5 vinyl record shops in Chicago

It’s come a long way since its fledgling years as an early internet online trader. The brick-and-mortar shop keeps expanding to serve the growing demand for vinyl, and given how many records the online shop moves, the in-person crates are constantly refreshed. Check out the record ‘take-out’ window, which predates the pandemic by 20 years.

Though there’s nothing particularly special about Laurie’s, its friendly, pedestrian approach to popular music – particularly indie rock and alternative – has won over generations of locals and keeps them coming back for new releases and more. If you’re selling, be sure to avoid titles on the shop’s ‘Do Not Never Ever Buy List’. (The Eagles are on it…twice.)

Specializing in its owner’s favorite genres – metal, indie rock, classic rock, and a modest amount of jazz and soul records – this Portage Park record shop is as friendly as they come. New and used vinyl (and CDs, and tapes) are stocked in the bins, and an impressive variety of local bands play live in the shop each month.

This mini-chain is such a Chicago institution, it’s easy to forget it opened as a satellite of London’s Reckless Records back in 1989. Like the London shop, Chicago’s stores prioritize a mix of new and used vinyl and CDs, and are famous for their staff-written album descriptions included on sleeves. Watch for occasional in-store performances and signings.

Owing to its owner’s experience running local post punk-electronic label Chicago Research, this pleasingly minimalist vinyl shop specializes in rare and hard-to-find releases of those genres as well as experimental and industrial music. A handful of popular classics are stocked in the bins, too, as well as an impressive array of underground dance music from afar.