Record Stores / District of Columbia
Record Stores in Washington, District of Columbia
12 record stores — last verified July 2026.
- Art Sound Language
Chevy Chase Arcade shop pairing curated vinyl with music books and regular live in-store performances and artist events.
2 sources
- Byrdland Records
Union Market sister shop to Songbyrd Music House, stocking 5,000+ new and used records across indie, soul, hip-hop and DC's local scene, plus turntables and gear.
2 sources
- Cool Kids Vinyl
Upstairs at Maketto on H Street, leaning into '80s/'90s hip-hop, R&B and soul alongside comics, books, and a house coffee roast.
2 sources
- Decibel Music
Black-owned Shaw record shop with listening stations and in-store performances, deep in R&B, jazz, soul, gospel and hip-hop.
2 sources
- The Hip-Hop Shop
Retail arm of the National Hip-Hop Museum in Adams Morgan, stocking new, rare and vintage hip-hop memorabilia alongside vinyl, cassettes, apparel and artwork.
2 sources
- HR Records
Brightwood Park shop, one of only a few dozen Black-owned record stores in the US; deep in jazz, soul, funk, go-go and African pressings.
2 sources
- Joint Custody
U Street shop pairing deep punk, metal, reggae, hip-hop and DC-artist vinyl with vintage clothing; voted Best Record Store in Washington City Paper's readers poll multiple years running.
2 sources
- La Betty
Vinyl listening room and natural-wine bar in Mount Vernon Triangle.
1 source
- Smash! Records
DC's premier punk/alternative record and clothing shop, founded in Georgetown in 1984 and now anchoring Adams Morgan with hardcore, metal, and DC-hardcore legacy vinyl.
2 sources
- Som Records
Basement shop below a 14th Street barbershop, beloved for its listening station, deep $1 bins, and eclectic stock spanning go-go, samba, salsa, jazz, punk and reggae.
2 sources
- Spin Time Records
Capitol Hill shop selling almost entirely new vinyl to support working artists, curated around DC go-go, punk, jazz, hip-hop and Americana plus a dedicated reggae section.
2 sources
- Tiny Vinyl Shop
Small Adams Morgan/Kalorama vinyl shop and community gathering spot with records starting at $1 and a focus on supporting local artists.
1 source
Greater Washington
Record stores in the cities and towns around Washington.
Arlington, VA
- Blue Groove Soundz
Westover, Arlington vinyl shop with 20,000-30,000 records in stock spanning jazz, soul, funk, R&B, Latin, blues and more, run by longtime collector/DJ Gary Foreman since around 2009.
2 sources
- Oasis: The Listening Bar
Japanese-inspired record bar with sushi in Arlington's Clarendon neighborhood, spinning vinyl on a dedicated hi-fi system.
2 sources
Silver Spring, MD
- Bump 'n Grind
Coffee shop and record store community hub in Silver Spring roasting its own coffee and stocking rock, jazz and soul/funk vinyl.
2 sources
- Joe's Record Paradise
DC-area vinyl institution founded in 1974 by Joe Lee; now run by his son out of a sprawling Silver Spring basement stocked with rock, soul, jazz, blues and hip-hop.
2 sources
- Mojomala Books, Records & Cool Stuff
Locally owned book-and-record shop in downtown Silver Spring selling new/used vinyl and used books, steps from the Metro.
2 sources
- Record Exchange Silver Spring
Family-owned shop buying and selling a wide variety of new and used vinyl and CDs on Colesville Road; in business since the 1970s.
1 source
Falls Church, VA
- CD Cellar
Mid-Atlantic record store operating since 1992, now based in Falls Church with over 40,000 new and used vinyl records, CDs, movies and hi-fi gear, open seven days a week.
2 sources
Kensington, MD
- Love People Records
DJ-owned shop on Kensington's Antique Row, opened in September 2021 as a continuation of a Brooklyn record store of the same name; sells new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and books.
3 sources
Looking for somewhere to listen, not just shop? Browse listening bars & vinyl cafes in Washington .
Frequently asked questions
How many record stores are in Washington, District of Columbia?
Washington, District of Columbia has 12 record stores in the directory, last verified July 2026.
Are the record stores in Washington independently verified?
9 of the 12 record stores in Washington carry our "Verified" stamp, meaning at least two independent, dated sources back the listing.
Are there listening bars or vinyl cafes in Washington?
Yes — 1 of Washington's record stores double as a bar, cafe, or combo space: La Betty.