If you can remember back when “vinyl” meant 33-1/3 rpm LP records and 45 rpm single “platters,” you’re in luck. Vinyl is back in fashion. People are buying new and used records like never before. And it’s much more fun to go to a record store and browse through stacks of records than to order them online — and though you’ll spend money on gasoline, you’ll save on shipping costs.

Here are a bunch of Ohio record stores; most of them are independently owned small businesses. Some of them also sell other stuff, like stereo equipment and rock memorabilia. Be sure to check websites or call for business hours. Note: Record Store Day is on or about April 21 each year, with many stores offering great deals on this day. Happy record store shopping!

Akron

Square Records – 824 W. Market St., Akron (330) 375-9244. Independent record shop specializing in new music, be it overexposed or nearly unknown. Used records from all eras and genres.

Time Traveler Records – 118 W. Market St., Akron (330) 819-8955. An Akron tradition since 1980 and one of Northeast Ohio’s longest-running independent record stores. Offers the best in vintage vinyl, a variety of new and used music, CDs and rare collectors’ items.

Athens

Athens Underground – 90 N. Court St., Athens. (740) 592-6286. Great selection of vintage vinyl, books, ephemera, clothing, jewelry and accessories.

Republic of Athens Records (ROAR) – 30 E. State St., Athens. Specializing in having the best selection of new and used pieces in the region, they can’t wait to help you find your new favorite record.

Canton

The Exchange – 3225 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton (330) 492-4805; 4464 Belden Village St. NW, Canton (330) 491-1370. Buys and sells used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, games.

Chillicothe

Apollo Records – 18 W. Water St., Chillicothe (740) 851-0000. Locally owned record store that carries new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, turntables, speakers.

Cincinnati Area

Everybody’s Records – 6106 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati (513) 531-4500. Established in 1978, this store offers vinyl, tapes and CDs in a wide range of genres as well as from local artists.

Jet Age Records – 817 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky. (859) 916-5466. Laid back record store offering vinyl, CDs, posters and coffee. 

Mole’s Record Exchange – 111 Calhoun St., Cincinnati (513) 861-6291.Mole’s Record Exchange is Cincinnati’s longest playing record store since 1974, near University of Cincinnati in Clifton.

Phil’s Records – 3914 Winston Ave., Covington, Ky. (859) 441-2514. Offers outstanding selection of pre-owned and new vinyl as well as CDs. No website or Facebook page.

Plaid Room Records – 122 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland (513) 583-1843. New and used record store, recording studio and live music venue in downtown Loveland.

Spiral Groove Records – 215-B Main St., Milford (513) 600-8018. Independent store that buys and sells new and vintage vinyl, tapes, CDs, equipment and turntables.

Shake It Records – 4156 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati (513) 591-0123. More than 25,000 titles on vinyl and 15,000 titles on CD in store located near University of Cincinnati.

Tarik Records & Smoke – 4011 Allston Ave., Cincinnati (513) 888-1051. Wide selection of pre-owned and new vinyl, smoke and vape shop.

Three Feather Records – 1105 Magie Ave., Fairfield (513) 816-7361. Three Feather Records is not only a record and CD store with an excellent selection of rock, blues, jazz, rap, hip-hop, metal, punk, folk, country, R&B, soul and other genres, but also a venue to showcase local talent.

Torn Light Records – 356 Ludlow St., Cincinnati (513) 873-6995. Offers vinyl, cassette, CD, video, print, merchandise and specialty items.

Unsung Vinyl (formerly Main Street Vinyl) – 212 Main St., Hamilton (513) 642- 9339. New and used vinyl, CDs, turntables, accessories and more. Buy and sell used records, CDs, components, more. Also on Facebook.

Cleveland Area

A Separate Reality Records –19901 Summit Ridge Road, Rocky River. Buy-sell-trade, by appointment only, call or text (216) 644-7934.

Blue Arrow Records and Books – 16001 Waterloo Road, Cleveland (216) 486-2415. Offers a wide selection of vintage vinyl, cassettes, music memorabilia, books, pulp fiction, vintage magazines, rock T-shirts, vintage posters and more.

Hausfrau Record Shop – 1388 W. 65th St., Cleveland (216) 394-5171. Neighborhood record shop buys and sells used vinyl records from every era.

My Mind’s Eye – 16010 Detroit Ave., Lakewood (216) 521-6660. Movie and music store with vinyl records; buys, sells and trades CDs and vinyl.

Santana Bro’s Music – 7415 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn (216) 661-4565. Offers music lessons for all ages; new and used instruments along with accessories, repairs and service. A large selection of pre-owned vinyl LPs.

The Current Year – 5580 Ridge Road, Parma (440) 879-7227. Offers vinyl records, rare grooves, art and memorabilia, and everything Luxuria. Specializes in rare records and import vinyl.

The Record Shop – 33419 Vine St., Eastlake (440) 951-0852. Used and vintage music, records, tapes, CDs, DVDs. No website or Facebook.

The Shoppe in Berea – 138 Front St., Berea (440) 234-7998. Offers a great selection of incense, incense burners, music (including remastered LPs) unique clothing and jewelry.

The Vinyl Groove Records – 679 Broadway Ave., Bedford (440) 439-8371. Buys and sells new and used records, vintage stereo equipment, speakers and turntables. 

​Columbus Area

Colleen’s Collectables – 1476 Oakland Park Ave., Columbus (614) 261-1585. Store hosts large, well-attended record shows several times a year, see website for details. Colleen’s also stocks records at Liberty Antique Mall, 18 N. Liberty St., Powell.

