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March 18, 2020 Slideshows » Music

The Best Shops to Find Vinyl Records in San Antonio

By San Antonio Current Staff

        
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Vinyl has been back for a while now, and there’s no shortage of retailers in San Antonio offering to put the latest hot releases in your hands — or to let you scour their crates looking for obscurities, rarities and highly collectable nuggets. Here’s a listing of places where you can bulk up your vinyl collection or even start a new one.

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Friends Of Sound Records
700 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 971-8044, facebook.com/friendsofsoundrecords
A favorite for local music junkies, this Fredericksburg Road shop is a dependable stop for vinyl. Here you’ll be able to find older, hard-to-find records as well as newer albums. If you want a varying selection, you’ll be a happy shopper here. So go on, get to listening.
Photo via Instagram / geneviedanielle

Half Price Books
Multiple locations, hpb.com
With stores all across the Alamo City, this Texas-based chain makes it easy to find vinyls. HPB lets you score newer selections unwanted by previous owners, as well as special, older finds that you should consider yourself lucky to get your hands on. And with so many genres up for grabs here, we have no doubt that you’ll become a regular shopper here in no time.
Photo via Instagram / sad.corndog

Nine Lives Books
4907 Northwest Loop 410 #102, (210) 647-5656, ninelivesbooks.com
Books aren’t the only products up for grabs here, Nine Lives also has a respectable selection of records. Don’t expect to find a robust catalog of newer albums here though, it’s all about vintage finds at this laidback shop. You may even be surprised at what you come across.
Photo via Instagram / aeplt5

Alamo Records & Sheet Music
125 Broadway St, (210) 212-4200, alamo-records-sheet-music.business.site
In the heart of downtown, you’ll find this hidden gem of a storefront. The shop is straight up filled with loads of vinyls — so many you’ll have to squeeze through the rows of records. Trust us when we say that you’ll have lots of fun searching through the selections for just the treasure finds you’ll love.
Photo via Instagram / francois_vinyl_records

Janie’s Record Shop
1012 Bandera Road, (210) 735-2070, facebook.com/janiesrecordshop4
With lots of autographed photos on the wall, you can believe that Janie’s Record Shop is a legit go-to for all things music — including vinyl records. The West Side mainstay is family-owned and focuses on Tejano albums. Even if the genre isn’t your favorite, a careful search through the selections here will always have you leaving with some solid finds.
Photo via Instagram / greggonzalezmusic

Del Bravo Record Shop
554 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy, (210) 432-8351, facebook.com/delbravo.recordshop
Over in SA’s West Side, you’ll discover this longtime record shop, a mom-and-pop operation since 1966. If you’re already in the secret, then you’ll know that Del Bravo keeps it real with lots of vinyl selections across English and Spanish music genres.
Photo via Instagram / lejessica

Hogwild Records Tapes & CD's
1824 N Main Ave, (210) 733-5354, facebook.com/hogwildrecords
Known as a dependable spot for hard-to-find records (as well as new releases), Hogwild Records is popular for a reason. If you’ve yet to visit this Main Avenue favorite, you’ll be in a lots of future visits here — and we’re sure you’ll stumble upon some great finds each time.
Photo via Instagram / brookeadickes

Music Connection
7121 W US Hwy 90 #140, (210) 673-2850, musicconnectionsanantonio.com
If you prefer jamming out to tunes played on vinyls, you’ll fit right in at Music Connection. Hidden in a strip mall, this shop opened in 1982 as Record Connection. In its decades of serving local music lovers, MC has remained a constant for music junkies to buy and trade records.
Photo via Instagram / francois_vinyl_records

Imagine Books and Records
8373 Culebra Road, (210) 239-7380, imaginebookstexas.com
Though it’s also a bookstore, Imagine gives off major music vibes, going as far as hosting live music events on a weekly basis. Offering old-school vibes, you’ll be able to score hard-to-find vinyl records that will totally complete your collection — or get it started.
Photo via Instagram / imaginebooksandrecords

