NYC Record Stores – Shops That Still Stand the Test of Time

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Interior of Rough Trade record store in New York City, featuring sleek black display tables filled with vinyl records, colorful wall art in the background, and a patterned floor covered in album artwork. The checkout counter is on the left, with books and music merch displayed along the walls.
A person browsing through rows of vinyl records inside a cozy record store. The walls are lined with album covers, and bins filled with records stretch down both sides of the narrow shop. The atmosphere feels warm and packed with music history.
A modern record store corner with light wood shelving, vinyl records displayed on the wall, books and zines on angled racks, and potted plants adding greenery. Two graphic t-shirts hang on the wall above, alongside colorful posters and merch, creating a cozy and curated atmosphere.
A record shop owner stands behind a crowded counter, holding up several vinyl records including albums by Mariah Carey, Sade, and Lauryn Hill. The store is packed floor-to-ceiling with CDs, vinyl, and posters, creating a dense, eclectic atmosphere. A yellow “Cashier” sign hangs above, and a Billie Holiday record is prominently displayed in front.
Exterior of Ergot Records in New York City, with green trim around the door and windows, a yellow hanging sign above the entrance, and crates full of vinyl records lined up outside the shop. Inside, album covers and posters are visible on the walls as a customer browses.
Interior of Academy Records & CDs, with tall wooden shelves stacked with CDs and vinyl. Several customers browse the aisles, while fluorescent ceiling lights brighten the space. Rows of records and CDs fill the shop, creating a dense, organized atmosphere.
Exterior of A1 Record Shop in New York City, with a colorful graffiti-covered storefront, sticker-covered wall, and open doorway leading into rows of vinyl inside. Crates of records are set out on tables and in bins on the sidewalk, with metal chairs—including a bright yellow one—placed out front.
Bright, minimalist record store interior with wooden bins filled with vinyl records and album covers displayed along the back wall. Round pendant lights hang from the ceiling, and the space features a mix of wooden flooring and patterned black-and-white tile near the entrance.
A man in a white shirt browses through tightly packed rows of jazz records inside a narrow shop lined with metal shelving. Boxes and vinyl sleeves fill the shelves, and a display stand at the entrance showcases jazz CDs. A framed black-and-white photo of a musician hangs on the back wall, adding to the archival, collector’s vibe of the space.

Alright, you’re in New York City and looking for vinyl. Here’s the good news: there’s nowhere better on earth to go digging.

But the New York vinyl scene isn’t just big — it’s layered. In most neighborhoods, you’re a short subway ride from a half-dozen shops. Many of them are legacies — stores that have seen formats rise and fall, shelves that go on forever, and with owners who’ve been here since vinyl wasn’t cool.

There’s also a kind of genre-blending energy here thanks to the incredible diversity within the city. Jazz, punk, hip-hop, dance, rare imports — it all overlaps. And that makes digging in New York especially rewarding.

Whether you’re after first-press jazz, out-of-print indie, or just a dusty stack of dollar bin gold… these are the shops that have stood the test of time and still deliver.

Best Record Stores In New York

Shops Listed: 9
Average price range: Bargain bins: as low as $1–2 in a few spots, Common / used LPs: $8–25 (most consistent range), New releases / premium imports: $28–45, Rarities / wall pressings: $40–150+ (Jazz Record Center and Human Head reach $200+ on top-end stock)

NYC has no shortage of record stores, honestly you could probably go to any neighborhood and type “record store” into your maps app, but these are the spots we keep coming back to.

Human Head Records

Address: 289 Meserole St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Hours: 12pm-8pm Daily

Type: Neighborhood boutique
Genres: All – rock, jazz, soul, disco, imports
Average Price Range: $2-$6 Bargain Bins and $30-$150+ Premium Records
Speciality/Go For: Deep crates of used, rare wall-pressings, knowledgable staff

What to expect: Floor-to-ceiling used LPs, dusty corners, and bins full of surprises. You’ll dig up stuff no one else has — soul, punk, imports. Staff are chill and will help you hunt.

A person browsing through rows of vinyl records inside a cozy record store. The walls are lined with album covers, and bins filled with records stretch down both sides of the narrow shop. The atmosphere feels warm and packed with music history.

