The 22 best record stores in Chicago

With locations in the Loop, Lakeview and Wicker Park, Reckless is the biggest record retailer in town, which means that you shouldn't have any problem tracking down the latest new release (on vinyl or CD). Plus, there's a nearly constant stream of used records coming through the doors, so you'll find stacks of pre-owned rock, jazz, metal and experimental LPs to flip through. The chain's Wicker Park shop is home to the most vast selection of music and sometimes hosts in-store performances, signings and other special events.

The funny thing about Dusty Groove is just how pleasantly bright and clean it is. The shop's name refers to the obscure and eclectic global rhythms found in the smartly curated bins, sorted into sections devoted to Tropicalia, Afrobeat, reggae, vintage soul, French pop, blues and jazz. It's the kind of place you'd have to hit if you were soundtracking a Quentin Tarantino film.

Nineties nostalgists, this is your classic indie record shop, outfitted with the handmade signs, knowledgeable staff and offbeat curios that likely populated the store where you bought music in your college town (hopefully it still exists!). Apart from the usual records and CDs, Laurie's sells pop culture ephemera such as hard-to-find DVDs, slipmats emblazoned with familiar characters and Johnny Cash action figures.

Located directly across the street from Thalia Hall, Dusek's and Punch House, this Pilsen record store focuses on vinyl from small, international labels like Blackest Ever Black (London) and Exiles (Buenos Aires) as well as albums released by local favorites like Thrill Jockey and Numero Group. Stop by the sleek space to catch a DJ set or browse the selection of turntables, slipmats and other record supplies.

Stepping into Bric-A-Brac's bright, colorful storefront is like entering the bedroom of every ’80s kid’s dreams. Action figures from classics like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle line the walls, with a VHS copy of Blade Runner nearby. All of this supplements a highly curated selection of punk and garage rock records, including a healthy number of releases from local bands. Stop by to bask in the overwhelming sense of nostalgia.

This small vinyl shop has long been a hub for professional and amateur electronic experts. It's like stepping into the bottomless record bag of a cool Berlin DJ, stocked with loads of bleeding-edge 12-inches from microlabels across the pond, repping disco, bass, dubstep, house, techno, trance… and whatever else producers are dreaming up in Ableton.

The latest iteration of a neighborhood record store that has been selling vinyl since the ’70s, Hyde Park Records keeps turntables spinning on Chicago's South Side. While new releases are stocked each week, local crate diggers know that the store's selections of R&B, soul, blues and hip-hop records (marked by signs made from old issues of Jet magazine) are usually filled with treasures. The shop is a favorite of local musicians and traveling DJs, so keep an eye out for familiar faces (and the occasional in-store DJ set) as you flip through titles.

Once located on the second floor of South Loop music venue Reggies, Record Breakers is now slinging vinyl on the hipster highway of Milwaukee Avenue. The Avondale shop is stocked with a wide selection of new and used vinyl, in addition to T-shirts, turntables, posters and everything else a music lover might want to hoard. 

After shutting down Logan Square record store Logan Hardware, owner John Ciba took some of his remaining inventory to Rogers Park and opened this verdant, unconventional shop. True to its name, Electric Jungle is packed with potted plants, but the way that records are presented to customers is the shop’s most noteworthy trait. A rotating selection of used vinyl is loaded into several rolling laundry carts each day, making it easy to encounter an entirely different array of LPs upon repeat visits. Don't come expecting to snap a photo—the use of cellphones and cameras is banned inside of Electric Jungle so that you can focus on shopping for music.

Founded by former Laurie's Planet of Sound employee Paul Nixon and local studio engineer David Baker, Round Trip Records opened its Albany Park storefront to provide a well-curated selection that ranges from indie rock to experimental jazz LPs, plus plenty of titles from local labels like HoZac, Thrill Jockey and American Dreams.

This intimate spot in Washington Park has a carefully curated selection of records. Miyagi Records boasts house, alternative, pop and classic disco vinyls. Enjoy frequent "Selector Saturdays" where DJs spin their favorite vinyls for shoppers to groove to. Make sure to add Miyagi to your Saturday errands and keep an eye out for their frequent community events and shows. 

