16 Best Vinyl Record Stores in Toronto

By: Andrew
Date: August 15, 2022

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Vinyl continues to grow in popularity, and today, there’s no shortage of ways to get your hands on high-quality records. While it is easy to buy records online, nothing beats the satisfaction of shuffling through rows of records in a brick-and-mortar store. Luckily, if you’re a Torontonian, or visiting Toronto, there are plenty of amazing shops where you can find old gems as well as the latest hits.

Here are 16 of the best vinyl record stores in Toronto:

Sonic Boom
Antikka Cafe & Records
Tiny Record Shop
Kops Records
Rotate This!
Neurotica Records
Dead Dog Records
Pandemonium Books & Discs
She Said Boom! Books and Records
Tonality Records
Paradise Bound
Play De Record
Grasshopper Records
Cosmos on Queen and Cosmos West
Invisible City
Shortstack Records

Let’s take a closer look at each of these spots to discover why they’re some of the best places for you to get your record fix in Toronto.

Table of Contents

1. Sonic Boom

Sonic Boom is one of the largest record stores in Toronto, so you’ll be able to find records from many different years and genres. The multi-level brick-and-mortar store is located in Chinatown and sells books and DVDs in addition to records.

The first level features top new releases that are updated every day, but for the real fun, visitors should venture to the second level, where rows and rows of vintage records are waiting to be explored.

The store also welcomes musicians for live music events semi-regularly, which are increasing in frequency as the store recovers from the COVID-19 shutdowns. Sonic Boom buys used records, so if you have a collection you’re trying to get off your hands, this is a great option, although they rarely purchase classical, easy listening, and religious records.

Address: 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON

2. Antikka Cafe & Records

Antikka Cafe and Records is an excellent stop for people who love coffee just as much as they love shopping for vinyl records. The store keeps over 1,200 new and used records in stock, and they specialize in indie, country, and soul music. The store can order the album for you if you look through their collection and can’t find what you’re looking for. They also host live music events, including a weekly Django Jam on Monday nights.

Part of what makes this such a great spot is the delicious coffee options. The espresso is flavorful, and the coffee blends are worth trying, especially the Nina Simone blend.

Address: 960 Queen Street W, Toronto, ON

3. Tiny Record Shop

As the name suggests, this is one of the smaller stores on this list, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t carry an incredible selection! The record label Paper Bag runs the shop; therefore, here you’ll find vinyls from artists that collaborate with the label as well as other popular musicians such as David Bowie and the Ramones. You can easily spend an afternoon digging through their bins of used records.

The shop buys collections of different genres and sizes, so you can sell some old records and grab some new ones with your earnings.

Address: 777 Queen Street E, Toronto, ON

4. Kops Records

Kops Records has not one but two locations in Toronto for record-lovers to enjoy. They sell new and vintage vinyl in nearly every genre, including pop, rock, jazz, soul, hip hop, R&B, classical, electronic, punk, metal, roots, world, soundtracks, and spoken. The Danforth location has been around since the ‘70s, so it is a fixture of the neighborhood and Toronto’s music scene.

If you’re looking for collectibles and rare vinyl, Kops is a great place to start. The Danforth location has a warehouse in the back of the store that features old and rare records, including original Beatles LPs and recordings of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches.

Address: 395 Queen Street W, Toronto, ON and 209 Danforth Ave., Toronto, ON

5. Rotate This!

Rotate This opened over twenty-five years ago and is a popular hangout for vinyl lovers in Toronto. They’re committed to stocking new releases from independent artists and bands from Canada, the United States, and other areas of the world in all genres except country and classical.

The store’s primary focus is new releases, although they have a large stock of used records and often buy used collections. They also sell tickets to live music events in the city, although they temporarily paused this service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’re on a tight budget, the discount bins at Rotate This! will be your best friends.

Address: 186 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON

6. Neurotica Records

Neurotica Records is a great source for records by Canadian artists as well as post-punk and krautrock records, so if you’re into all things experimental, underground, and psychedelic, this is the store for you. They also sell CDs, cassette tapes, DVDs, books, video games, and audio equipment.

There’s also a small studio on-site, so if you need basic recording and mastering, Neurotica has got you covered.

Address: 567 College Street, Toronto, ON

7. Dead Dog Records

Don’t be put off by the name; Dead Dog Records is a perfectly friendly place, with no dead dogs in sight. They have two locations that serve Toronto’s music enthusiasts and fans of all genres with an exceptional selection of new and used records. They also special order any albums that you might not be able to find in stock.

One of my favorite things about Dead Dog Records is their monthly Vinyl Show and Tell, which takes place the first Wednesday of every month at Henderson Brewery. People can bring a record, tell a story, and get a free beer or homemade non-alcoholic soda at this event. A Dead Dog pop-up shop is at every Show and Tell.

