandcamp that I'M STILL WAITING FOR! If you're ordering from outside the US I'd strongly advise against it!!! ordered on Jan 1st still no records or refund. Apparently they had to let their international orders "team" go. but its now been months since the offer of a refund and still nothing. AVOID THIS STORE!

Small but tasteful selection, nice to stop into to get a break from the cold weather.

Small and well-curated

This is a dope place 💎💎💎 For The Record has a unique mix of contemporary, funk, Japanese, and jazzy music. The espresso tonic is fun. ☕️ Chill vibes and it made my day to come here to check out new and used vinyl, CDs, cassette tapes, and custom wall murals. Even sweeter is the local owner Lucas. Thank you for being kind and cool. Your attention to detail is refreshing, dude. I found an assortment of music that works for my growing collection. Cheers 💎 ------ Lovely Updates- I tried out the iced oat milkkk matcha with pandan syrups... ✅✅✅ As for Kombucha, there's a BK local-brewer, 💘I'll have to try it out next! #positive-vibes

This place is the best. I went for a listening party and the owner Lucas was so accommodating and hospitable. The space was filled to capacity with emo kids scream singing Hayley Williams and Lucas was vibing along with us. Great energy. Very cool experience. Will be back.

Best coffee shop in Brooklyn. Hands down. Records. Occasional live Music. Great Java. 5 star.

I came here for Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party Listening Party - it was my first time here and the vibes immaculate! The crowd - perfection. I sang and danced my heart out.

When you come here you are guaranteed to walk out with a smile. The owner, Lucas, is such a genuine human being and you can tell by the way he greets you & the way he remembers you from the moment you walk in. Our recent trip was for Record Store Day, a day that is very fun but almost guaranteed to be hectic. Not only did Lucas organize a special day so well, but he also made it enjoyable, and 'for the community'. I really appreciate and respect how he makes everyone feel. Being able to experience it myself as a happy customer, but also to witness it from everyone who comes in. Not to mention, the beverages and coffee being a great additional touch to the wide range of records available to browse. Today was really great, and so is every time that I come to this spot. Definitely check it out when you get the chance. And Lucas, thanks for making this spot so great.

A great record store in Manhattan,I was looking for a couple of rare vinyl records and I was lucky enough to find one of them: George Duke's Brazilian Affair. The staff was very helpful during my visit. I've also got Blondie's Rapture 7" edition. If you are fan of metal and punk, this is heaven, not my music taste but there's a huge selection of this genre in the basement. Worth a visit!

As a vinyl lover from Asia, visiting Generation Records felt like stepping into paradise. It’s hard to find such a well-stocked collection of American pop vinyls — even in cities like Tokyo, most used vinyl records stores lean heavily toward metal, rock, or jazz. But here, I found tons of 80s U.S. pop records, neatly categorized and easy to browse, especially in the basement level. The organization by artist made it super efficient to hunt for treasures, and I did find many — including a rare 1950s live concert recording and some amazing soundtracks. Prices were very fair, and there’s even a bargain section if you have more time to dig. I walked out with six records for under $33 — an absolute steal, especially in Manhattan! One customer nearby said, “The smell is so great,” and I totally agreed — that distinct scent of vinyl and nostalgia fills the entire space and makes it all the more magical. I didn’t have time to explore the cassette section or merch like T-shirts this time, but I’ll definitely be back. Thank you, Generation Records, for keeping this treasure alive in NYC.

Love this place! My husband and I are starting a vinyl collection. He's an "old crusty punk," so I needed someone who understands his preferences. The guy who helped me knew exactly where to steer me. My husband flipped out when he saw what I got him. Plus the store does its own pressings, which adds to their quals. Nice T-shirt offerings, too.

Great used section with amazing prices for the city. The new section has lots of options, not as cheep but that's kinda the norm. It's hard to not find at least one thing you like, no matter your music taste

One of my favorite record shops in NYC. I always seem to find larger catalogs of musicians that are sold in near mint conditions for a stellar price. If you're debating where to score some sweet wax, Generation Records is the spot.

My husband is a DJ and a friend of his mentioned this store to me. I called the store and speaking to someone named Jane felt like I knew her for years! She was the nicest everrrrrr!!! I went to the store but they only had one case of the 2 cases I needed, so I purchased the one and told them i was coming back after the holidays for the 2nd one. I never gave them a date. When I went to pick up the other part, a worker had it in the front waiting for me!!! He said he remembered telling me he would put it aside for me when the shipment came in. With that being said, the staff is AMAZINLY friendly and kind. The price was matched and I was pleasantly pleased. I highly recommend a million times over!

I used to be a loyal customer of Rock and Soul and would always buy my Shure N447 replacement needles from Sharon. She would always say they are the Jico ones which are the best ones for replacement of the n447 needles stylus. Until I found out that Sharon was selling me generic white fake n447 needles instead of the Blue OEM Jico Needles. She was charging me the same price as OEM but selling me cheap generic aftermarket Knock offs, and lying to me about it. It's a shame because this is the store i bought all my DJ equipment for the first time, just to find out Sharon screwed me over just for a few bucks. Once the business transitioned from David to Sharon, Rock and Soul haas been going downhill ever since. Sharon does not know how to take care of her loyal long time customers, and just thinks about making money today. Year after year less customers buy from Rock ad Soul. The DJ community is small and we all talk. We are the reason you exist, once you screw us over you won't have anything left. BE AWARE of the items you buy from Sharon at Rock and Soul, and please check online retailers to make sure you're not being ripped off like I was. Shame on you Sharon. This was a family run business that I was proud to support, and now it's being run like a scam shop! DO NOT SHOP HERE!

Rock & Soul absolutely came through for me. I was on a tight timeline putting together a rooftop DJ setup, and their team was super responsive from the first call. They asked the right questions about the space, crowd size, and my gear, then recommended a system that was exactly what I needed, with no upsell and solid advice from people who clearly know sound. Pickup and return were straightforward, everything was ready when I arrived, and the staff walked me through the setup so I felt confident before I even left the shop. The system sounded great all night with zero issues. I highly recommend Rock & Soul if you need audio gear in NYC and want real expertise along with quick, responsive service.

10/10, I visited this shop in October and had an amazing experience. The staff is warm and welcoming, and I genuinely had a great time. They gave me great guidance and made me feel completely comfortable throughout my visit. Coming from England, I truly appreciated how well I was received, so a big thank you to the whole team. Their selection of music equipment is incredible, and their range of records is impressively curated. I’ll definitely be back on my next trip to New York.

