One of the best feelings in the world is discovering good new music. And while it can be fun to discover new hits on major online platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and others, there’s perhaps no better feeling than physically uncovering some hidden gems.
I’m talking about thumbing through vinyls at record stores.
The whole experience of physically walking into a store, sorting through records, and finding something brand new to take home is a thrill. And data shows that vinyls are quickly coming back in fashion. Just check out the chart below from Digital Music News that shows vinyl sales by year, dating back to the 1970s:
Fortunately for those of us in Cincinnati, there are several record stores sprinkled throughout the city that offer rows upon rows of vinyls to explore.
In this post, we share the best 11 record stores in Cincinnati.
Map of Record Stores
The map below shows the location of every record store mentioned in this post.
Shake It Records
First up on the list is Shake It Records. Located in Northside, this shop started back in 1978 and has been at its current location since 2001. With an impressive variety of over 25,000 vinyls and 15,000 CDs, they carry some mainstream records but they specialize in independent labels from the obvious to the obscure. This is a spot well worth checking out for music lovers of any genre.
Location: 4156 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Website: Shake It Records
Mole’s Record Exchange
Located in Clifton, Mole’s Record Exchange is a record store filled with an impressive mix of vinyls and CD’s, along with retro posters and an eclectic mix of music memorabilia. This is a spot where you could easily spend an hour or more rummaging around through all of the different records and you’re virtually guaranteed to find something truly unique.
Location: 111 Calhoun St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Website: Mole’s Record Exchange
Another Part of the Forest
Located in Pendleton just outside of Over-The-Rhine, Another Part of the Forest is a record store that claims the title of best name on our list. With a nice collection of vinyls and CDs, this is another shop where you could spend well over an hour just exploring all of the different titles before walking away with a record that suites your taste.
Location: 1333 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Another Part of the Forest
MetaModern Music
Located in the heart of the trendy Oakley neighborhood, MetaModern Music is a record store that offers a huge selection of vinyls and CD’s in virtually every genre imaginable. They even offer a $1 section of albums where you can snag a variety of different records for dirt cheap prices. Visit this place once and you’ll quickly find out why it’s a local favorite.
Location: 4011 Allston St., Cincinnati, OH 45209
Website: MetaModern Music
Black Plastic Records
Another excellent record store in the Queen City is Black Plastic Records, which actually has two locations – one in Bridgetown and one in Over-The-Rhine. With a wide selection of vinyls and CD’s at both stores, you’re sure to uncover something you like at either location.
Location: Locations in both Bridgetown and Over-The-Rhine
Website: Black Plastic Records
Everybody’s Records
Next up on our list is Everybody’s Records, a local independent record store in Pleasant Ridge that has been around since 1978. The store specializes in buying, selling and trading used records and cassette tapes. With a massive collection of records including genres like rap, rock, sould, jazz, reggae, blues, hardcore, country, gospel and more, the story offers something for everyone to check out.
Location: 6106 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45213
Website: Everybody’s Records
Herzog Music
Next up on the list is Herzog Music, located in Downtown Cincinnati. Although this isn’t exclusively a record store – they sell guitars and other music equipment – they do offer a variety of records that you can purchase and it’s a neat place to walk around in and talk with the knowledgeable and welcoming employees.
Location: 811 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Herzog Music
Torn Light Records
The next record store on our list is Torn Light Records. Located in the heart of the Clifton Gaslight District, this shop is a neighborhood staple for music lovers. With vinyls and CD’s in a wide variety of unique niches, this is a neat place to stop to find some hidden music gems.
Location: 356 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Website: Torn Light Records
Jet Age Records
Next up is a store located across the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky: Jet Age Records. With rows upon rows of vinyls from a variety of genres along with tons of unique and retro music posters, this is another excellent record store to check out.
Location: 817 Monmouth St, Newport, KY 41071
Website: Jet Age Records
Plaid Room Records
One of the best record stores in all of Cincinnati can be found in Loveland: Plain Room Records. You can find almost any record you’re looking for here and if you’re unable to find one, just ask the friendly owners for some help. If they can’t find it for you, they’ll even offer to order it online for you. This spot is truly a gem.
Location: 122 W Loveland Ave, Loveland, OH 45140
Website: Plaid Room Records
Hail Dark Aesthetics
Last but not least on our list is Hail Dark Aesthetics. Located across the Ohio River in Covington, Kentucky, this shop is one of the most uniquely designed shops you’ll ever come across. The interior is filled with quirky decorations and memorabilia along with a huge selection of vinyls. Come for the unique atmosphere and hang around for the impressive selection of records.
Location: 720 Main St, Covington, KY 41011
Website: Hail Dark Aesthetics
