Record Store Day in Cincinnati, Ohio
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 Cincinnati, Ohio
Independent record shops open in Cincinnati, Ohio 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.
- Alien Records
New Over-the-Rhine vinyl destination opened Nov 2024 by Cincinnati native Timothy Henninger, seeded from his ~30,000-record personal collection. Also does turntable repair and live in-store events.
3 sources
- Another Part of the Forest
Two-floor used record, book and movie shop in Over-the-Rhine, reopened under new ownership in 2019 with jazz, rock, soul, folk and international vinyl.
1 source
- Everybody's Records
Cincinnati's longest continuously operating independent record store, open in Pleasant Ridge since 1978. Deep used vinyl/cassette selection across rock, soul, jazz, punk and local artists.
2 sources
- Feel It Record Shop
Brick-and-mortar grown from the Feel It Records label (est. 2010); took over Torn Light's Clifton Gaslight District storefront in 2024. New/used vinyl, cassettes, CDs, studio gear, in-store stage.
3 sources
- HAIL Records & Oddities
New and used vinyl (7" singles too) alongside taxidermy, bones, crystals and tarot in MainStrasse Village. Self-described 'record store gone weird.'
3 sources
- Hi-Fi Cincy
Vinyl records-themed lounge and cocktail bar in Mt. Adams, billed as Cincinnati's only vinyl record bar; owner Mike Twombly built it to connect people across generations through vinyl.
2 sources
- Jet Age Records
Brother-run vinyl and coffee shop on Historic Monmouth Street, with new/used/rare records, CDs, concert posters and light turntable repair.
2 sources
- Mole's Record Exchange
Cincinnati's longest-running record store, in business since 1974 near UC in Clifton Heights. Deep crates of used vinyl and CDs plus posters and memorabilia; staffed by longtime regulars.
3 sources
- Paper Street Trading Company
Pop-culture trading shop in Surrey Square Mall buying/selling/trading vinyl records alongside comics, video games and collectibles.
3 sources
- Phil's Records
Long-running Covington shop (30+ years) with a large stock of vinyl records, CDs and DVDs.
3 sources
- Sessions Vinyl Room
Oakley neighborhood vinyl shop with a listening lounge and craft-beer carry-out, mixing new and used records with a hangout vibe.
2 sources
- Shake It Records
Nationally known Northside institution and former indie label; two floors of new/used vinyl, CDs, tapes, books and pop-culture ephemera. Run by brothers Jim and Darren Blasé.
3 sources
See the full record store listing for Cincinnati, Ohio.