Record Store Day in Columbus, 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 Columbus, Ohio
Independent record shops open in Columbus, 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.
- Corner Records
Vinyl record shop operating inside a working convenience store near downtown, selling new and used records, pins, stereos and cleaning kits.
1 source
- Elizabeth's Records
Family-owned Clintonville shop run by Dave & Laura Lewis since 2010, specializing in used vinyl across rock, jazz, soul, world and classical, plus store cat Jonesy.
2 sources
- Lost Weekend Records
Clintonville favorite at the corner of High & Crestview, run by Kyle Siegrist since 2003, known for deep crates of independent and rare vinyl.
2 sources
- Lovelight Records and Art
Clintonville record shop/art gallery hybrid opened Nov 2023 by Luke Haines & Mike Davis, focused on rare deep cuts, funk, African and reggae vinyl plus local art.
2 sources
- Magnolia Thunderpussy
Columbus's oldest record store, a Short North landmark since 1970 stocking new releases, rare finds, band merch, posters, and audio gear.
3 sources
- Records Per Minute
University District shop owned by Steve Louis with over 50,000 records in stock spanning pop, soul, rock, R&B, indie, and alternative, plus stereo gear.
2 sources
- Rich St. Records
Founded 1997 as Roots Records, a reggae/dub/jazz/funk specialist; closed 2017, ran pop-ups from 2021, then reopened with regular hours in Aug 2024 as Rich St. Records under owner Carl Newman.
1 source
- Spoonful Records
Downtown vinyl staple opened in 2010 by husband-and-wife team Brett Ruland and Amy Kesting; ran weekly in-store Spoonful Sessions all through 2025.
2 sources
- The Kutt Records
Hip-hop culture record shop on the Hilltop, opened June 2023 by Zachary 'Zerggy Zerg' Grashel and reopened at a new W. Broad St location in Oct 2024.
1 source
- The Needle Exchange Records and Tapes
North Clintonville analog specialist opened April 2021 by former Lost Weekend clerk Ian Graham; used vinyl alongside cassettes, VHS, laserdisc and 8-tracks.
2 sources
- Used Kids Records
Columbus institution since 1986 with deep punk, metal, and indie bins; doubles as a live venue and launchpad for local musicians.
2 sources
See the full record store listing for Columbus, Ohio.