Nestled in the Norridge, Rolling Stones Records is nothing short of vibrant. Opened in 1971, the store is hard to miss from the outside and hard to forget from the inside. With old vinyl records plastered along the walls, this sprawling spot is everything you’d want from a quirky vinyl reseller. Buy anything from contemporary country to 90s grunge. Even for the not-so-serious vinyl listeners, witnessing Rolling Stones Records in all its glory makes just stopping by worthwhile.

A one-man operation that's largely the result of a personal record collection that grew too large, Interstellar Space is a small Lincoln Square shop that caters to adventurous listeners. You won't find any new records among the racks, but you'll likely come across some classic rock, avant-garde jazz and vintage funk LPs. The selection here is relatively small, but shoppers will enjoy one of the most intimate record-buying experiences in Chicago. And you'll probably take home something you haven't heard before.

After three years of searching for the perfect neighborhood space, Adam "DJ Shuga Rose" Rosen opened Shuga in Wicker Park, not far from Reckless Records and Dusty Groove. The store houses close to 20,000 records exclusively available at the shop, plus turntables, vintage posters and thousands more titles online. If you're searching for an obscure album, chances are you'll find it here among the well-organized racks.

A one-stop shop for vinyl aficionados, this Portage Park spot home stocks record cleaning kits, storage accessories and offers an in-store record washing service, in addition to its selection of new and used vinyl that ranges from well-worn classic rock albums to new independent releases. Keep an eye out for events, too—Tone Deaf Records also hosts live music and film screenings.

Opened in 2010, Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records hawks low-priced tomes in the varieties of horror, science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, popular science, creative nonfiction and biographies, as well as rock, punk and metal vinyl alongside used sci-fi and horror DVDs. Its current location (emblazoned with a trippy sign painted by local artist Mac Blackout) is just down the street from Kuma's Corner, which means you can finally eat a Slayer burger and then go buy a copy of Reign in Blood.

If you're looking for a record store that feels like a time machine, make your way to Out of the Past Records in West Garfield Park. Since 1968, this family-owned record store has been nothing short of a community staple—through the various decades of music changes, Out of the Past has still dedicated itself to music preservation. Walking through the crowded aisles of records definitely feels like a journey through time.  From hip-hop classics to modern R&B to experimental indie music, you can’t go wrong with supporting this Chicago institution.

Just steps away from the 18th Street Pink Line station, Pinwheel Records was the first record store to debut in Pilsen. The interior of the shop looks a bit like a ultra-cool living room, boasting vibrant green walls, framed artwork and an arcade cabinet. Of course, there are plenty of records (and turntables to listen to them on) neatly arranged throughout the space. Stop in for some listening material while you digest your meal of tacos or carnitas.

Set amid a stretch of Clark Street that's home to a Brown Elephant thrift shop and the retro Replay arcade bar, Rattleback Records is a fittingly old-school addition to Andersonville's crop of small businesses. The no-frills record shop isn't very large, but it offers a mighty selection of new and used LPs, including plenty of rock, blues and jazz albums and some new releases. Customers can also pull up a stool to browse more LPs and 45s arranged under the main shelves or sit down on the store's couch to flip through some of the music-centric books and publications it carries.

Although it's the most recent vintage record store to take up residence in Pilsen, Shady Rest brings more to the table than your average shop. This eclectic 18th Street store stocks not just vinyl, but sound equipment (speakers, turntables, even some 8-tracks), a small, but well-curated selection of MCM furniture and lots of vintage accessories, like old-school lamps, books and other knick-knacks.

As a living legacy of legendary blues and jazz producer Bob Koester, Bob's Blues and Jazz Mart serves as a vibrant reminder of his passion for music. The store specializes in blues, jazz, R&B and gospel but still features rock, folk and world vinyls. Be sure to stop by for commemorative Bob's t-shirts, too. 

A cross between a record store, a gallery and a gift shop, there's no shortage of items to browse at Transistor. While the selection of records is relatively small, you'll usually find a smattering of new releases tucked into crates that are stocked with classic rock LPs and popular contemporary albums. Transistor also carries a small but well-curated selection of audio equipment, if you're in the market for a turntable and decent set of powered speakers. The shop's walls are lined with rotating photos and prints created by local artists.