Prime Vinyl

Record shops · Ohio first

Find a record store

A directory of record shops, one state at a time. Ohio is up first: 30 store locations, each confirmed on the store's own website, with hours and specialties in the store's own words.

We list record shops we count as independent: we leave out national chains (FYE, The Exchange) and instrument shops.

Opens the Ohio list sorted by straight-line miles from your ZIP code's center. With JavaScript on, your ZIP stays in your browser and never goes to our server.

States

How to dig through crates

Our tips. Nothing fancy.

  1. Go in with a short list, then put it away. Write down three or four records you'd buy on sight. Check for them, then spend the rest of the visit looking at things you didn't plan on.
  2. Start with the new arrivals bin. Most shops keep a bin or shelf of fresh used stock near the counter. It turns over fastest, and it's where the good stuff sits for a day before someone else finds it.
  3. Flip with two hands and keep your place. Tilt a row of records forward a few at a time instead of pulling each one out. It's faster, and the sleeves don't get dog-eared.
  4. Look at the record, not just the cover. Slide the record halfway out and tilt it under the light. Light hairline marks usually don't play. Deep scratches you can catch with a fingernail usually do.
  5. Check the edge. Hold the record level and look along its edge. A wavy edge can mean it's warped. Wear on the cover tells you about the cover, so judge the record by looking at the vinyl itself.
  6. Read the sticker. Shops often write the grade, the pressing or a short note on the price tag. If something's unclear, ask. Staff at small shops usually know their stock.
  7. Dig the cheap bins. Dollar bins and floor crates hold jazz, soul, soundtracks and odd local records that never made it to the main racks.
  8. Bring cash and a bag. Some small shops prefer cash, and a sturdy tote keeps records flat on the way home. Store them upright when you get there.
  9. Ask to listen. Many shops will play a used record before you buy it. It's the surest way to know what you're getting.

Where the facts come from

We found leads in OpenStreetMap and local guides, then checked every store against its own website. If the site didn't show the store's name and street address, the store isn't listed. Hours, specialties and Record Store Day mentions are quoted from that site. County and map point come from the U.S. Census Bureau's geocoder; where it found no match for an address, we use the store's ZIP code center and say so. More on how we built this.