Flip Side Record Parlor
840 SW Military Dr, (210) 923-7811, facebook.com/flipsiderecordparlor
Known for serving the South Side for decades and decades, Flip Side is all about community. The local joint is all about records and music in general. Here you’ll find hundreds of record options, plus music posters to match.
Photo via Instagram / alexxgramirez

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Southtown Vinyl
1010 S Flores St #120, (210) 231-0512, southtownvinyl.com
Located in the heart of Southtown, this storefront is all about vinyls — seriously. You’ll be able to find new records from a variety of genres, plus all the accessories you may need to get to listening. We’re not kidding when we say this is a one-stop shop.
Photo via Instagram / monicaaamtz

Batcave Vinyl
4100 E Piedras Dr #150, (210) 990-0071, facebook.com/batcavevinyl
Though the hours aren’t the most convenient, you’ll still be able to find some solid gems at this Oak Hills-area store. Good thing is, you’ll be able to find most music genres here — from heavy metal and alternative to blues and soul. Perhaps most helpful, the shop consistently posts its new arrivals on social media so you can be on the lookout for special finds.
Photo via Instagram / ando22

Boysville Auxiliary Thrift
307 W Olmos Dr, (210) 826-2195, boysvilletexas.org
While there’s an assortment of goodies being re-sold at this thrift shop, you’ll definitely want to check out the selection of records up for grabs. You’ll stumble upon vintage finds that someone else didn’t want, but you’ll think of as a hidden treasure. The cherry on top? All profits benefit Boysville, a local children’s home and shelter.
Photo via Instagram / boysvillethriftstore

Crazy Rhythms Vinyl Records
3617 Broadway St Suite 402, (210) 998-2700, facebook.com/crazyrhythmsrecords
A newer addition to SA’s vinyl scene, Crazy Rhythms is the product of brothers Zeke and Zach Baker. The store is stocked with classic albums any appreciator of music would want in their collection. Rather than dumping bad country and mediocre gospel music into its racks — the stuff you sift through at vintage shops — the brothers are actively curating their collection.
Photo via Instagram / b_ton

Cd Sam Records, Cds, Dvds, Blurays, Tshirts
4522 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 388-8878, facebook.com/cdsamplus210
There’s lots to find inside Wonderland of the Americas, including this badass shop that sells records. Browse around the shop and you’ll discover local gems like vinyls from Butthole Surfers, as well as classic albums from the likes of Black Flag and Pink Floyd. Don’t worry though, there’s nearly something for everyone, with products from the likes of Los Lobos, John Coltrane, Wu-Tang Clan, Patsy Cline and more.
Photo via Instagram / vinyl_josh92

Movie Exchange
Multiple locations, cdexchange-sa.com
You may need to call ahead, but you can definitely buy and sell vinyl records — giving you the option to get rid of unwanted albums or build your collection. Some items come as cheap as $3.99 each, so it’ll actually be very easy for you to stock up on rare finds for cheap. You’ll also find the same store setup at select CD Exchange and DVD Exchange locations.
Photo via Instagram / cdexchangesa

Robot Monster Guitars
517 E Woodlawn Ave, (210) 320-1710, facebook.com
Just off of the St. Mary’s Strip you’ll discover this brightly-painted home that is all about guitars. Don’t worry though, because non-talented folk (sorry!) can score some vinyl here too. With the buy/sell/trade business model, you can practice your negotiating skills to enjoy some solid deals.
Photo via Instagram / godzilla_banzaiHalf Price Books
Multiple locations, hpb.com
With stores all across the Alamo City, this Texas-based chain makes it easy to find vinyls. HPB lets you score newer selections unwanted by previous owners, as well as special, older finds that you should consider yourself lucky to get your hands on. And with so many genres up for grabs here, we have no doubt that you’ll become a regular shopper here in no time.
Photo via Instagram / sad.corndog

Texas Thrift Store
Multiple locations, buythrift.com
For decades, Texas Thrift has remained a dependable spot for thrifting, no matter what you’re on the prowl for. Yes, that includes vinyls. At any of the locations across the city, you’ll be able to hunt down some solid finds — just be patient as you skim through the catalog of records on deck.
Photo via Instagram / crazyptamom

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