Truly a gatekeeper's worst fear! Rock and Soul has endless music equipment options. Pretty much anything you think of, they most definitely have. The environment here is so friendly and very welcoming. Employees seem very happy to help and have amazing recommendations. Not only does it offer equipment, but it also offers DJ classes! which I wouldn't get at any old Rental spot.

More than just a record store this is a community! For reasons I don’t want to go into here, I just want to say that Travis really helped my family and my son’s friends out in the best way possible allowing us to remember Luke in one of his favorite places. Human Head stock a great selection of records across a wide range of genre’s and you don’t need to dive far to find gold. As a world traveler who loves vinyl - Human Head Records is not just a great New York record store, it’s a great record store period. You will not be disappointed.

Human Head Records is one of my favorite record stores in NYC, hands down. I’m a regular both in-store and on their Discogs page, and every experience has been solid. The shop itself has that classic record store vibe, the smell of old vinyl, yes, even a little moldy at times, which I personally love :) and rows of crates you can get lost in for hours. What really makes the place stand out is the team. D, who has helped me several times including today, deserves a big shout-out. He’s patient, super knowledgeable, and always has a great attitude. Today he went above and beyond being extra patient with my order, and I really appreciate that kind of service. Shops like this thrive because of people like him. The stock here is fantastic, excellent condition, fair prices, and always something new to discover. I live in the Bronx and they are absolutely worth the trip out to Brooklyn. When I can’t make it in person, I also order from their Discogs page and the shipping is always smooth. If you love vinyl, this is the kind of shop that makes collecting special. Great records, service, and always a great reason to come back.

Incredible selection of records for an insanely good price. You’ll get lost in here for hours if you’re not careful. Travis the owner is the loveliest guy too and so generous. The best spot in NYC for records!!!

My own experience at this place felt nostalgic and cool just browsing the store and learning new things

One of the best record stores in Brooklyn! (And NYC too) I was in a real jam, and the guys at Human Head Records offered the best prices for my vinyl collection. I highly recommend visiting them if you're selling, and want to be treated fairly. Thanks again for the help.

Nice little shop with good amount of used records. Didn’t meet my preferences of Jazz, Soul, Brazilian gems, but it’s nice to have listening station to try records that you don’t normally look for but catch your eyes. There’s a good encounter. No bag is offered after purchase, but it may be because I bought only one.

Iris is my go to local record store and it’s my favorite. If you ask me about record shopping in North Jersey, the first place I’m recommending is Iris. I’m a long time customer and it’s a beautiful shop. It’s very organized and I always leave there with some good finds. It’s been a favorite place to shop since I started collecting years ago. I love all the section, you can always find good store here. Record shopping is an adventure and Iris is the place to dig for an adventure.

Dope products. Off the grid in my eyes. Just sold some rusty yet notable 12" vinyls. Much more in their store tho. Betta go get some B4 it's gone!

My friend and I stopped here on accident and they had the best selection I have seen, also the people that worked there are extremely nice and I can tell they really work there for their love of music and records, definitely a hidden gem

I was able to find a rare album at a great price, with lightning fast shipping and great personal service from Iris Records. I will shop here again, THANK YOU!!🎶🙏

I initially came here for a work shop; but soon discovered how dope this record shop is. The music selection playing in the store & the energy in here was immaculate. Ali was very welcoming, respectful and accommodating. There’s a wide selection of new & vintage vinyl so I will definitely be back to shop. If you're a vinyl lover like myself and/or just love aesthetically pleasing atmospheres, support this black owned business & follow them on IG too: @legacydumbo 🪩

Legacy is great! The shop has a super cool aesthetic with cool album covers on the walls, real dope art and even incense, not to mention the great music playing in the store, which really adds to the vibe. They also have really great used records (which still play nicely) for great prices. Went I went Haile Ali was in the shop and he was super helpful.

Legacy is an experience! The shop is welcoming and feels like home. The atmosphere and ambience is unmatched. The owner and staff are dope. I love record shops where I cam take my time to dig, have conversations with other customers and the staff and legacy gave me all of that. If you are in BK in dumbo stop by to dig and show Legacy some love!

Iconic record store, with a cosy vibe, great staff, and always a well-curated collection. Minus one star for the latest RSD in April 2025. They had no RSD participation and didn’t get any releases in, but still publicised their “curated” collection which was just a good restock of non-RSD records. Felt quite disingenuous to the consumer to jump on the RSD hype without participating, and they can do better in future.

Total MCM atmosphere with a very eclectic selection of vinyl. Extremely service animal friendly. It's a definite vibe. The owners are top notch.

Very cool record shot with rare records! They were cool enough to let me and my clients who are big music lovers take a few photos in here while they weren’t busy. Loved this shop and how intimate it felt. We also ended up buying a record too!

Amazing shop, small but mighty. Owner super friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Lots of gems especially if your into punk, hardcore and metal.

Rare curated selection of punk, metal, hardcore and emo. Some other genres as well. Owner is extremely knowledgable, prices fairly, and does his best to get the rarest he can find. If you love hard-to-find heavy records, this store might be your best bet on the whole east coast. The only store that I have been to that competes is Meteor Gem in Chicago.

This is such a great little shop with very hard to get records. The owner is very knowledgeable, their records go quick so make sure to follow them on Instagram, so you'll have an idea of what they got in.... I left out of there a Devo fan as he was playing their first album and it resonated with me, so I had to buy it..... So if you're in Manhattan, make this place one stop on your list, you will not regret it!

Kristian is always getting get albums. Rarities. And he is just super knowledgeable about the genres and subgenres that the store is specialized in. It's always worth stopping in. Only downside is I always leave with more than I intend upon getting! But that's not really a bad thing

After spending couple days in New York and searching through several different record shops for Hip Hop vinyls, I was tremendously surprised by the great selection, which was mostly in mint condition! Not to mention that I've found several records there, which were nowhere to be found all around New York. Also had a pleasant experience with the owner, where I was able to get free cap and jersey as a small compensation. If you are looking for Hip Hop records in New York, don't miss out on Loundmouth!

the best record store in NYC for live events in the backyard space. the store also has an incredible selection of all genres, but in particular a niche curated section of underground hip-hop gems. the staff is friendly, the clothing is local and beautiful, and they have cassettes and art for sale as well. anyone who loves music and creativity should go to Loudmouth BK.

