New Wave Outpost Forum

What record shop did you frequent the most? Is it still around?

It is sad to see so many independent shops close down. Here in Austin, Texas- "the live music capitol"- at least 5 have closed up within the past year. Heck, Tower Records even closed here last month.

Since so many independent shops have closed, take a stroll down memory lane and tell us what shops you would frequent in the 1980's:

NYC- Venus Records, Vinyl Mania, Disc-O-Mat (and some others in the Village I cannot recall.)
Albany, NY- World's Records, Strawberries, Joseph's Custom Tailors
Burlington, VT- Pure Pop
Long Island-Looney Tunes, Record Town
Montreal-a slew of shops on St. Catherines Street. What a goldmine!
Philadelphia- 3rd Street Records & Jazz, South Street Records

Harpo's / Hot Licks closed in about 1983 and was replaced by Northern Lights, which closed about 1992. Let It Be opened in about 1987 and is still around. Oarfolkjokeopus was the premiere import/punk store for 20+ years. Long-time manager Mark Trehaus

My old favorites were
Wonderland Records (Newark, DE) - they had a good selection of New Wave material back in the day. The original store is still in business, but they hardly have anything interesting now - mostly rap. [:(]
Jeremiah's Record Exchang

In Colorado it was Budget Tapes & Records
In Atlanta it was Cocounuts, I think.

New Frontier in Appleton Wisconsin-Don't know if it's still around.

The old record store in my hometown that's long gone run by a wierd, freindly gay man named "Fitz" who also ran the only bar that played "New Wave" Music.

However, it's since been

Allentown, PA-Toones. Was great in its day but sadly it went downhill the last few years, mostly sold whatever was selling to the masses. It sadly closed in 2000

Bethlehem, PA-Play It Again. Still going strong. Very heavy on the underground/independ

Ones that haven't been mentioned:

99 Records (99 MacDougall Street NYC
Golden Disk Records (?Carmine Street) nYC
House of Oldies (Bleecker Street)

All 3 long gone

Bleecker Bob's (Now on W 3rd Street)


Newbury Comics (Boston) I can remember

Co-Op Tapes and records, Still around.
Record Bar, not.
Musicland-notta

Harbor Records, a few miles up from the Cuckoo's Nest (and Zubies, ala "Urban Struggle) in Orange County (CA).

In the New York City area, my favorite record store in the 80's was "Sounds" on St. Marks St. (around the corner from another decent record store, Free Being, that was located on 2nd Avenue). When a new release came out, you could bet "Sounds" had promo

An addendum: In the location that "Bleeker Bob's" would take over on W. 3rd St. was a store called "Napoleon". They only sold imports, which was great for most of the stuff I was looking for. Unfortunately, I think they were a bit too specialized, as I

Number one that comes to my mind is.

1. Rather ripped records in Berkleley (other side of the campus)...best punk/early new wave store ever!!!!! too bad it is long long 20 years gone [V]
2. Rough Trade Records in San Fran on 6th street, sadly that too

A small independent Brockton, MA store called "Check It Out" was my music oasis in the 1980's. I blew SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much money (happily) in that store, that I'm frightened to even try to attempt a total. I probably put the owner's kids thru college & the

Here In Sydney a friend owns Time Warp records. As a builder I was commissioned to build his store (twice). Time Warp is like the name says a time warp, the store specialises in music from the past, the 60's 70's 80's mainly, though new releases are avail

Luckily I can still go to them:
Vintage Vinyl (originally in Irvington N.J. now in Fords, NJ) http://www.vvinyl.com/
and
Sounds on St. Marks Place in NYC.

But now I find the best place to get CD's is ebay.