Address: 1209 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON, and 568 Church Street, Toronto, ON

8. Pandemonium Books & Discs

If you’re looking to peruse a store that offers more than just records, you’re in luck! Pandemonium sells CDs, books, DVDs, and unique art, in addition to their extensive collection of used records.

They also buy used items, although they are relatively picky. The following table outlines their guidelines for buying:

Item	What They Buy	What They Don’t Buy
Books	Quality contemporary literature in trade paperback editions Philosophy, art, poetry, religion, history, science fiction, and mystery	Business, computer, foreign language, textbooks, or romance
Records	Quality jazz, funk, soul, psyche, rock, metal, punk, blues, reggae, and avant-garde They do occasional home visits	Classical
CDs	Only extremely interesting, popular, or rare CDs	A lot; they are very selective. They do always accept donations of used CDs in good condition.

Address: 2920 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON

9. She Said Boom! Books and Records

She Said Boom! buys and sells used vinyl records focusing on jazz, alternative, electronica, reggae, roots, and Afrobeats. The store also sells used books, including literature, philosophy, art, history, political science, graphic novels, cookbooks, and books for kids.

Their entire selection is excellent, but their strength is jazz. If there’s a jazz album I want, She Said Boom! is the first place I go to.

Address: 393 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON and 378 College Street, Toronto, ON

10. Tonality Records

Owner Julian Seth-Wong opened Tonality when he was only eighteen years old, and since then, it has been an essential stop for indie and hard-to-find vinyl fans. The store is arranged by label instead of artist or genre, so it is an excellent place to go to discover new artists and sounds.

They stock a variety of labels, but especially the following:

Already Dead Tapes
Bleeding Gold
Bitter Melody Records
HHBTM Records
Jigsaw Records
Kanine Records
Last Gang Records
LebensStrasse Records
Orange Twin Records
Partisan Records
Plaptk Recordings
La Société Expéditionnaire
Jealous Butcher Records
Tough Love Records
Run for Cover Records

The store also carries a variety of audio equipment in stock, including vintage radios, turntables, amplifiers, and speakers. If you’re an audiophile in Toronto, you could spend hours in Tonality.

Address: 2173 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON

11. Paradise Bound

My favorite neighborhood in Toronto, Kensington Market, is home to one of my favorite record stores: Paradise Bound. This authentic Japanese store sells art and vinyl of all genres. It’s worth visiting the store just to admire the incredible Japanese art decorating the walls, but they also carry a great selection to look through, including thousands of classical records. This characteristic is unique to Paradise Bound, as many other record stores don’t sell classical music.

You can also buy hanging scrolls, woodblock prints, tea bowls, and pottery from this unique shop.

Address: 270 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON

12. Play De Record

Play De Record became extremely popular due to its regular appearances on Much Music, and nowadays, it maintains its popularity by offering a wide variety of records, especially international picks.

In addition to being a vinyl shop, Play De Record is a DJ store and has hosted international legends such as Nas, Raekwon, and Goldie. DJs can get all the equipment they need from this store.

Shopping at Play De Record is a unique experience, as much of their stock sits in crates lining the floor throughout the store.

Address: 411 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON

13. Grasshopper Records

Grasshopper Records specializes in their international music selection, and they’re one of the only record stores to stay open late (they’re open until midnight every day).

Grasshopper sells newly released, rare, and high-quality used vinyl in many genres, including no wave, psychedelic, classic rock, hip hop, soul, dub, reggae, and noise. They also sell a limited selection of items made by local artists, art books, and vintage concert posters.

Address: 1164 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON

14. Cosmos on Queen and Cosmos West

The two Cosmos locations are only blocks away, so it is easy to visit both on one outing. Cosmos West specializes in jazz, Brazilian, Latin, and disco music, whereas Cosmos on Queen is your stop for soul, funk, hip hop, and classic rock.

The staff at both locations are extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and with their help, you’ll be able to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Address: 607A Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, and 652 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

15. Invisible City

If you like to dance, Invisible City is the record store for you. They offer unusual dance-floor vinyl, including soca disco, Nigerian boogie, and ambient sounds. They also host many live music events.

They keep many unique records in stock, so if you want something you can’t find anywhere else, stop by Invisible City and take a look at their displays or take advantage of their knowledgeable staff.

Address: 222 Spadina Avenue, Unit C4, Toronto, ON

16. Shortstack Records

Shortstack Records has been nominated as the Best Record Shop, named one of the best stores to sell your records to, and they were nominated for Best Instagram in Toronto in 2018. They’re a smaller store, but they still carry a large collection of new and used vinyl in various genres.

They take great care in evaluating record collections and offer the best possible price. You can also opt to trade in your old records for some new-to-you ones from their collection.

Address: 778 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON

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