Wonderful and friendly space! The people were positive, Diani’s performance was stellar and the backyard was lovely.

Amazing place. Took me right to the nostalgia of my childhood: Wu-Tang Clan & A Tribe Called Quest, even Led Zeppelin!! The guy at the desk name was Sam, he was super cool and just as hype as i was to crate dig through records and just take in the old school euphoria. Definitely will be returning.

Loudmouth is a wonderful storefront! A curated space for record lovers, music aficionados, and all things art and culture! I remember the first time i walked in, i was taken aback from the immaculate record catalog that reflected my own mind. Something i dont see often at all. Upon meeting the owner, Sam. I realized this guy and his spot is the real deal! I find it hard to believe that someone could walk into this store and not find something that speaks to them on a level of realness and that persuades them to buy it! It's an awesome addition to the neighborhood of Bedstuy!

Just being a tourist looking for dance records. They have a great selection of techno from minimal to dark and sinister techno, house music was huge tech house was many, Disco and New Disco which is more like house and disco music had a baby and you realy want this newborn. I think most of the vinyl sold are brand new pressings. I bought a lot of Liquid Drum and Bass and Jungle. The owner is very nice. He was very helpful with explaining how he has everything organized. He has each record labeled with a link directly to a few minutes sample of each track so bring your phone and headphones. It really makes it easy to go through the records and if you're around purist he has 4 turntables for us to listen to the vinyl. Great place with a great atmosphere. I'll be back to finish my set.

Recently visited this record shop on a trip from CA. Great selection, great customer service! Purchased approximately $375 worth of records and it was worth every penny. Highly, highly, highly recommend for any electronic music lover.

I had a terrible experience just within minutes of entering this record store. my two friends and I enter the store since it looked interesting, and we were just hoping to sift through the records out of curiosity. The worker there around 6:30-6:50 PM was already busy on their phone, not paying us any mind. The only conversation we had was a hurried “Yeah” when we asked if the store was open. We made sure to gently file through records as we recognize they can be delicate, but some records leaned over within the basket. My friend immediately adjusted the records when the worker, still on his phone might I add, made his way over to us. He was unusually close to my friend’s face, barely a foot or two away. He asked if we needed help, to which we responded that we were just looking around for now. He asked what music we liked, and we answer pop and rock, and he immediately said we’re not going to find that kind of music here. We said no worries and reaffirmed we’re just browsing for now. We picked up on the unwelcoming and hostile nature of his tone, prompting my friend to ask if he wanted us to leave. The worker gave a tight smile and warned, “just respect the records.” We left the store immediately on account of his surveilling behavior and regretted even entering the store. If you want to be judged for your curiosity and policed for music taste, by all means enter this record store and request for the worker with the black hat, gray hairs, and bad posture, so he can make you feel unwanted as he speaks on the phone within breathing distance from your face (especially if you are a person of color).

I'm so glad I found this place! 🤍 This is a total gem of a record shop that is dedicated to electronic music. If you're a fan of House and Techno, you will 100% fall in love with this place. I picked out a random tech house record from here and brought it home and ABSOLUTELY loved it! The owner was also suuuper friendly and helpful. Great vibes. Can't wait to come back for more!

Wow. An absolutely amazing place. Beautifully curated. Owner played awesome tracks. Fabulous selection. Must see for people who are into electronic music

Well kept record store rich in underground and atmospheric music. Not a lot of big names in the selection, but instead fair prices and selected releases. Worth the visit if if in Brooklyn area.

if your looking for alt music, this is the place to be - not a single Taylor swift record in sight!! I picked up a random assortment of CDs for $3-4 a piece, like a little mystery grab bag of things I'd never heard of because that's how I did it as a teen. We didn't ask for any assistance but I heard the staff helping someone out and they sounded helpful and friendly. Would honestly make the 4 hour flight back to NYC just to go here and find more treasures again.

I came to this store to get a record for my boyfriend, and asked the girl that was working there to wait a few days and not mark it as sold on discogs (so that he won’t notice that it was sold & for it to be a surprise) Thank you lots!!!!

Absolutely love this store, they’ve got a great selection and a very cool staff team. The owner is awesome, very friendly and fun to talk to about music. He’s pretty knowledgeable about more obscure bands, which is pretty much a requirement given their selection. I have found so many gems whenever I visited, and they had a pretty amazing showcase when they came to TV Eye for the Metal Merchants Market. I spent so much, I’m too ashamed to say the total amount hahaha. I can say though that I found Weakling - Dead as Dreams on cassette when they were at TV Eye, for a great price no less. I thought I’d never see a copy in person, for this alone they deserve 5 stars. Support local stores!

liked this place a lot. i went here to check out cassette tapes. i was worried it would be a collector type store with everything being expensive but it was mostly weird new releases by small bands, some of them only running you a few dollars (at least with the stuff i was looking for). also a very large selection for a smaller place. also, despite being a place that *could* be filled with a bunch of elitist jerks, the staff was generous with their time with not just finding things but also about where to find more concerts in the area based on what i liked/ was buying.

Great store!! The best is that the owner or manager is super helpful, guides you with what they have in stock, any additional information etc. Great prices, nice sofa to hang out and also a player with headphones to listen to the music you're looking to purchase. You can easily spend a whole afternoon there, highly recommended.

Such a great shop. They feature a truly unique curation of records that's unlike any other spot in the city. It's a fairly small space but the selection is robust. The records are cleaned, in plastic covers and fairly priced. I will certainly be returning!

Best record store in NYC (according to my tastes 🙃). Fantastic selection of Japanese/Korean/Chinese music at an honest prices. The owner is super friendly, helpful, and made me discover so many great records every time I go. Every time I come back home with a new fantastic gem.

Unbelievable selection of Synth Pop and City pop. Great place to find that rare album uou are looking for.

This is a great record store. The owner graciously gave us recommendations for turntables. We are forever grateful to him for getting us started on our vinyl journey!

This is a review for the POP MART store in the Oculus, I visited around 10 AM on November 26th 2025, it was not crowded whatsoever. I have read other reviews saying the store is small and cramped, I did not feel that way when I was there. Maybe from what I can gather they recently moved to a better store/location. The store was on the 2nd floor. I went to get my daughter some Labubus, they had plenty available. We got a BIE and an exciting Macaron. There was also lots of different sized ones available. I will attach some pics. Also I seen other reviews saying there were no bags, however this was not the case, we got a bag for our Labubus when we left, so maybe they upgraded.

