Alright, you’re in Nashville and looking for vinyl. Good news: Music City isn’t just honky-tonks—it’s a very diggable record town with tight clusters, friendly shops, and a few “only in Nashville” quirks.
East Nashville is the heartbeat: Grimey’s is the big indie anchor (in a converted church on E. Trinity), with deep new/used and regular in-stores. A few blocks of East get you smaller, personal shops like The Groove and Vinyl Tap (a bar + record store—flip a bin, grab a beer). Downtown/Sobro has Third Man Records—touristy in the best way, with its Blue Room venue and that vintage Voice-o-Graph booth that cuts a real disc. Head west and you hit The Great Escape, a sprawling time machine of vinyl, comics, movies, and ephemera.
Nashville feels close to the source. There’s a real pressing ecosystem here—United Record Pressing, the country’s oldest plant, is still cranking—so new runs and reissues don’t feel theoretical, they feel local. Add the steady cadence of community fairs like WXNA’s Record Fair at Eastside Bowl and you get a scene that’s as much hang as hunt: friendly, lively, and full of chances to stumble into something you didn’t know you needed
Best Record Stores In Nashville
Shops Listed: 9
Average price range:
- Bargain bins: $1–$3 at spots like The Great Escape (multiple locations often have $1/$3 crates) and Phonoluxe floor bins.
- Common used LPs: ~$8–$22 at most indie shops (condition/pressing swings this).
- New releases / premium reissues: ~$28–$42 at Grimey’s, Third Man, Vinyl Tap, The Groove.
- Rarities / wall pressings: $40–$150+ isn’t unusual—classic country, soul, blues, and Nashville session-player/label oddities can climb higher, especially at Grimey’s and Third Man.
Note: These bands are typical, not rules. Nashville’s mix of legacy shops and label/artist traffic means steady fresh buy/sell/trade stock—from true $1 finds to high-grade collector pieces
Third Man Records
Address: 623 7th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Hours: 11am-6pm daily
Type: Label HQ / Experience shop
Genres: New releases, garage/rock, indie, reissues, label catalog
Average Price Range: New & reissues ~$28–$45; limited items/goodies vary
Specialty / Go For: The Blue Room shows, Third Man exclusives, Nashville-only merch, surprise drops
What to expect: This is the pilgrimage. Part museum, part scene, part merch table from your dreams. New pressings up front, label deep cuts on the racks, listening stations buzzing, and staff who can talk you into a record you didn’t know you needed. On show days it turns electric—lines, excitement, and that “only here” feeling. Come for a quick look, stay an hour.
Grimey’s New & Preloved Music
Address: 1060 E Trinity Ln, Nashville, TN 37216
Hours: 11am-6pm Tues-Thurs, 11am-7pm Fri, Sat, 12pm-5pm Sun
Type: Big indie hub
Genres: Everything—new/used rock, indie, jazz, soul, hip-hop, country, local
Average Price Range: Used $8–$25; new $28–$40; wall pieces $40–$150+
Specialty / Go For: In-store performances, deep new arrivals, strong local section
What to expect: Bright, organized, and genuinely dangerous for your wallet. New-arrival bins churn constantly, staff picks are on point, and the local racks are a crash course in Nashville beyond country clichés. If you only hit one big indie while you’re in town, make it Grimey’s.
The Great Escape
Address: 5400 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
Hours: 12pm-5pm tues, 12pm-7pm wed-fri, sun, 10am-7pm sat
Type: Comics + toys + records institution
Genres: Classic rock, metal, country, soundtracks, 45s, oddities
Average Price Range: Used $5–$18; rarities vary widely
Specialty / Go For: Wild 45s, soundtracks, under-the-radar used finds
What to expect: Nostalgia bomb. You’ll wander in for a record and get sidetracked by vintage toys, then resurface at a long 45s wall and forget what time it is. Prices are fair, turnover is steady, and every visit plays out like a mini treasure hunt.
The Groove
Address: 1103 Calvin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
Hours: 11am-6pm tues-sat, 12pm-5pm sun
Type: Indie boutique
Genres: Indie/punk, alt, local, select used classics
Average Price Range: Used $8–$20; new $28–$38
Specialty / Go For: Curated new releases, local 7″s, zines/merch
What to expect: Small, well-picked, and very East Nashville in the best way. This is where you grab that new indie LP and discover a local band’s first 7″. Friendly staff, quick flip, and surprisingly easy to leave with something you’ll actually spin.
