Record Stores in Chicago, Illinois
25 record stores — last verified July 2026.
- 606 Records
606 Records is a community-oriented record store and label in Pilsen, across from Thalia Hall, operating since 2015 with a focus on independent and Chicago-based artists.
2 sources
- Beverly Records
Operating since 1967, Beverly Records is one of Chicago's oldest surviving record shops, specializing in rare 45s, LPs and collectible vinyl on the Far South Side.
2 sources
- Bridgeport Records
House-music-focused vinyl shop on the South Side, opened July 2024 by DJ Vick Lavender and Jerry Morrison with an eclectic dance/rock/soul mix.
1 source
- Bucket O'Blood Books & Records
Bucket O'Blood pairs new and used vinyl heavy on punk, metal and indie rock with a used bookstore emphasizing sci-fi, fantasy and horror titles in Avondale.
2 sources
- Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles
Logan Square-born, now Avondale-based vinyl and cassette shop stuffed with vintage movie posters and pop-culture ephemera; open daily.
2 sources
- Charis Listening Bar
A 35-seat, no-reservations listening bar in Bridgeport built around owner Alex Jandernoa's personal vinyl collection and a Klipsch sound system tuned by Saturday Music Audio, pouring travel-inspired cocktails to sets of soul, funk and jazz.
2 sources
- Dorian's Through The Record Shop
A cocktail bar and live-performance room hidden behind a working record-shop storefront in Wicker Park, running an Italian hi-fi system for vinyl DJ sets and jazz shows.
2 sources
- Dusty Groove
Dusty Groove started as mail-order in 1996 and opened its Wicker Park storefront on Ashland Ave in 2001, with deep stock in jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop and world music.
2 sources
- Gramaphone Records
Open since 1969, Gramaphone shifted from folk and blues toward house, techno and dance vinyl in the 1980s and remains a hub for touring DJs.
2 sources
- Groovin High
One of the last old-school full-line record shops in Lakeview, run solo by owner Joe Bruce with deep used bins, CDs and clearance deals.
2 sources
- High Voltage Records and Hi-Fi
A record and hi-fi shop that opened in a Sheridan Road storefront in Rogers Park, selling new vinyl alongside turntables, amps and speakers to help younger collectors build an affordable home stereo system.
2 sources
- Hyde Park Records
A South Side shop on 53rd Street selling new and used vinyl, CDs and DVDs, with a large bargain bin of 99-cent records.
2 sources
- Laurie's Planet of Sound
A Lincoln Square fixture known for hand-lettered shelf signs, Laurie's stocks a broad range of new and used vinyl, CDs and offbeat music merchandise.
2 sources
- The Listening Room at The Exchange
A hi-fi listening room inside the historic Railway Exchange Building in the Loop, where James Beard-nominated chef Brian Huston pairs nightly full-album vinyl playback with a steakhouse-inspired menu and private bar.
2 sources
- Out of the Past Records
A family-owned West Side shop running since 1968, Out of the Past stocks used vinyl, 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs and music memorabilia.
2 sources
- Parachute HiFi
James Beard Award-winning chefs Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark converted their fine-dining restaurant Parachute into a casual vinyl listening bar in Avondale, with hand-wired vintage Altec Lansing speakers and rotating guest DJs.
2 sources
- Pinwheel Records
One of the earliest record shops to open in Pilsen, a block from the 18th Street Pink Line stop, stocking new and used vinyl, CDs, and collectibles in a space with a lounge area and arcade cabinet.
2 sources
- Rattleback Records
Rattleback Records is an Andersonville shop selling new and used vinyl, CDs and cassettes alongside turntables, vintage barware, books and art prints.
2 sources
- Reckless Records
Reckless is Chicago's best-known used-and-new record chain, tracing back to a 1989 Lakeview shop; this Milwaukee Ave store in Wicker Park is flanked by sister locations in Lakeview and the Loop.
2 sources
- Record Breakers
Buy/sell/trade vinyl, CD and cassette shop dating to 1988 (formerly at Reggies), now in an Avondale storefront with merch, posters and used gear.
2 sources
- Shady Rest Vintage & Vinyl
A Pilsen shop mixing used vinyl with vintage stereo equipment, turntables, and hand-picked mid-century furniture and accessories, with the two owners curating every item themselves rather than buying wholesale.