Our obsession lately and they now have it in NYC located in the Oculus mall on the second floor. This was a nice store but still only had a small selection and some old but not all the latest models. Prices are going up and probably due to tariff price hikes. The staff are helpful when they can. Would still come back to browse when I come back again.

Great place to find gifts for your friends. It got different types of toys and plushies. Today they didn’t have bags to give so make sure you bring your own.

Such a cute little store. I came in to see if by some infinitesimal chance they had any Labubus. I asked a helpful employee who directed me to the register where I was able to select a big into energy blind box! The cashier was friendly and let ppl choose whichever box they wanted from the shelf behind the register. You never know so if you're nearby might as well stop in to see if you'll be lucky enough to snag something. Lots of other non-Labubu toys and figurines available too.

Pop Mart is a colorful, eye-catching store that feels like stepping into a playful art gallery mixed with a toy wonderland. Its shelves are lined with rows of beautifully designed “blind box” collectibles—small figurines sealed in mystery packaging, so you never know which character you’ll get until you open it. The designs range from cute and whimsical to edgy and artistic, featuring collaborations with well-known artists and Pop Mart’s own iconic characters like Molly, Dimoo, and Skullpanda.

The best record store in NYC. There is also a listening room that you can book out where you can listen to your new vinyls on good listening equipment. Really cool place

This by far is the best record store I have been to they will have everything you need and than some plus the fair was a great experience and the service is phenomenal

Amazing staff! Visiting from Jersey and Sam was the BEST! Made us feel so comfortable and welcome! Would definitely recommend for lovers of hip hop! Had a great selection and so many things I’ve never seen before! Will definitely be coming back!

This shop sells on Whatnot. I was blocked from a live stream for asking why a record was priced so high. Instead of providing helpful context, like whether it was a special edition, variant, or rare pressing.. the seller chose to block me. That lack of transparency and communication is unacceptable. Blocking someone for asking a fair question reflects poor customer service and unprofessional, frankly ghetto behavior. This kind of attitude is exactly why some small businesses struggle to succeed. They can’t handle questions, they can’t explain their pricing, and they treat potential customers like a problem instead of an opportunity. If you’re confident in your product and your price, answering a question shouldn’t scare you. If you can’t explain your pricing or engage respectfully with potential buyers, you shouldn’t be selling in a live marketplace.

One of my favorite record stores! They have an assortment of dope vinyl!! Some I’ve never laid eyes on before. Don’t walk, RUN and check them out! Also the staff is so helpful!!

awesome selection and friendly staff! i just got into cassette tapes, and he was super nice and knowledgeable! definitely recommend, especially for niche record genres.

I’ve always liked this local record store and even told a friend visiting from abroad to check it out. I’ve bought a few great records there myself over the years. Unfortunately, his experience couldn’t have been more disappointing. He went in hoping to find something special to gift his dad back home, but instead of being greeted or offered help, he was told, “Don’t waste your time here, you won’t find what you’re looking for. You can check outside the $2 rack.” It’s disheartening to hear that kind of response from a place I’ve supported and recommended. A little kindness or curiosity would have made all the difference. Sadly, that one moment cost them both a customer and a bit of the good will they’d built.

Stopped by this record store while strolling through park slope with friends in the area. They had a lot of good things to say about their experiences here and I’m glad we got to pop in. It is very small, but that’s what makes browsing through the records fun. The owner was great and had a lot of good things to say about our purchases. He was also jamming some Sudan Archives in the shop, so what is not to like??

Shops like Psychic Records are exactly why we live in a neighborhood. Personal, local, curated. It makes THIS block unlike any other block. And in the face of our increasingly homogeneous, corporate cityscape, it helps us remember that this is how it���s actually supposed to be. Also, they had a really dope Ethio Jazz selection and this one Lo Ya Tengo reissue I was looking for, so nice one there as well. You should go give them your money.

Used to go to Music Matters ..glad the new ownership...while changing the name and the store around they kept the same spirit. They still have a good collection of CDs and more vinyl.

This is one of the most “Brooklyn” restaurant/cafes I’ve been to in the borough. As a non-vegan, the food was exceptional and probably had the best cup of coffee I’ve had in a while. The atmosphere is what ties this all together, upon getting seated I realized how well the acoustics sounded topped off with some J Dilla to really set the mood. Me and the wifey are coming back with friends!

It's my second time here to see top notch underground House DJ's. I appreciate that those who showed up are actual house heads who come to enjoy the music and craft of the selectors. The entire public records crew do a great job of keeping things moving and ensuring we have a good time. While there are the girlies and bros who don't dance and take space on the dance floor talking killing the vibe, they are usually gone by 1am and then the real house heads can enjoy. Can't wait to come back!

Stopped by for brunch today. Absolutely delicious and creative food, awesome vibes and very friendly and professional service! Loved every second.

Had a great night, DJs were great but it seemed like nobody was dancing and just chit chatting all over the dancefloor? Seems like a much younger crowd. (22-25) I guess in Boerum Hill there is no other comparable venue. No hate it was my first time here and I had a wonderful experience with my friends. Thank you ❤️💕

I was here for an event to listen to a new record that was being released tonight. It was a bit confusing once we arrived… there’s a restaurant, a club downstairs, a lounge/listening room upstairs. We initially went inside the restaurant and were told to go wait outside until a black door opened. When it opened, we stood in line to get our tickets and IDs checked but were told by the staff that we were upstairs, so we had to go back outside and enter another black door. We ended up going upstairs to the listening room that had a small bar in the back. It’s a nice area; brightly lit during the day but intimate once the sun sets but extremely hot inside (they only had the windows open). Got a couple of beers (from Threes Brewing) to drink while listening to the entire record. It was pretty cool since the artist, Eliana Glass, was sitting right next to us since her friends were sharing a table with us. We didn’t realize it was her until we overheard their convo. She ended up performing a couple of her songs live. Definitely an interesting experience that we would have no clue about if Spotify hadn’t informed us of the free ticketed event.

a dream come true in plenty of ways. great selection of clean records at reasonable prices. gems abound...i say this at my own detriment to help support this local business

Pretty cool little shop. He’s got some cool synths and video glitch stuff in here too.