McKay’s
Address: 636 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
Hours: 9am-9pm mon-thurs, 9am-10pm fri,sat, 10am-7pm sun
Type: Mega used media warehouse
Genres: Everything—LPs, CDs, books, games, movies
Average Price Range: Bargain bins $1–$5; common used $5–$15; the odd gem pops higher
Specialty / Go For: Volume + turnover; cheapest hauls in town
What to expect: Bring time and a tote. Rows on rows of used vinyl with new carts rolling out all day. You’ll dig through a little common stuff to hit paydirt, but the price-to-fun ratio is unmatched. Perfect for stocking up on staples or taking a flyer on weird ’80s sleeves.
Phonoluxe Records
Address: 2609 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN 37211
Hours: 10am-7pm fri,sat, 12pm-6pm sun
Type: Legacy used heavyweight
Genres: Used rock, soul, country, jazz, 45s, soundtracks
Average Price Range: Used $5–$20 sweet spot; rarities/wall $40–$120+
Specialty / Go For: Best-for-used reputation; long walls, fair grading/pricing
What to expect: Floor-to-ceiling used vinyl, the kind of place where you grab a basket because you will keep finding things. Condition is taken seriously, pricing makes sense, and the staff knows where the bodies are buried. If you’re a used-first digger, start here.
Vinyl Tap
Address: 2038 Greenwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
Hours: 3pm-10pm mon,tues, 12pm-12am wed-thurs, 12pm-1am fri,sat, 12pm-11pm sun
Type: Record shop + bar
Genres: New/used rock, punk/indie, jazz, country, 12″s
Average Price Range: Used $8–$22; new $28–$40
Specialty / Go For: Pints while you flip, small shows, community vibe
What to expect: Exactly what it sounds like—taps and stacks. Grab a drink, hit the bins, catch a DJ night if you land at the right time. Selection’s tight, pricing’s friendly, and it’s an easy hang even if your group isn’t all vinyl-obsessed.
Daydream Records
Address: 1006 Fatherland St #104a, Nashville, TN 37206
Hours: 11am-6pm thurs-sun
Type: Airy indie boutique (new + used)
Genres: Indie, dream-pop/shoegaze, modern psych, alt, local releases, zines/cassettes
Average Price Range: Used $8–$22; new $28–$40; limited/colored runs $35–$55
Specialty / Go For: Fresh new arrivals wall, tastefully curated modern reissues, local indie shelves
What to expect: Light, plant-filled, and easy to hang in. Flip a clean new-arrivals row, then drift into staff-pick endcaps that actually hit. If you’re building a modern indie stack or want the right pressing of a current favorite, this is the spot. Keep an eye on their IG—drops and small in-stores sneak up fast.
Swaggie Records
Address: 211 Union St, Nashville, TN 37201
Hours: 10am-6pm daily
Type: Micro-boutique, collector-leaning
Genres: Jazz, blues, classic country, Nashville session cuts, 45s
Average Price Range: Clean used $10–$28; new $28–$40; rarities/OGs $50–$150+
Specialty / Go For: Small but mighty jazz/country crossover, local session-player gems, tidy wall pieces
What to expect: Tight footprint, dialed curation. Bins skew quality over quantity—think vintage jazz next to Nashville songbook deep cuts, with a few tasteful reissues sprinkled in. Staff knows the stories behind the records (and the players), so ask for a nudge if you’re chasing a specific era or label. Great place to upgrade a classic without gambling on condition.
Tips for Vinyl Hunters in Nashville
- Cluster your route. Do East Nashville first (Grimey’s → The Groove → Vinyl Tap → Daydream), then swing 8th Ave/Thompson/Berry Hill (Phonoluxe → The Great Escape–South), with a Gulch/Downtown add-on (Third Man → Swaggie) if you’ve got gas in the tank.
- Car > bus (most days). WeGo buses exist, but rideshare or driving is faster. Most shops have lots; Gulch/Downtown = paid garages + event surge—watch Preds/arena nights.
- Heat & humidity are real. Don’t leave records in a hot car. Keep your stack flat, shaded, and out of direct sun—warps happen fast here.
- Pair with a show. Check Grimey’s in-stores, Third Man’s Blue Room, or The Basement East near your East Nash loop. Great way to break up a long dig day.
- Mind the tax. Nashville rings up around 9.25%—do quick math if you’re stacking a big pile.
- Bar/shop hybrids. Vinyl Tap is a listening bar—bring ID (21+ later). Great vibes, easy to lose an hour.
- Pace with coffee/food. East has plenty—hit a café between shops so you’re grading vinyl with a clear head.
Nashville rewards an easy loop and a little patience: map East, hit 8th Ave, wrap at Third Man, grab hot chicken, and keep flipping. Between label history and constant buy/sell/trade flow, you’ll leave with something you actually want to take on the flight home.
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