Rough Trade NYC

Address: 1250 6th Ave, New York, NY 10112
Hours: 10am‑8pm Daily

Type: Big flagship; events + bar downstairs
Genres: Wide—new releases across genres, exclusives, books/merch
Average Price Range: Mostly new pricing ($25–45); select used/exclusive variants higher
Speciality/Go For: In-store events, exclusive pressings, and the Below hi-fi bar

What to expect: A modern, sprawling shop in midtown with proper new-release depth and regular signings/events. If you want a new drop, variant, or just an easy central stop with a bar attached, this is it.

Brooklyn Record Exchange

Address: 87 Guernsey St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Hours: 12pm-8pm Daily

Type: Indie Neighborhood boutique
Genres: Indie, Alternative, Electronic
Average Price Range: Mid-range $10-$30
Speciality/Go For: Great mix of new + used underground, electronic, psych, also great book section.

What to expect: This isn’t your tight, cramped basement shop. It’s got space to wander. Racks are labelled pretty well, vinyl is in not terrible condition, and there’s a sense of “everything has something special somewhere here.” It’s a pretty shop.

If you like discovering weird electronic b‑sides, psych imports, or underrated local pressings, this is one of the first places to head in Brooklyn.

A modern record store corner with light wood shelving, vinyl records displayed on the wall, books and zines on angled racks, and potted plants adding greenery. Two graphic t-shirts hang on the wall above, alongside colorful posters and merch, creating a cozy and curated atmosphere.

Village Revival Records

Address: 1250 6th Ave, New York, NY 10112
Hours: 11am-11pm Sun-Thurs, 11am-12am Fri, Sat

Type: Old-school “packed to the ceiling” shop
Genres: Huge spread—classic rock, jazz, soul, world, soundtracks, CDs, tapes
Average Price Range: $5–20 common used; wide swing up to $$$ for collectible titles
Specialty / Go For: Sheer volume and variety; “you never know” wall and floor stacks

What to expect: Exactly the kind of lived-in, overflowing Village shop you hope for—tight aisles, surprises everywhere, and a selection that feels like decades of New York collections poured into one room. Great clip-worthy browse spot.

A record shop owner stands behind a crowded counter, holding up several vinyl records including albums by Mariah Carey, Sade, and Lauryn Hill. The store is packed floor-to-ceiling with CDs, vinyl, and posters, creating a dense, eclectic atmosphere. A yellow “Cashier” sign hangs above, and a Billie Holiday record is prominently displayed in front.

Superior Elevation Records

Address: 616 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Hours: 12pm-8pm Daily

Type: DJ-minded shop; crate-heavy
Genres: Disco/boogie, house, hip-hop, funk, reggae, rock; strong 12”/7” game
Average Price Range: $1–5 bargain bins, $10–25 common 12”/LPs, $$$ for rarities
Specialty / Go For: Well-stocked singles, in-store DJ sets, steady fresh used

What to expect: A digger’s stop—lots of 12s and 45s, rotating bins on the floor, and frequent restocks. Great for dance-adjacent crates and sound-system staples; you’ll catch DJs flipping here on weekends.

Bright, minimalist record store interior with wooden bins filled with vinyl records and album covers displayed along the back wall. Round pendant lights hang from the ceiling, and the space features a mix of wooden flooring and patterned black-and-white tile near the entrance.

Ergot Records

Address: 32 E 2nd St, New York, NY 10003
Hours: 11am‑7pm, mon-thurs, 12pm-8pm fri,sat, 12pm-6pm sun

Type: Curated boutique / label offshoot
Genres: Disco, Latin, gospel, experimental, left-field catalog finds (highly curated)
Average Price Range: Mid to premium ($12–40+ depending on curation/condition)
Specialty / Go For: Hard-to-find pressings, immaculate curation, staff picks that actually hit

What to expect: Minimalist room, maximal taste. Ergot is the record-label-turned-shop that leans deep into niche/collector territory—think immaculate disco 12s, spiritual jazz, oddball experimental, Latin gems, and the staff-pick wall that ruins your budget in five minutes. It’s small, thoughtful, and one of the most curated shops in Manhattan.

Exterior of Ergot Records in New York City, with green trim around the door and windows, a yellow hanging sign above the entrance, and crates full of vinyl records lined up outside the shop. Inside, album covers and posters are visible on the walls as a customer browses.

