Record Store Day in Boston, Massachusetts
Two dates to know: Record Store Day Black Friday is Friday, November 29, 2026, and the next main Record Store Day is Saturday, April 17, 2027.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is an annual event built around independent record stores. The main event traditionally lands on the third Saturday of April each year; Record Store Day Black Friday is traditionally held the day after US Thanksgiving. Both days bring exclusive, limited-run vinyl and CD releases sold only at participating independent shops — not big-box retailers, and not mail order until the in-store exclusives sell through. Because pressings are limited, popular titles can sell out within the first hour, which is why a line-early culture has grown up around the day even at shops that are otherwise quiet on a weekday morning.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early. At busy shops, lines for popular titles can start well before opening.
- Bring cash. A cash line often moves faster than card on a shop's highest-volume day of the year.
- Check each shop's own site or Instagram in the week before the date — participating shops post their own opening time, line policy, and which exclusive titles they've ordered in.
- Release lists are first-come, first-served and vary store to store. A title in stock at one shop may not show up at another, even across town.
- Expect one-per-customer or per-household limits on the most in-demand titles.
- Not every independent record store participates every year, and allocations vary shop to shop — confirm directly with the shop rather than assuming based on a past year.
Shops to check in Boston, Massachusetts
Independent record shops open in Boston, Massachusetts right now. We don't yet track which specific shops participate in Record Store Day or what they've ordered in for a given year — check each shop's own site or Instagram close to the date for their exclusive-release list, opening time, and line policy.
- Armageddon Shop
Harvard Square shop specializing in metal, punk and hardcore, carrying new and used vinyl, cassettes, CDs, zines, books and band merch.
2 sources
- Bar Pallino
Speakeasy-style natural wine bar beneath Faccia a Faccia on Newbury Street; the basement barroom has a turntable and a vinyl-stocked shelf from Jamie Bissonnette's collection, with occasional live jazz and song requests.
2 sources
- Big Dig Records
North Cambridge shop (rebranded from the former Blue Bags Records spot in 2022) known for cheap prices and a strong local punk/underground selection; owners also do house-call collection buys.
2 sources
- Cheap Thrills Music
Longtime Dedham record shop with a deep selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, and cassettes; in business over 20 years.
1 source
- Cheapo Records
Central Square's longtime vinyl institution, self-described as operating since 1954, with a large rotating selection of new and used rock, jazz, folk and country.
2 sources
- Counter Intuitive Records
Record label's first physical storefront, opened February 15, 2025 in Brookline, selling vinyl, band merch and retro video games/consoles for trade.
2 sources
- Deja Vu Records
Used-vinyl record store in downtown Natick; the shop advises calling ahead before visiting.
1 source
- Desnuda Cocina & Bar
South End restaurant with a downstairs listening bar inspired by 1950s Japanese sound bars: art-deco basement room with framed albums, vintage speakers, and a vinyl collection stocking themed genre/decade nights.
2 sources
- Good Dog Records & Books
Used, new and antiquarian bookstore combined with a curated vinyl records selection in Newton Centre, opened in 2023 by Boston native Barry Tilles.
2 sources
- Good Taste Records
North End boutique record shop opened in 2022 by a husband-and-wife DJ team, curating new and used vinyl across hip-hop, metal and more with an emphasis on sustainability.
2 sources
- Green Street Grooves
Vintage vinyl, reissues and new releases shop run by Dave Plunkett; relocated to Melrose in fall 2023 after 12 years operating as Somerville Grooves.
2 sources
- Headroom Hi-Fi Lounge
Second-floor cocktail lounge inside Trillium's Fort Point brewery built for audio appreciation, with live music Tue-Thu and vinyl DJs Fri-Sat on a dedicated hi-fi system.
2 sources
- Light of Day Records
Boutique vinyl, CD and cassette shop operating inside Deep Cuts brewery in Medford Square, pairing record browsing with craft beer, sandwiches, live music and pinball.
2 sources
- Listen Up Music
Natick record store operating since 1996, specializing in rock, jazz, blues and folk vinyl alongside CDs, cassettes and DVDs.
2 sources
- Looney Tunes Records
Allston vinyl, CD and cassette shop that reopened in its Harvard Ave location after previously closing its Boylston Street store; cash-only.
2 sources
- Music Research Library
Beacon Hill vinyl shop that relocated from Providence in March 2023, curating clean used records with a focus on jazz, hip-hop and rare library-music LPs.
2 sources
- Newbury Comics
Founding flagship store of the Boston-born music/pop-culture chain, started by MIT students in 1978; the Newbury Street location remains a major vinyl destination with weekly new releases and exclusives.