Elizabeth’s Records – 3037 Indianola Ave., Columbus (614) 569-6009. Elizabeth’s Records is a friendly, family-owned used vinyl record shop. They also carry turntables, record crates, record cleaning kits, and record bowls. Their specialty is classic rock, but they also have one of the best jazz sections in town.

The Kutt Records – 3058 W. Broad St., Columbus (614) 354-4980. Carries new and used records, but The Kutt is not just a record store. Hip hop events, content creator workshops, weekly open session or practice for breakers, and more.

Lost Weekend Records – 2960 N. High St., Columbus (614) 268-8423. Lost Weekend specializes in vinyl records of all genres. They also carry used CDs, DVDs, books and lots of other music collectibles.

Magnolia Thunderpussy – 1155 N. High St., Columbus (614) 421-1512. Voted the best record store in Columbus for the past 10 years. Vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, posters, memorabilia, t-shirts, etc.

Memory Lane Record Store – 2338 W. Broad St. (614) 272-2472. Over 200,000 records in stock, open by appointment weekdays. Open on Saturdays 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Now Spinning Records – 18 W. College Ave., Westerville (614) 401-7294. New and used vinyl records, all genres. Also sell framed and unframed posters, players, T-shirts, cassettes and CDs. No website or Facebook.

Records Per Minute – 2579 N. High St., Columbus (614) 732-0597. Over 50,000 LPs, 12-inch and 7-inch records.

Spoonful Records – 144 E. State St., Columbus (614) 586-1918. Small, independent record store in the heart of downtown Columbus specializing in all things vinyl. Offering new and gently used records, CDs, cassettes and new Audio-Technica turntables.

Used Kids Records – 2500 Summit St., Columbus (614) 421-9455. Established in 1986, Used Kids Records has grown into a Columbus institution. Offers the best selection of new and used vinyl, CDs and stereo equipment in the city. Used Kids is the place to go for new releases, in-stores with your favorite local and touring bands, and enough boxes and bins to keep you digging for days.

Dayton Area

2nd & Charles – 350 E. Stroop Road, Dayton (937) 298-6540. Buys and sells used vinyl, books, video games, movies, gaming systems and more.

Catacomb Records – 2310 Dorothy Lane, Kettering (937) 572-6090. Buys and sells heavy metal records, CDs, cassettes, and horror movies on DVD, VHS and Blu-ray.

FYE – 2727 Fairfield Commons Blvd., Dayton (937) 320-9631; 2700 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Dayton (937) 435-8411. Chain music and video store.

Huber Music & Video – 6569 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights (937) 233-3630. Buy, sell and trade records, CDs, DVDs, Blurays, video games and collectibles.

Omega Music – 318 E. Fifth St., Dayton (937) 275-9949. Deep catalog record store in the land of funk. Family owned and independent since 1983. Give them a call and they’re happy to help you over the phone.

Skeleton Dust Records – 133 E. Third St., Dayton (937) 221-8528. Features an eclectic and curated selection of music vinyl, CD and cassette format, as well as printed materials and new & used equipment. Also is an art space for live performances and visual art.

Delaware

Endangered Species – 11 W. Winter St., Delaware (740) 417-4776. Come in and look around at the largest selection of vinyl in central Ohio.

Lima

FYE – 2400 Elida Road #560, Lima (419) 331-9555. Chain music and video store.

Groamy CDs & Tapes – 1206 W. Robb St., Lima (419) 228-8637. Independent record store, electronics retailer. No website or Facebook page.

Mansfield

Blackbird Records – 36 W. Fourth St., Mansfield (567) 247-6004. More than 3,000 square feet shop offers vintage records, cards, collectibles, toys, trading cards, VHS, comics, sports cards, autographs, cassettes, turntables and much more.

Mt. Gilead

Legend Records – 37 S. Main St., Mt. Gilead (440) 479-5883. Legend Records is your place for clean vintage vinyl records in Ohio. Their companion business, The Flipside, specializes in vintage stereo equipment, records, posters and more. Legend Records is open by appointment only, text or call and leave a message, they will confirm date and time. Customers are asked to spend at least $50 per visit (about 2-3 records) and limit their stay to 2 hours or less.

Portsmouth

Haskins House Records – 534 Second St., Portsmouth (740) 771-0017. More than just a record store, they buy, sell and trade anything music-related.

Toledo

Allied Record Exchange – 1710 S. Reynolds Road, Toledo (419) 861-1605; 3253 Navarre Road, Oregon (419) 697-5538. Two locations in Toledo area that buy, sell, trade vinyl, CDs, cassettes, stereo equipment.

Culture Clash Records – 912 Monroe St., Toledo (419) 536-5683. Vinyl, CDs, tapes, Blu-ray, DVDs, books, merchandise, stereo equipment.

No Noise Records – 4332 Monroe St., Toledo (419) 720-0074. New and used records, stereo equipment.

Troy

Resignation Records – 224 S. Market St., Troy. Record store buying and selling new and vintage vinyl, books and more.

Wooster

Blackbird Records – 126 S. Market St., Wooster (330) 804-0044. More than 1,200 square foot store carries new releases as well as vintage vinyl records, turntables, CDs, cassettes, concert posters, band tee-shirts, autographs and much more.

Youngstown area

FYE – 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles (330) 505-9546; 5555 Youngstown-Poland Road, Warren (330) 502-9313. Chain music and video stores.

Underdog Records – 6181 Youngstown-Hubbard Road, Hubbard (330) 534-2241. Record and music store. No website or Facebook page.

Wheeling, W.Va.

Nail City Records – McLain Building, 40 N. 12th St., Suite 300, Wheeling, W.Va. (304) 281-1188. Nail City is a record store with new and used vinyl, turntables, CDs, cassettes, vinyl care, and music memorabilia. It’s a place where people of all ages can go to discover music from across every genre, decade, and media style.

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