Jazz Record Center

Address: 236 W 26th St, Suite 804, New York, NY 10001
Hours: 10am‑6pm Mo-Sat, Closed Sun

Type: Specialty, jazz-only institution (8th-floor hideout)
Genres: Jazz (LPs, CDs, books, memorabilia)
Average Price Range: $10–30 for common titles; $$$ for audiophile/collectible pressings
Specialty / Go For: Deep-catalog jazz expertise, rare pressings, reference-grade stock

What to expect: Quiet, focused, and wonderfully nerdy—in the best way. If you collect jazz, this is a pilgrimage. Knowledgeable staff, carefully graded stock, and shelves that reward patience.

A man in a white shirt browses through tightly packed rows of jazz records inside a narrow shop lined with metal shelving. Boxes and vinyl sleeves fill the shelves, and a display stand at the entrance showcases jazz CDs. A framed black-and-white photo of a musician hangs on the back wall, adding to the archival, collector’s vibe of the space.

Academy Records & CDs

Address: 12 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011
Hours: 12-7pm Tues-Thurs, Sun, 12-8pm Sat, Sun, 12-6pm Mon

Type: Legacy institution / used-media powerhouse
Genres: Broad—rock, jazz, classical, soul, soundtracks, plus CDs & DVDs 
Average Price Range: Most used LPs/CDs $6–25; rarities higher
Specialty / Go For: Deep used classical & jazz walls, tons of CDs, steady turnover

What to expect: Tight aisles, wall-to-wall stock, and a “you’ll leave with something” hit rate. It’s one of the few NYC shops where the CD section is as serious as the vinyl—plus movies if you’re digging across formats. Staff buyers keep the classical/jazz bins lively, but you’ll still find rock/pop staples without museum pricing.

Interior of Academy Records & CDs, with tall wooden shelves stacked with CDs and vinyl. Several customers browse the aisles, while fluorescent ceiling lights brighten the space. Rows of records and CDs fill the shop, creating a dense, organized atmosphere.

A-1 Record Shop

Address: 439 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009
Hours: 12pm–8pm daily

Type: East Village institution / DJ-centric boutique
Genres: Heavy on soul, funk, disco, hip-hop; plus rock & jazz in the mix.
Average Price Range: Budget bins + mid-priced used; rarities on the wall.
Specialty / Go For: Deep used crates, dance-floor 12”s, rare grooves, and staff who actually DJ. Frequent restocks.

What to expect: Quiet, focused, and wonderfully nerdy. If you collect jazz, this is a pilgrimage. Knowledgeable staff, carefully graded stock, and shelves that reward patience.

Exterior of A1 Record Shop in New York City, with a colorful graffiti-covered storefront, sticker-covered wall, and open doorway leading into rows of vinyl inside. Crates of records are set out on tables and in bins on the sidewalk, with metal chairs—including a bright yellow one—placed out front.

Tips for Vinyl Hunters in NYC

  • Don’t overthink the map. You could type “record store” into your phone in almost any neighborhood and stumble into something good. That’s part of the fun. But the shops above? They’re the ones we’d go back to every time.
  • Plan for the subway. If you’re hitting multiple boroughs in one day, build in travel time. Lugging crates up and down stairs gets old fast — bring a backpack or tote that won’t kill your shoulders.
  • Cash still matters. A lot of the smaller shops will take cards, but some have minimums. If you’re going deep in the bargain bins, a few $5s and $10s make life easier.
  • Give yourself time. These aren’t quick in-and-out stops. The best finds usually come from the bottom bins or the back corner nobody’s touched in months.
  • Circle back. New stock rolls in constantly. What’s not there today could be on the shelf tomorrow. Locals know to swing through their favorites weekly.

At the end of the day, there is no shortage of nyc record stores. You could honestly just wander into whatever’s closest and still leave with something. But if you want the real heavy hitters — the spots with history, character, and crates worth digging — the list above is where we’d start.

If you do snag something great — a rare pressing, a local find, or just a stack that makes you smile — consider showing it off in our Build of the Month contest.

We host a monthly(ish) town hall for vinyl lovers built around a theme — past ones have been “Coolest Vinyl Record” and “Coolest Local Record Store.” Share your find, entering is free, and you might just win some great vinyl gear.

See latest contest

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