15 Best Vinyl Record Stores in Philadelphia

  • By: Andrew
  • Date: August 15, 2022

This post contains affiliate links.

Philadelphia is known as an East Coast cultural center with a rich history, but few may also know it as an oasis for music lovers. Between its concert venues and music stores, Philly is always on the cutting edge of music culture, including the massive vinyl resurgence. Record enthusiasts have a plethora of stores to choose from for all of their vinyl needs. 

Here are the fifteen best vinyl record stores in Philadelphia:

  1. Repo Records
  2. Digital Underground
  3. Philadelphia Record Exchange
  4. Long in the Tooth
  5. Main Street Music
  6. Common Beat
  7. Brewerytown Beats
  8. Sit & Spin
  9. Cratediggaz Records
  10. Creep Records
  11. Beautiful World Syndicate
  12. Wild Mutation Records
  13. Milkcrate Cafe
  14. Borderline Records and Tapes
  15. Val Shively’s R&B Records

Whether you appreciate old-school bangers or are looking for a vinyl copy of some of the latest new albums, Philadelphia records stores have what you’re looking for. Keep reading to learn about the 15 best vinyl record stores in Philadelphia.

Table of Contents

1. Repo Records

Repo Records is a South Street institution. Buying and selling a wide range of vinyl records since 1986, the store carries everything from classic albums to new releases.

A local music section immediately greets entering visitors and used records sell cheap in the back-costing between one and five dollars.

You can also sell your used records and tapes to Repo Records. Repo buys used:

  • Records
  • CDs
  • Tapes

In addition to records and CDs, the store also sells:

  • Band shirts
  • Posters
  • Pins
  • Patches

Repo also hosts numerous shows, cultural events, and album signings.

2. Digital Underground

Digital Underground specializes in metal, goth, and industrial music. Digital Underground collects the obscure and unexpected.

Located in Queen Village, the store caters not only to metal fans but also to adventurous listeners seeking out unusual finds. 

The shop has a vast and comprehensive selection of metal and techno, as well as an array of novelty records and imports of Playstation game soundtracks. While Digital Underground only accepts goth and metal records as trade-ins for store credit, the employees can happily suggest other stores that accept different genres.

3. Philadelphia Record Exchange

The Philadelphia Record Exchange is musical chaos that rewards patient searchers. The Fishtown gem isn’t exceptionally organized, so shoppers must be prepared to explore and spelunk through the piles of reasonably priced vinyl. Philadelphia Record Exchange offers store trade credit for used:

  • LPs
  • Vinyls
  • CDs

The store keeps a generous inventory of Philadelphia bands. The Roots played outside the store in the ’80s, and anyplace good enough for Questlove is good enough for me!

4. Long in the Tooth 

Long in the Tooth appeals to every interest. Their catalog is extensive, so the store is beholden to no particular genre or niche. 

The proprietors order new inventory daily and are always willing and happy to place a special order. Long in the Tooth has reasonable prices and offers bargain prices for used merchandise. 

Finding a specific record takes patience, but the various stacks are ideal for making happy discoveries. Long in the Tooth keeps an impressive collection of rarities behind the counter. 

The store buys your used vinyl in exchange for store credit to keep you coming back.

Long in the Tooth also sells out of print books.

5. Main Street Music

Main Street Music fits into Manayunk’s general, quaint aesthetic, part of Philadelphia County.

The store opened in 1991 and immediately started amassing loyal customers.

Main Street Music carries:

  • Used and new vinyl.
  • Rare vinyl reissues.
  • Vinyl box sets.
  • A wide selection of CDs.

Like many of the establishments on this list, Main Street Music buys used CDs and vinyl. The store appraises carefully and offers fair prices for your music. 

Main Street Music also hosts local and national band performances. 

6. Common Beat

Common Beat is excellent for music lovers and music makers alike. 

Established in 2017, the Baltimore Avenue institution carries an impressive array of vinyl, including: 

  • Classic used vinyl.
  • Rare limited editions.
  • New releases.
  • 7-inch singles.

The shop also buys and sells cassettes. 

Common Beat doesn’t stop at vinyl, however. They also sell turntables, making them an excellent resource for beginners to cultivate and explore their new love affair with vinyl.

They’ll buy your old records and equipment so you can afford to feed your habit.

Common Beat also sells musical instruments and accessories. Everything from strings and straps to amps and instruments is available.

7. Brewerytown Beats

Brewerytown Beats was founded by Max Orchester, a co-distributor of Jamie/Guyden Records, one of Philly’s original soul records labels.