Super sick new spot In the area for records of all kinds at great prices. Great hip hop selection. Definitely worth a trip down to this vibrant area of Brooklyn for locals and visitors alike!!

Such a great addition to the neighbourhood. Love the curation, and owners are super lovely and knowledgeable. My new go to!

Nice owners and lovely addition to the neighborhood

My neighborhood favorite. Definitely a reggae-forward selection, with a large center island full of reggae 45’s. Good selection of funk and soul. Always good stuff in the new arrivals bins. Also, everyone who works there is nice. Very fair prices and they stand behind their ratings. No new vinyl for the most part. Always happy to give them my money

5.5 stars. My wife and I love this place! There are plenty of reggae and soul records to choose from, along with a large assortment of rare finds—from jazz to African music. Also, don't be afraid to pull up a stool and dig through the bargain bins. I've plucked a few records from there that filled gaps in my growing collection.

Definitely helps to fill the void of lack of record stores in this particular part of Brooklyn. Mainly specializes in reggae but all genres of vinyl can be found here, including the occasional used 80s new wave album or hardcore 7 inch, and certainly lots of random 70s and 80s classic rock, pop and soul vinyl. Good, kind people too! Support your local record stores before they disappear!

Fantastic place for Jamaican vinyl. One of the very few times I have dropped $200 on records.

Hands down one of my top 3 record stores in the world!! Friendly staff that knows music and an incredible selection of records for sale. They add to the bins regularly to keep stock fresh and over the years I have crossed many rare tunes off of my wantlist that I thought I would never find thanks to record city! I must say.. If you are new to record collecting dont be thrown off by some of the records being $40 dollars or more, while this may seem high compared to most new vinyl, the prices whatever they may be are still a great deal and typically less than you would find those rare records online or at other record stores. Plenty of tunes under $10 and bargain bins galore as well so really something here for everyones budget. Always a joy to pass thru this shop and always deals galore for you and yours!

Fun spot to hunt for jazz and blues records and CDs. Prices are generally fair, though there are no bargains to be found and I found it to be slightly higher than average (hence four instead of five stars). Still, the stock is plentiful and there are fun additions like posters and books about jazz as well. I’ll likely make it part of my rotation on my semi-annual NYC record hunting, but only for special items.

Be warned: the owner is one of the rudest human beings I have encountered in my life (I should have read the reviews). I arrive at 5:15. No elevator access to 8. I call, he picks up and insists the elevator is working. It is not. He sighs, hangs up mid sentence, comes down, waves at me behind his back to get on. Not a great first impression. Upstairs, I browse through and purchase a couple of records. After some internal debate I calmly let him know that I did not appreciate his rudeness earlier. No apology. Says he is “tired” and I was the first person with elevator problems, as if this had never happened before (I see this happened to others according to reviews). Rushes me out the door with even more attitude this time. This absolutely infantile behavior from a fully grown man left me too stunned to speak. It was almost comical. Needless to say I will not be returning, regardless of what this store carries which doesn’t seem all that special anyway compared to the many great record shops of NY. The owner should take some time to reflect on his character, but I’m afraid it’s too late for him if he hasn’t learned by now.

The selection is large, but it lacks unique finds and current advanced releases even from leading labels. I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit, especially given the service: the salesperson I encountered was impatient and unwelcoming, with little interest in helping customers. Bottom line: don’t bother going unless you have no other option.

Great collection. But extremely impolite and rude owner! What a miserable old man! I heard him insulting a client for ringing the bell twice ...Prices are fair, but not cheap either

A must-stop for lovers of physical media, rare finds, and good music. The largest collection of jazz I’ve ever seen.

Very reasonably priced albums - some sought after Dylan. A friendly and knowledgeable owner who is so generous with his time. The shop and owner are great credit to NY.

Lots of good records, but the man in the shop accused my friend and me of going in the store only to take pictures and he was getting mad at us. He said, “are you actually gonna buy that or do you just want to take a picture,” among other things. I just wanted a record, so I bought it, but I should have just left 😭. Great store, strange experience, made me sad.

Extremely uncomfortable experience. The owner kept staring at us the entire time and repeatedly asked if we were buying anything. It felt like we were being watched instead of helped. I’ve never felt so uncomfortable just trying to shop, so we ended up leaving without purchasing anything. Definitely not a welcoming environment.

I love this place! So wonderful. There are many pop records. I love fleetwood mac, the smiths, david bowie. I bought 9 records in this place. The Master of this place is so kind.

This shop is the epitome of the cliched nyc record shop, curmudgeonly shop owner included. If you have shop rules, respect your customers and POST THEM. I attempted to check the quality of a used record labeled "as-is" and had the record snatched out of my hand by the shop owner while he mumbled insults under his breath. I always respect shops, their owners and their product and I won't shop anywhere where owners refuse to do the same. Aside from the bad owner experience, stock is weak and targeted at tourists (new copies of Madonna, Prince, Bowie you can find much cheaper anywhere else). Little to no hip-hop or electronic music. Used pricing was all over the place and many items intentionally not tagged so he can make the final judgement on whether he wants to sell to you or not when you have to ask how much. Worst record shop in the city. Literally go anywhere else. NYC shop owners respect their patrons and make record digging fun... this place is the exception.

This is how a record store should be run these days! Music spinning when you enter, an easy to navigate store, interesting record covers and items decorating the joint and a helpful employee/shop owner ready to check the back for any requests that aren't already put out. Quality customer service right there. Rotten Island records is holding it down for a forgotten era of music that is having a resurgence (now that cool, on the go, Bluetooth record players are being produced and are easily purchased). With a super quick walk from the Myrtle Ave train station (J/M/Z line) this place is easily accessible and has some great grub spots nearby. Make a trip out of it and enjoy the borough of BK, as you'll probably hear Biggie blasting the moment you step off the train.

It’s a store inside a store, actually like 3, one on each floor. Rotten Island is on second floor. Great urban NYC vibe. I came looking at the vintage LP and CD’s. Limited selection, fun visit.

Easily my favorite record store in NYC. Unique space and the people are super chill!

I walked in to this store for the first time about a month ago and this place is nothing short of incredible. There is quite literally something for everyone here, and their selection of hip hop and salsa was very diverse. I spent almost too much time because I had so much fun digging through the stuff they had here. You can find a lot of amazing and interesting ethnic/world music as well and the dude behind the register was really fun to talk to. I want to keep coming back over and over again!