2 sources
- Shuga Records
Shuga Records opened in Wicker Park in 2015 selling new and used vinyl and cassettes, later expanding with a second location in Logan Square plus its own record label.
2 sources
- Signal Records
Signal Records buys and sells used vinyl from two Chicago storefronts, in Wicker Park and Logan Square, both open daily.
2 sources
- Standing Passengers Coffee Lounge
A West Town coffee lounge that hosts Somebody Else's Records, a micro record shop selling vinyl from local DJs and collectors spanning jazz, Afrobeat and Chicago house, plus weekly Saturday-morning DJ sets.
2 sources
- Wax Vinyl Bar and Ramen Shop
A strictly all-vinyl listening bar in West Town from DJ Lee Farmer and Gina Barge-Farmer, who studied Tokyo's jazz kissas before opening; an invite-only DJ roster spins on a rotary mixer alongside ramen and craft cocktails.
2 sources
Greater Chicago
Record stores in the cities and towns around Chicago.
Evanston, IL
- Animal Records
A newer Evanston vinyl shop founded in 2024 by a local drummer, selling a curated mix of new and used records, CDs, and cassettes across rock, jazz, house, techno, punk, and hip-hop, with an emphasis on affordable finds.
2 sources
- Squeezebox Books & Music
Squeezebox is a boutique, thematically organized used bookstore and record shop in Evanston selling curated LPs, 45s and CDs alongside secondhand books.
2 sources
- Vintage Vinyl
Vintage Vinyl has operated under the same owner from the same Evanston storefront since 1979, stocking psychedelic, prog, jazz, soul and import vinyl.
2 sources
Plainfield, IL
- Black Dog Vinyl Cafe
A record store in the Chicago exurb of Plainfield that doubles as a coffeehouse and live-music venue, selling new and used vinyl alongside coffee, craft beer, wine and cocktails.
2 sources
Westmont, IL
- Blue Village Vinyl
DuPage County's longest-running record store, under new ownership, specializing in classic rock vinyl but carrying all genres and formats.
1 source
Lisle, IL
- Crooked Arm Vinyl & Tap
A hybrid record store and craft-beer taproom that opened in Lisle in January 2024, stocking about 13,000 records across genres alongside rotating taps from Chicagoland breweries.
2 sources
Elmhurst, IL
- Elmhurst Records
Family-owned Elmhurst record shop (Revolution Music Company) selling new and used vinyl, CDs and tapes alongside guitars, lessons and repairs.
2 sources
Wilmette, IL
- Hip Cat Records & Music Videos
Suburban Wilmette classic rock/prog/metal/punk vinyl specialist open since November 1987, with condition-graded used stock and new reissues.
1 source
Oak Park, IL
- Oak Park Records
An Oak Park shop open since November 2004 near the Green Line stop, stocking thousands of used LPs with particular depth in R&B/soul, jazz, and rock, plus CDs, DVDs, and 45s.
2 sources
- Val's halla Records
Val's Halla opened in 1972 and has run from its current Oak Park storefront since 2006, led by founder Val Camilletti.
2 sources
Naperville, IL
- Purple Dog Records
A family-owned Naperville record shop opened in 2014 by a father-daughter team, buying and selling new and used vinyl from a small downtown storefront that doubles as a community hangout for local music fans.
2 sources
- Wicked Wax Vinyl Shoppe
A Naperville vinyl shop opened in late 2022 by owner Mel Flowers, who hand-selects every record in the store rather than stocking filler titles.
2 sources
Norridge, IL
- Rolling Stones Records
Chicagoland institution since 1971 - a full city-block store loaded with new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs and rock memorabilia in Norridge.
1 source
Looking for somewhere to listen, not just shop? Browse listening bars & vinyl cafes in Chicago .
Frequently asked questions
How many record stores are in Chicago, Illinois?
Chicago, Illinois has 25 record stores in the directory, last verified July 2026.
Are the record stores in Chicago independently verified?
23 of the 25 record stores in Chicago carry our "Verified" stamp, meaning at least two independent, dated sources back the listing.
Are there listening bars or vinyl cafes in Chicago?
Yes — 8 of Chicago's record stores double as a bar, cafe, or combo space: Bucket O'Blood Books & Records, Charis Listening Bar, Dorian's Through The Record Shop, The Listening Room at The Exchange, Parachute HiFi, Shady Rest Vintage & Vinyl, Standing Passengers Coffee Lounge, Wax Vinyl Bar and Ramen Shop.