While the shop carries the expected rock and mainstream albums, they also have a superior selection of:

  • Soul
  • Funk
  • Hip-hop

The store carries a wide array of used and new: 

  • Vinyl records
  • Cassettes
  • 45s
  • CDs
  • Books 

The prices are superior, and Brewerytown is always ready to buy your used records, no appointment necessary. 

8. Sit & Spin

As the name might suggest, Sit & Spin specializes in punk records, with a strong showing in metal as well. Located in South Philly, Sit & Spin sells: 

  • Used vinyls.
  • Rare punk seven-inch singles (the store is transparent about the steeper price tags on these records).
  • T-shirts.
  • Jigsaw puzzles.

The store is incredibly niche and streamlines its merchandise to adhere to its chosen genres. As a result, they are highly selective about the records they’re willing to buy. They do, however, pay well for vinyl that compliments their oeuvre.

They’ll even do house calls to assess your record collection and whether or not they’re interested in purchasing from it! 

In addition to your records, Sit & Spin buys:

  • CDs
  • Cassettes
  • Books
  • Magazines
  • Posters
  • Concert Shirts
  • Other music memorabilia
  • Address:2243 S. Lambert St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Phone: 267-773-8345
  • Website: https://sitandspinrecords.com/
  • Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

9. Cratediggaz Records

Cratediggaz sells an impressive array of mainstream and underground hip hop.

While rap and hip hop is their specialty, the shop also has an impressive collection of jazz, funk, and some rock and used records.

The store buys used LPs.

  • Address: 711 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Phone: 215-279-7667
  • Website: https://www.instagram.com/cratediggaz_philly/
  • Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

10. Creep Records

Creep Records is as hip and inviting as its Northern Liberties location.

The shop functions on three fronts: as a record store, a smoke shop, and as a concert venue. Creep is committed to creating a communal music experience, holding: 

  • Listening parties.
  • In-store concerts.
  • Tours of their DIY recording studio.

The store houses a collection of obscure punk records and indie albums

  • Address: 1050 N. Hancock St. #76, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Phone: 267-239-2037
  • Website: https://shopcreep.com/
  • Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

11. Beautiful World Syndicate

Beautiful World Syndicate carries a wide selection of contemporary releases, ordering new inventory on a weekly basis. 

Beautiful World Syndicate is the shop for you if your musical taste errs towards more popular, mainstream, and modern music.

The East Passyunk store also carries every genre and buys your used vinyl.

You can peruse the store’s entire catalog on their website.

  • Address: 1619 E. Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Phone: 215-467-0401
  • Website: https://www.philadelphiamusic.net/
  • Hours: Wednesday through Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

12. Wild Mutation Records

Record stores are often beautifully chaotic oases for shoppers hoping to stumble on an album they didn’t even know they wanted as they dig through the stacks.

Wild Mutation Records, however, provides a Type A option for those who know exactly what they want. The inventory is rigidly organized both by genre and alphabetically. 

The brick-and-mortar shop is currently shut down, but the shop has migrated online and is now housed on Discogs. 

Wild Mutation offers shoppers deals and buys your old vinyl.

13. Milkcrate Cafe

Milkcrate Cafe combines two hip hangouts: a record store and a coffee shop.

Milkcrate Cafe has a surprisingly extensive, vegetarian-friendly food menu and a comprehensive coffee and tea selection.

Check out Milkcrate’s record selection once you’ve had a snack to build up your strength. You’ll find:

  • New rock
  • Old rock
  • Soul
  • Jazz

Milkcrate also carries new and used audio equipment: record players and speakers. The store buys certain vinyl and equipment, but they are selective about what they purchase. 

14. Borderline Records and Tapes

Located in Philadelphia’s fashionable Northern Liberties neighborhood, Borderline Records and Tapes is the platonic ideal of a record store: eclectic and cluttered. Older, vintage finds dominate Borderline’s catalog. Be prepared to dive through the unorganized stacks to find classic albums! 

15. Val Shively’s R&B Records

Val Shively’s R & B Records may be the most eccentric shop on a list brimming with oddballs. The store claims over four million records in stock, all of which are old doo-wop and R&B albums. 

There’s no indicator of organization in sight. Val Shively founded the store and is a fascinating character. a jovial vulgar born-again Christian with a hair-trigger, the shop is his baby.

The Smithsonian called the Upper Darby store “The World’s Greatest Record Store” in 2021, awed by the breadth of the collection. 

R&B Records encourages shoppers to submit want lists they will strive to fulfill.

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