Favorite record store in Bushwick area. Good size store, not overwhelming at all. Great selection of hip hop, rap, classics/rock, Latin, etc. Also have great prices on new arrival records and a great deal on the discount crates. Vic is so nice and knowledgeable. Crate diggers happy place

30AUG.2025 This was me, my daughter, and her boyfriends first time and his mom(has been here before). Lena was awesome in all the information she was telling us. Such a great experience. We only wanted water and that was brought to the room we rented for an hour. The rate was reasonable and worth every cent. RPM Underground has some cool items inside this building, fully stocked bar, and binds and binds full of music. This is a wonderful way to kick back and have a great time solo, with family, and friends.

I’ve been coming here consistently for about 2 years. The crowds are great when they come! Always a friendly vibe and great underground atmosphere. Joseph has to be one of the greatest bartenders in the city! Always fun when staff joins in on the mic. It’s beautifully decorated with great lighting for some nice photo opportunities. The song list is extensive and constantly being updated, it’s $3 a song. Trying not to sound bias so the only down side is the drink prizes. As a dive bar regular $5 beers & shots are my weakness.

We visited the record store, not the restaurant/event space. It’s a well organized and well stocked record store. Pricey, but it’s midtown NYC, so what can one expect?!

Great place for parties. We attended Bachelorettes party there. Nice separate rooms with free walk through space. Great drink, full bar, bartender will make any drink to your liking. Great ambiance. Nice selection of songs. We had great time.

Went for NYE and had a great time but really reviewing the service. The roads were closed for NYE and the police weren't sure why but wouldn't let anyone through, RPM sent someone out to get us and handle interphase with the officers and we were able to get through! The karaoke experience itself was great! Updated list of songs, cool room, and they put the ball drop on in the main area for everyone! We didnt have any food but the drinks were good!

i was actually really excited to visit this place after reading the reviews. it was a spontaneous adventure and i couldn’t wait to dive in. but my experience was dampened immediately upon walking in—i gave a warm hello but all i received back was a blank stare from the 2 store clerks working. obviously a greeting isn’t a requirement but blatant, awkward silence wasn’t very welcoming. but i decided to ignore it and continue shopping, especially since the store was empty (which would make shopping easier). it could be my imagination but my partner and i, the only 2 people in the store at the time, felt like we were being watched the whole time. as minorities, it was a very uncomfortable feeling. i understand it might’ve looked a little suspicious since i quickly had a HUGE stack of records in my arms (again, i was very excited and immediately had some great finds) but still, it was a little uncomfortable. i also don’t appreciate the fact that all the black genres/artists are just all thrown together with no distinction—rap/hip-hop, r&b, soul—and only separated by the decades (except for reggae and the really classic, soulful stuff more towards the front of the store, also a little micro-aggressive). made it a little overwhelming to shop. but again, there was some really great finds and i did find a lot. customer service could’ve been better, however. i needed helped looking for a specific record and although i didn’t expect the clerk (a white man with glasses) to know the whereabouts of every single record of the thousands in the store, i would’ve appreciated more help searching for it. he claimed to know that it was in there but offered no help to find it. there was also a huge set of shelves where the turntable booth was set up and i asked if the record could potentially be there. instead of answering with words, he simply just shook his head no. again, no attempt to actually help and search through or explain why it wouldn’t be there for a fact. i’m happy with the records that i bought and would love to go back, simply bc you can’t beat the prices and the rarity of some of their selections. but i regret giving my money to a business that clearly doesn’t care to give good customer service or curtesy to ALL of their customers, not just certain ones.

Great selection, wonderful service, Wonderful Evnfirement Visiting brooklyn this week, i stopped in to Secondhand records and they have a GREAT selection of records and jazz! electronic and house etc :) The shop music was playing some BANGER music too, wish i would have asked what songs he was playing! Bought a bjork record that ive never seen before :D the owner was very friendly, courteous, and helpful- a great location too! the store is extremely pretty and easy to navigate.

wide selection of soul,funk ,rnb ,singles , 12”s and 7”s. Found a lot of gems. it must be the first place to visit if you are around Brooklyn! highly recommended 💙

Great spot. Nice selection of soul/funk that had some stuff I'd been looking for. Not much goth/post punk, but I found a fair variety otherwise.

Ive been to many record stores in Brooklyn, to sell and buy records. With that been said, Rico's store is by far the best place you can place foot in. Either if you go there to buy or sell records, or just listen to what he's currently playing in his element. grab a cup of coffee and go hang at second hand records in Bushwhick. I guarantee you will leave refreshed, energized and most of all, musically inspired for whatever your reasons may be. Oh and did I mention he's the dopiest guy ever too? If you have music/records questions or requests, he will work with you like you've known him for years. That's the one and only record place I trust.

i was actually really excited to visit this place after reading the reviews. it was a spontaneous adventure and i couldn’t wait to dive in. but my experience was dampened immediately upon walking in—i gave a warm hello but all i received back was a blank stare from the 2 store clerks working. obviously a greeting isn’t a requirement but blatant, awkward silence wasn’t very welcoming. but i decided to ignore it and continue shopping, especially since the store was empty (which would make shopping easier). it could be my imagination but my partner and i, the only 2 people in the store at the time, felt like we were being watched the whole time. as minorities, it was a very uncomfortable feeling. i understand it might’ve looked a little suspicious since i quickly had a HUGE stack of records in my arms (again, i was very excited and immediately had some great finds) but still, it was a little uncomfortable. i also don’t appreciate the fact that all the black genres/artists are just all thrown together with no distinction—rap/hip-hop, r&b, soul—and only separated by the decades (except for reggae and the really classic, soulful stuff more towards the front of the store, also a little micro-aggressive). made it a little overwhelming to shop. but again, there was some really great finds and i did find a lot. customer service could’ve been better, however. i needed helped looking for a specific record and although i didn’t expect the clerk (a white man with glasses) to know the whereabouts of every single record of the thousands in the store, i would’ve appreciated more help searching for it. he claimed to know that it was in there but offered no help to find it. there was also a huge set of shelves where the turntable booth was set up and i asked if the record could potentially be there. instead of answering with words, he simply just shook his head no. again, no attempt to actually help and search through or explain why it wouldn’t be there for a fact. i’m happy with the records that i bought and would love to go back, simply bc you can’t beat the prices and the rarity of some of their selections. but i regret giving my money to a business that clearly doesn’t care to give good customer service or curtesy to ALL of their customers, not just certain ones.

