15 Best Records Stores In New York For Vinyl, CDs, & Other Cool Stuff

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Our Best Records Stores In New York To Find Vinyl, CDs, & Other Cool Stuff article takes a look at the entire New York region to find the best places to shop for vinyl records, music CDs and collectors items. Vinyl has forever been the most collectible items in rock and roll history and its reemergence in the past ten years has made it more sought out than it has almost ever been. In the present day, multiple generations of fans of all styles of music seek out vinyl on a daily basis. If there is one place in the world that has the best record stores, its New York. Travelers to New York City are always asking people for locations of great Record Stores. We will includes a list of stores in New York City. However, if your visiting New York especially in the summertime and decide to take a drive out to Long Island’s beautiful beaches, we got three great Long Island Record stores that rival any of New York City’s best. We have also included a few from New York’s upstate regions. So wherever your are in New York, one of these record stores is not too far away. We hope this article helps you find some great music.

These are not rankings, just listings. If a Record Store is on this list, its great! Are there more than 15, yes of course, but these are our favorite 15.

New York’s Best Record Stores: Long Island

Mr. Cheapo

Opening up our Long Island section of New York’s Best Record stores is the legendary Mr. Cheapo CD & Record Exchange. Locals call it Mr. Cheapo’s The store is located in the Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack New York. Its about a forty five minute drive from New York City with light traffic.

I have been shopping at Mr. Cheapos since 1987. I watched the store start out as all vinyl and cassettes and then shift to CDs while still carrying a large vinyl selection. The stores is owned by a wonderful good hearted man named Stu. A man who grew up in the 60s who has that sort of hippie mentality and a brilliant understanding of his customers. If one ever wanted to define the meaning of mom and pop stores, just take a visit to Mr Cheapo’s. Currently they stock everything imaginable. What I have always loved best about Mr. Cheapo was his prices have always been extremely fair. Over the years he has had spectacular buying opportunities for collectors selling cassettes three for a dollar or CDs at unbelievable low prices. The store also buys used CDs and records from its customers. It is and has always been one of the most fun record stores to pay a visit too. I have never left the store without buying something even if I only spent a buck

Mr. Cheapo Website

Record Stop – Patchogue (Long Island)

It broke the hearts of many rock and roll fans who shopped for years at Lake Ronkonkoma’s Record Stop when it closed its doors over ten years ago. The store was a legend on Long Island since the 1970s. Record Stop opened in 1974 by a man named Bruce Berg. Everyone knew him just as Bruce. Record Stop was the ultimate independent record store and a wonderful alternative to the mall stores that just pretty much sold the hits and basic stuff. However after operating at a warehouse after the Ronkonkoma Store closed, Record Stop recently opened up a new store front in Patchogue, Long Island where once again fans can shop for cool collectible items.

Record Stop always had a reputation for employing workers with a deep knowledge of music. In fact, buyers would sometimes spend hours at the store counters just talking music with the clerks. Try doing that a a FYE with one of their clerks. Record Stop is highly recommend for finding that hard out of print vinyl you have been looking for. They are a professional as it gets when it come to vinyl record sales and knowledge.

Record Stop Website

Looney Tunes

We don’t even know where to start when writing abut Looney Tunes. Located in West Babylon, Looney Tunes is much bigger than most independent record store, It’s so big they even have a stage where bands perform. What in the world can be better than that for a rock and roll fan than to visit a record store to buy some music and listen to a rock and roll band perform while your flipping though the thousands and thousands of records and CDs in the store. I love this place and I am so glad they have opened up again as we are finally starting to get a little bit back to normal here in New York after this nightmare pandemic.

Looney Tunes Website

New York City

Record Stores

Academy Records and CDs

Academy Records has three stores in New York City. Two of them are in Manhattan located at 415 E 12th St, NY and 12 W 18th St, NY. The third store is in in Brooklyn at Academy Record Annex 85 Oak St, Brooklyn. Academy Records and CDs is the flagship store and stand as one of New York’s most legendary music store, The store opened in 1977. If your looking for hard to find classical CDs, Academy is the place to go. However they have every musical styles and genre one could think of. The other two stores focus on vinyl.

Academy Records and CDs Website

Human Head Records

Human Head Records is located at 168 Johnson Ave in Brooklyn, NY. They have a large collection of used CDs and vinyl at really low prices This is a great store if your looking to start a large collection of vinyl without having to pay high prices that you may see in some other stores. Highly recommended.

Human Head Records Website

Black Gold Records

Black Gold Records is located at 461 Court Street Brooklyn. In similar fashion to what Barnes and Nobles does and what Borders used to do, Black Gold Records sells fresh brewed coffee in its store. However this is done in a much more intimate fashion that feels nothing like those big chains. This is a small neighborhood store that just bleeds Brooklyn. What also sets Black Gold Records apart from other records stores is that besides selling coffee and just vinyl, the store also sells very cool antiques. This is a must stop if your in Brooklyn and a destination to place on your calendar whenever your close by.

Black Gold Records Website

Rough Trade NYC

While most of the record stores in this list are small independents owned mom and pop style record stores, Rough Trade NYC is more similar to the size of the legendary Tower Records chain stores we used to enjoy immensely here in New York. (best hours ever) Rough Trade NYC is located in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn at 64 N 9th St. Rough Trade NYC is the first Rogh Trade store to open in the United States. Rough Trade opened its first store in West London in 1976. The company still has four famous stores in England. This is a vinyl loves dream. Its like going back to the 70s. If we had to pick our favorite record store in New York City. This is the place.

Rough Trade NYC Website