New Orleans is built different.
The city doesn’t do “ordinary.” Not its food, not its people, and definitely not its record stores.
This is where jazz was born and rhythm learned how to move. You’ll walk into a shop and find blues next to bounce, gospel next to garage rock, and someone behind the counter who probably played with half the people on those sleeves. It’s not the easiest place to find specific records, but it’s one of the best for finding something that means something.
This is your guide to have the highest chances of landing that grail.
Best Record Stores In New Orleans
Shops Listed: 6
Average price range:
- Bargain bins: $1–$5 (Domino Sound/Euclid often have cheap digs)
- Common used LPs: ~$8–$22
- New releases / premium reissues: ~$28–$42
- Rarities / wall pressings: $40–$150+ (local jazz/R&B originals can spike higher)
Note: There are plenty more—these are the ones we’d hit first.
Sisters in Christ
Address: 5206 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Hours: 12pm-6pm daily
Type: Micro-curated boutique / label-adjacent
Genres: Punk, hardcore, metal, indie, experimental, tapes/zines
Average Price Range: Used $8–$20 • New $28–$38 • Select rarities $40–$100+
Specialty / Go For: Limited pressings, small-run labels, zines, staff recs
What to expect: Tight, focused bins where almost nothing feels like filler. If you like the underground end of guitar music (plus noise/experimental), this is the room. Small footprint, big taste—expect thoughtful curation, a few “oh wow” wall pieces, and staff who’ll actually talk records with you.
Domino Sound Record Shack
Address: 2557 Bayou Rd, New Orleans, LA 70119
Hours: 12pm-6pm sat-mon, wed, 12pm-7:30pm thurs,fri
Type: Neighborhood shack / roots & global specialist
Genres: Reggae, ska, rocksteady, African, Latin, Caribbean, NOLA R&B/soul, 45s
Average Price Range: Bargain bins $1–$5 • Used $8–$20 • Imports/rarities $25–$80+
Specialty / Go For: Deep international crates, 45s, hand-picked vintage NOLA soul
What to expect: Hand-written dividers, stacks of 45s, and a soundtrack that makes you stay longer than planned. It’s one of the best places in the city to level up on global grooves and old New Orleans sides without getting rinsed.
Louisiana Music Factory
Address: 421 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Hours: 11am-6pm daily
Type: Legacy local institution
Genres: New Orleans & Louisiana first—traditional jazz, brass bands, funk, zydeco, blues, gospel, Cajun
Average Price Range: Used $10–$25 • New $28–$40 • Signed/local specials vary
Specialty / Go For: Local catalogs, live in-stores during festival season, deep regional knowledge
What to expect: Floor-to-ceiling Louisiana. If you came to leave with New Orleans music, this is the stop. Friendly staff, lots of local releases you won’t stumble on elsewhere.
Euclid Records
Address: 3301 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70117
Hours: 11am-6pm daily
Type: Big indie flagship
Genres: Everything: new releases + large used walls; strong rock, jazz, soul, local
Average Price Range: Bins $3–$8 • Used $10–$25 • New $28–$42 • Wall $40–$150+
Specialty / Go For: Broad selection, steady turnover, fun wall stock, in-store energy
What to expect: A proper dig. Spacious racks, clear labeling, and that “I might need a basket” feeling. Good odds you’ll walk with both a couple cheap wins and something you’ve been chasing.
NOLA Mix Records
Address: 1522 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Hours: 11am-5pm tues-thur,sun, 11am-6pm fri,sat
Type: DJ/beat boutique
Genres: Hip-hop, funk, soul, disco, house, global grooves, 12” culture
Average Price Range: Used $8–$18 • 12”s $5–$15 • Select imports $20–$35
Specialty / Go For: DJ-friendly sections, breakbeat/funk finds, local beat scene flavor
What to expect: Smaller, curated, and built for people who actually spin. Flip the 12” bins even if you’re not a DJ—you’ll find sleeper edits and groove-heavy LPs.
Mushroom
Address: 1037 Broadway St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Hours: 10am-12am daily
Type: Campus institution / head-shop + records
Genres: Eclectic—rock, hip-hop, soundtracks, metal, used CDs, posters/merch
Average Price Range: Bargain bins $1–$5 • Used $8–$18 • New $28–$38
Specialty / Go For: Offbeat finds, posters, soundtracks, “how is this still here?” CDs
What to expect: Multi-level, maze-y vibe with bins that reward patience. Great rainy-day browse spot.
Tips for Vinyl Hunters in New Orleans
- Cluster your crawl. Do Uptown/Magazine St. (Peaches → NOLA Mix → Disc Daddy), slide to Freret/Carrollton, then hop the Canal or Rampart–St. Claude streetcar down to Marigny/Bywater for the smaller, deeper digs. If you’ve got time, swing through Mid-City on the way back.
- Streetcar > circling the Quarter. RTA’s St. Charles, Canal, and Rampart–St. Claude lines get you close to most shop clusters. If you drive, watch 2-hour meters, parade/second-line closures, and tow-happy “no parking” windows.
- Beat the heat (and pop-up storms). Louisiana sun will warp a record fast. Bring a rigid, flat-bottom tote, keep stacks vertical, and don’t leave vinyl in the car. Afternoon showers roll in quick—stash a few poly sleeves or a plastic bag.
- Follow the fresh bins. NOLA shops announce new arrivals on IG, often Tue/Fri with distro drops. Ask what time they hit the floor and plan your pass.
- Cash smooths the deal. Cards work most places, but small bills make bargain-bin math and quick counter discounts easy.
- Check under good light. Most stores are cool with a visual—look for dish warps, edge waves, and hairlines. Peek at the inner sleeve for telltale ring wear or split seams.
- Mind festival season. Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest = crowds and detours. Great energy, slower digging—pad extra time and hydrate.
- Fuel up like a local. Magazine, Freret, and the Marigny are loaded with po’ boys, beignets, and coffee stops—build in a bite so you don’t rush the last shop.
New Orleans rewards a loose plan and good instincts: ride a streetcar, follow your ears, and leave room for detours. Between legacy rooms and tiny curator joints, you’ll end up with records you’ll actually spin—and a story or two from the counter.
Got a haul you love? Toss it into Build of the Month. We rotate themes—grails, hometown shop shout-outs, setup glow-ups-and entry’s simple: one photo + a quick note. No fees, real prizes, and extra bragging rights when your stack wins.