Great selection, wonderful service, Wonderful Evnfirement Visiting brooklyn this week, i stopped in to Secondhand records and they have a GREAT selection of records and jazz! electronic and house etc :) The shop music was playing some BANGER music too, wish i would have asked what songs he was playing! Bought a bjork record that ive never seen before :D the owner was very friendly, courteous, and helpful- a great location too! the store is extremely pretty and easy to navigate.

wide selection of soul,funk ,rnb ,singles , 12”s and 7”s. Found a lot of gems. it must be the first place to visit if you are around Brooklyn! highly recommended 💙

Great spot. Nice selection of soul/funk that had some stuff I'd been looking for. Not much goth/post punk, but I found a fair variety otherwise.

Ive been to many record stores in Brooklyn, to sell and buy records. With that been said, Rico's store is by far the best place you can place foot in. Either if you go there to buy or sell records, or just listen to what he's currently playing in his element. grab a cup of coffee and go hang at second hand records in Bushwhick. I guarantee you will leave refreshed, energized and most of all, musically inspired for whatever your reasons may be. Oh and did I mention he's the dopiest guy ever too? If you have music/records questions or requests, he will work with you like you've known him for years. That's the one and only record place I trust.

Incredibly well curated store. Great selection, well thought out. Friendly staff. Very vast array of genres, old to new - I was very impressed and have been buying records for years. Superb mix of books, collectibles and merch too. They look after their cataloguing and pricing, and it’s a doggo friendly spot. They also don’t ram the shelves so much that you can’t flick through, which many stores are guilty of. 11/10 would recommend going out your way to come here.

Great record shop with a real community vibe. Solid selection across all genres and staff who actually know their stuff and are happy to help. You can tell this place is run by people who genuinely love music. Always worth a stop if you’re in Brooklyn. Love the English guy who works there

Fifth Avenue flavor increased a thousand fold thanks to this shop. Totes, tees and spins: this place has the works, at varying price points. For those searching for that rare read or LP, this is a welcome spot for you. Run by music legends, the store may open your mind to new sounds, thanks to the DJ on hand and the available listening station.

Sterling records has a great selection of new and used records. If there's an album you're looking for, but can't find, they will order it for you. Lots of other items available from posters and puzzles to stickers and shirts. So easy to find gifts for a music lover.

A much needed record store in park slope, this is an attractive place with a good selection of new and used vinyl, CDs and cassettes. Fun totes and tees, along with stereo accessories.

Nice little store, great selection, kind owner. But the prices are... up the roof! Insane! Even their selection under the main rack where you can find the junks bargains at 2$ to 5$ pieces are at...10 bucks. Honestly there is way better buying options in the same area. Don't get STRANDED! (too much at least)

Reasonable prices with a great selection of soul + jazz! Found some spiritual jazz records I adore (Pharoah Sanders, Makaya Mccraven, etc.) Was able to get through most of the crates within a reasonable time, the staff is also super chilled + friendly. Highly recommend this spot for digging! Will be back.

Friendliest guy runs this place. Helped me find some albums for my dad after my less than helpful directions. Insane knowledge, awesome music and spent so long trying out different tracks. Thanks man!

Cane here on a Sunday. Quiet, chill, and they usually have what you need but I would highly recommend you check the site first. I tried calling but didn't get a pick up. Luckily they are open most days - even Sundays minus some holidays.

Nice little record store. Well organized, fair prices, friendly staff. Highly recommended. Greetings from Germany ;) Sven

Probably one of the best record stores for my needs (90s house/ house/ deep house/ disco) with well sorted sections. Prices are okay too. Felt cozy and familiar. Def coming back!

Very cool spot . I'm a vinyl collector and a Williamsburg Brooklyn native I got to say this is a very cool spot very fair price points and occasionally free records (in a bin) . I like modern music I saw some but I only collect Taylor Swift and this is more of an oldie reccord store a traditional reccord store that focuses on older music non other the less very cool spot if you are into to oldies music but got my approval

This record store is a hidden gem! Organized, great vibes, good prices! Huge Latin section. The DJ and drinks on the house are a treat! Definitely worth a stop and highly recommend!!

Fantastic place for Jamaican vinyl. I spent a good amount of time repositioning the records in their sleeves so they weren't upside down.

I stumbled on this shop while t brunch in the area. Decent size and lots of oldies to look through.i appreciate the listening station to try records. I bought an album and look forward to enjoying it.

Couples crates of records at Three's Brewing. Great selection and prices!

a little box tucked in the corner but there's great selection and prices

Two bins packed with heat! Quality, well curated and very reasonable! Will visit again...

Ok so the vibe was on point... Music just right. The guest appearances were a amazing touch.. They killed it. And thats why I gave a 5 star for atmosphere. As for the food, I wasn't expecting a gourmet meal if i ordered an entree so i played it safe and went with the wings. Dry as hell. I did ask for sauce on the side, which could've played a part. But they didn't bring the sauce (hence why service received 2 stars). Either way, they were wack. They also gave me room temperature water when I asked for a refill. Needless to say, go there to listen to music. Don't go there hungry.

A great place to go on a Sunday night and listen to some good music. I really enjoy when they have black soul experience featuring James Gibbs the trumpet player. The vibe great. It’s a chill night. Just be ready for a large crowd, especially if it’s right before a holiday. You will not be disappointed if you like to listen to live music and dance.

I decided to go hear some live music on a Monday night. This place fit the bill. Set up front and grooved with the performers. The food is mediocre but the atmosphere was fun. You're sitting so clothes you make aquitances with those sitting at neighboring table

Jade is actually the best person ever. She is the nicest most amazing most accommodating employee ever and I hope she gets a raise. All the bartenders too. The wonderful employees make this place. Don’t even get me started about Lei!!! Best bartender ever. Nicest most amazing human that is so professional and so kind.

Bar with music and bar food menu in the heart of Greenwich Village. Seating was good. The staff is all over the details checking tickets and assigning seating. Full house, but good service and reasonable space. Recommended if you like what’s playing. In addition to the ticket cost there was a two item minimum. At $40 a tickets you’re looking at $100/person all in.