1 source
- Newbury Comics (Braintree)
Newbury Comics branch at South Shore Plaza mall in Braintree, with a vinyl section alongside comics and pop-culture merch.
1 source
- Newbury Comics (Burlington)
Newbury Comics branch inside Burlington Mall, with a vinyl section alongside comics and pop-culture merch.
1 source
- Newbury Comics (Cambridge)
Newbury Comics branch inside The Garage mall in Harvard Square, a second Cambridge location for the chain.
1 source
- Newbury Comics (Faneuil Hall)
Newbury Comics branch at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, a second Boston location for the New England pop-culture/vinyl chain alongside the flagship Newbury Street store.
1 source
- Newbury Comics (Natick)
Newbury Comics branch inside the Natick Mall, with a vinyl section alongside comics and pop-culture merch.
1 source
- Newbury Comics (Norwood)
Newbury Comics branch on Route 1 in Norwood, with a vinyl section alongside comics and pop-culture merch.
1 source
- Newbury Comics (Peabody)
Newbury Comics branch inside the Northshore Mall in Peabody, with a vinyl section alongside comics and pop-culture merch.
1 source
- Nuggets
Kenmore Square vintage record shop open since 1978, known for its time-capsule feel, vintage musician memorabilia on the walls, and deep used-vinyl crates.
2 sources
- Orpheus Performing Arts Treasures
Below-street-level Back Bay shop since 1995 specializing in used classical CDs and vinyl, plus jazz and pop, rare scores, sheet music, books and autographs for musicians and collectors.
2 sources
- Planet Records
Harvard Square-area shop on Mt Auburn Street known for its vibe and knowledgeable staff, buying and selling new and used vinyl across genres.
2 sources
- Randolph Music
Randolph record and stereo-equipment shop carrying vinyl, 45s, CDs and DVDs alongside audio gear; also does business as Randolph Music & Barneys Laptops at the same address.
2 sources
- Record Exchange
One of the oldest used-vinyl brick-and-mortar shops in the US, buying and selling carefully graded used and new records, cassettes, CDs and DVDs in downtown Salem since 1974.
2 sources
- Residency Records
Curated downtown Salem shop specializing in metal, punk and indie rock on new and used vinyl, CDs and tapes; moved to its current Church St location in February 2022, quadrupling its stock.
2 sources
- Root For Us Records
Newton record shop opened in 2026 by Brian Coleman (formerly of Want List Records) inside a small Route 9 shopping center, selling reasonably priced used vinyl with in-store listening stations.
2 sources
- Spy Bar
Hi-fi vinyl listening lounge beneath Cosmica at The Revolution Hotel in the South End, featuring curated vinyl DJ sets, craft cocktails, and a moody, intimate atmosphere.
2 sources
- Stereo Jack's Records
Jazz and blues specialist record shop founded in 1982, relocated from Cambridge to West Somerville's Ball Square in 2022; sells vinyl and CDs with new inventory added daily.
2 sources
- Taurus Records
Mattapan reggae institution opened by Leroy Webb in 1981, moved to its rastafarian-colored storefront on Blue Hill Ave in the mid-1990s; the heart of Boston's reggae, dancehall, calypso and soca scene for over 45 years.
2 sources
- Temple Records
Downtown Crossing listening bar inspired by 1950s Japanese sound bars, built around chef Jamie Bissonnette's 10,000+ record collection and a custom-designed hi-fi sound system; sushi bar downstairs.
2 sources
- Tres Gatos
Jamaica Plain tapas restaurant combined with a book and record store under one roof; browse vinyl and books while dining, with regular live music and record-store events.
1 source
- Village Vinyl & Hi-Fi
Coolidge Corner shop selling curated vinyl and vintage stereo/hi-fi equipment; named to the Boston Globe's 2025 best-of list.
2 sources
- Vinyl Index
Record shop in Union Square's Bow Market with a 10-foot bar and communal seating woven between the bins; cocktails from neighboring bar Nook are served while browsing and during weekly DJ sets.
2 sources
- Wanna Hear It Records
New and used vinyl shop opened in 2020 focused on punk, hardcore, indie rock, emo, metal, top 40 and hip hop; run by 6131 Records label owner Joey Cahill.
2 sources
- Want List Records
Vinyl shop run by Brian Coleman and Dave Belson buying, selling and trading records, currently based in a storefront on Trapelo Road in Belmont.
2 sources
See the full record store listing for Boston, Massachusetts.