Philly’s vinyl culture strikes a balance between scrappy and curated. It’s a city where you’ll find seasoned diggers in South Street basements, indie shops in Rittenhouse, and niche, genre-specific stores in neighborhoods that bleed music history.
The scene thrives on passion, not polish. You’ll see deep back-room bins of “$1 finds,” dusty crates next to pristine reissues, and shop owners who’ll chat you up about pressings you didn’t even know existed. Many of the stores double as community spots – listening rooms, local artist showcases, or occasional pop-up record fairs.
Because Philly’s neighborhoods are dense and transit-friendly, you can hop between shops in one day. The cultural depth of the city seeps into its record stores: you’ll hear jazz, soul, local hip-hop, indie, soundtrack cuts, and punk all in one shop sometimes.
By the end of the day, you’ll be dusty, broke, and grinning—exactly how a good dig day in Philly should end.
Best Record Stores In Philadelphia
Shops Listed: 6
Average price range:
- Bargain bins: $1–$3 at several indies (especially farther from Center City)
- Common used LPs: ~$8–$20 (title/condition dependent)
- New releases / premium reissues: ~$28–$40
- Rarities / wall pressings: ~$40–$150+ (jazz, soul, local private press can climb)
Note: Philly’s got that blue-collar digger energy: real shops, real turnover, real finds. You can hit a couple neighborhoods and come home with soul 45s, modern indie, and a weird private-press jazz LP you’ve never seen before. These are the ones we keep going back to.
Long in the Tooth
Address: 2027 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Hours: 1pm-7pm mon-sat, 1pm-6pm sun
Type: Legacy shop / deep used CDs + LPs
Genres: Rock, metal, prog, punk, jazz, soundtracks
Average Price Range: $2–$5 bargain odds; $8–$20 used LPs; walls $40–$120+
Specialty / Go For: Big, rotating used selection, especially CDs; prog/metal corners; well-stocked new arrivals
What to expect: Narrow aisles, floor-level bins, and that “I could be here for hours” feeling. If you still love CDs, this is your paradise—rows and rows of good condition, fairly priced discs. Vinyl-wise, the fresh stuff turns over fast; ask what just came in and start there. Friendly, no-nonsense staff who’ll actually point you to the right bin.
Repo Records
Address: 506 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Hours: 11am-8pm daily
Type: Big indie / neighborhood anchor
Genres: Indie/alt, punk, classic rock, hip-hop, new arrivals, reissues
Average Price Range: $1–$3 cheap bins; $10–$20 used; $28–$38 new
Specialty / Go For: Bread-and-butter selection done right—new + used, steady turnover, fair pricing
What to expect: South Street energy with well-organized racks and a little of everything. Great first stop if you’re warming up your digging muscles: you’ll find a couple staples, maybe a surprise on the wall, and probably a new release you’ve been eyeing. Good spot to grab sleeves and quick accessories, too.
Philadelphia Record Exchange (PRE)
Address: 1524 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Hours: 11am-8pm daily
Type: Long-running used specialist
Genres: Rock, punk/indie, psych, jazz, oddball/private press
Average Price Range: $5–$15 common used; $20–$35 scarcer titles; wall pieces up from there
Specialty / Go For: Deep used, psych/indie history, the unpredictable “why is this here?” find
What to expect: Classic Philly dig shop—handwritten dividers, real turnover, and a wall that’ll stop you for a minute. Start with new arrivals, then work the deeper genre pockets. If you’re chasing a pressing detail, ask—they’ve seen most variants pass through.
Sit and Spin Records
Address: 2243 S Lambert St, Philadelphia, PA 19145
Hours: 12pm-5pm mon, wed-sat, 12pm-5pm sun
Type: DIY boutique / punk-metal-hardcore hub
Genres: Punk, metal, hardcore, noise, zines, local label stock
Average Price Range: $8–$18 used LPs; $15–$30 new punk/metal; rarities vary
Specialty / Go For: 7″ bins, current underground releases, local scenes
What to expect:
Small footprint, dialed-in taste. If you speak the language—matrix codes, original inserts, demo press—you’ll feel at home. Great place to pick up current label runs before they vanish online.
Main Street Music
Address: 4444 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
Hours: 11am-7pm wed-sat, 12pm-6pm sun
Type: Neighborhood institution / new-release forward
Genres: New indie/alt, classics, curated used, singer-songwriter, in-store staples
Average Price Range: $10–$20 used; $28–$40 new; fair wall pricing
Specialty / Go For: New release day, staff-pick walls, in-store events
Clean, bright, and easy to browse. Reliable spot for a brand-new LP plus a couple well-priced used adds. Watch their calendar—small in-stores and signings pop up. If you’re building a starter stack, this is a no-stress stop.
Creep Records
Address: 606 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Hours: 11am-8pm sun-thurs, 11am-9pm fri,sat
Type: Label-affiliated indie / skate-punk DNA
Genres: Punk/emo/indy, hip-hop, soundtracks, limited color variants
Average Price Range: $10–$20 used; $28–$38 new; special variants priced as marked
Specialty / Go For: Label drops, variants, modern punk/emo catalog, shop exclusives
What to expect: Modern-leaning selection with a soft spot for variants and collector editions. You’ll still find used gems, but this is also where you grab that limited pressing before it’s gone. Friendly crew, easy place to ask for recommendations.
Tips for Vinyl Hunters in Philadelphia
- Cluster your day. Do Center City/South St (Long in the Tooth → Repo), then Fishtown/Northern Liberties (PRE → Creep), and swing to Brewerytown (Brewerytown Beats). If you’ve got wheels, finish in Manayunk (Main Street Music).
- SEPTA > circling for parking. The El (Market-Frankford) drops you in Fishtown/Nolibs, buses run Girard/Main, and Center City is walkable. If you drive, PPA meters/permits are real—set a timer.
- Follow the new-arrivals. Philly shops post restocks on IG; ask when they put fresh bins out and time your pass.
- Check condition under light. Most stores are cool with a quick visual. Philly basements can hide hairlines—peek at the inner sleeve for clues.
- Bring small bills. Cards are fine almost everywhere, but bargain bins and quick counter deals go faster with cash.
- Eat like a local. South St/Fishtown have plenty of quick bites—build in a food stop so you don’t rush the last shop.
Philly crate-digging pays off if you ease into it. Pick a lane—South Street into Queen Village, a Fishtown→Kensington loop, or an easy West Philly wander—and pad time for SEPTA waits or meter roulette (the PPA is ruthless). Let the crates set your pace: lifer institutions, razor-curated boutiques, and low-key honey holes mean you’ll leave with something you’ll actually spin.
Turn that haul into hardware. Snagged a wild Philly find? Drop it into Build of the Month—quick photo, short note, rotating themes (grails, shop shout-outs, setup glow-ups). Free to enter, real vinyl goodies shipped to winners.