Tunes is slowly becoming my go to record store. They have an excellent collection of records, posters, turntables, incense, vinyl record cleaner and other wares. Their vinyl collection includes new and used from all genres. They also have a bin dedicated to Record Store Day releases. If you are looking to pre-order a record, you can call in and place an order. The staff will gladly call you upon your record's arrival. The staff is friendly, and they have great merch like stickers and tote bags. They also carry CDs and a small collection of cassettes. If you are in Hoboken, like music, and are open to supporting local record stores, make a stop to Tunes. You will not be disappointed

Excellent selection of records and CD's and very good prices on everything. Lots of used vinyl and CD's which I love to see, you can come back again and again and find something different. Good selection of West Coast AOR and Jazz Fusion upon my visit which I appreciate❤️

Great Place ,Got a ticket. fuggin' Hoboken!! 😂 ,was so busy finding stuff didn't run back to fill meter in time it's all good.They had more Records than Cds but I found stuff saw some cool boxed sets around.They have a big room in the back was all Records but um I cant put a record in my iPod so..this what I got

Nice record + CD store in Hoboken. I wish there were more used vinyls than new reissues, which is becoming normal for shops who do not offer listening stations. If you cannot listen to vinyls to check songs and conditions, then selection will be narrow and based on “new” sealed reissues that are famous and popular enough to get reissues. Kind of defeats the reason to visit a record store for unexpected discoveries of albums that you don’t normally look for.

Visiting the music vinyl store was a true delight! Their selection was top-notch, offering a wide range of albums at great prices. I was impressed by the variety of genres available, catering to every taste. The staff were incredibly friendly, ready to help and share their insights on music. If you're a vinyl enthusiast looking for quality records and a welcoming atmosphere, this store should be on your must-visit list.

The owner of this store, Jamal, has the best recommendations and is so kind and humble. He gave us a rare ‘Who’s Next’ LP for such a good deal. 10/10 late night spot if you don’t want to grab food etc. Thank you Jamal! Will be back soon.

Used record store with used LPs and CDs. A wide selection of musical genres and they sell mystery boxes which will be great gifts. Customer service is excellent!

Went here last week with a friend. To say their prices were inflated would be an understatement. $20 records being sold for $60 seemed to be common. I guess maybe they do well with privileged NYU students who don’t know how to price records? Idk. I hate leaving negative reviews and maybe it’s cause we’re heading towards a recession and they gotta do what they gotta do but this was nuts. Generation Records a couple blocks away is the better bet if you’re in the area. Been going there since the early 90s and they don’t gouge customers like this and have a better selection imho.

I love this place. We ended up meeting the owner and chatting for a while about all sorts of things. He learned that it was our son's birthday and he made our experience extra special. We will be coming back!

Great selection and even better service! I’ve found several rare and hard-to-find albums here at really reasonable prices. I love getting recs from the owner, who clearly knows his music and takes pride in offering quality pressings in excellent condition.

So I was in Brooklyn on vacation and missed Record Store Day, then discovered Vinyl Veritas by accident two days later, and Brooklyn popped! Found several items I was looking for! Small store (I believe they're soon moving to a larger location just a block away) but it's got heart and style. They are knowledgeable, warm & friendly, and clearly have a passion for what they're doing. It's a gem of a place, GO! Support your local indies!

My partner and I live in the neighborhood and stumbled upon the new Front street location. We are new to vinyl and everyone in the shop was so helpful and knowledgeable. We went back again today and met one of the owners, Will, who was awesome and helped us order some records they didn’t have in stock and took us to their showroom across the street that has an even wider selection of their offerings. We got to sip on their cold brew on tap (they also have beer on tap) while browsing their amazing catalogue. Not only did we pick up an handful of special albums, but we also copped a new set of speakers that we are currently LOVING. Awesome owners and incredible staff. So excited to have found this place :) We’ll be back many, many, many more times.

Best place for vinyl (and beer) lover : it has a free beer station for the thirsty one :) Will and Andrew are very friendly, and will help you to find what you’re looking for ! This place is a must in Dumbo!

Seek this hidden shop out! They have a great selection of new stuff but I also found a ton of used albums. The shop is up on the 7th floor of a building and run by some serious music lovers who started the business as collectors first and transitioned into selling. They also gave me a beer and a token to get a beer at the brewery downstairs.

If you’re looking to buy or sell vinyls, this is a great spot! Will or Andrew can help you out almost immediately and give you a fair price! He accepts just about all genres and has a wide selection to browse from! Go check out Vinyl Veritas in Dumbo Brooklyn!

Great stock, wide range. Best secondhand classical & jazz section I've seen in NY. I could have stayed all day - very friendly welcome. Will be my first port of call when I next visit. Will make a point of recommending this place to all music fans heading to NYC.

What a cozy vintage records store, you can find a large variety of vinyl, dvd or cd records. The owner of this place is such a great and kind guy, who is always ready to help and assist you with suggestions or recommendations. Love it! I will come back!

I went there to buy some cassettes and they had a wide variety but not many popular ones. That is just cassettes though, as there was so much of the other stuff like vinyls and cds. My only complaint was that one of the cassettes I bought was broken, but I do not believe the owner was aware of this and might have been a one time mistake. Overall, very peaceful and great shopping experience.

Westsider Records is a hidden gem that you could spend hours in. If we weren’t on a time crunch during our visit, I would definitely be there for that long! The man who runs it is kind and helpful and you can talk to him about all kinds of genres. Coming back here is at the top of the list of things to do next time I’m back in NYC.

TLDR: Wonderful. This small space, already packed with interesting and quality finds, felt even fuller with shared connection and engagement. This place brims with history - the fact that the man that works there was too, made it twice as good. I focused on the opera and musical theatre vinyls and CD’s, but skimmed other sections, which seemed diverse. What I looked at in detail was meticulously organized. When I confessed I might have initially scrambled it up a bit due to blurry vision, I actually stressed / worried the man working there for a moment. He had every reason to be - he’s an older man and I made more work for him! What matters more about that (at least, to me) was it also shows how he cares about this store and the items within. As I shopped, I heard him share truly interesting details about or related to every item a customer brought for checkout. He was knowledgeable, and generous with his knowledge as he conversed with all the customers there. I bought the book of Maria Callas’ Julliard Classes as well as three opera vinyls: two operas with Maria, and one copy of Die Fledermaus boxed in purple silk with gold text. He recommended the film adaptation “O, Rosalinda!!” to me. Not just that, he shared a bunch about the actors, the translation. Altogether, an absolute joy. I hope to make many return visits. I believe the man I met with was Bruce! He really seemed to know something about everything.