Detroit Record Stores
This might come as surprise, but today is National Record Store Day. It is a day of celebration for independent record stores. We like to support anything that encourages people to buy locally. There are going to be sales, special editions, and reissues. Detroit stores customize their own events, and RSD organizers help by assisting with artist appearances and events for the stores, creating free goods for the stores that fully participate, and helping to coordinate the hundreds of exclusive releases for the outlets. Vinyl is making a comeback. It’s not a strange occurrence for a friend to show off their brand new, or refurbished record player, and sit around switching records as the night wheres on. Here is a list of places to check out around Detroit.
Peoples Records
1464 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI 48207; (313) 831-0864
Peoples Records is what I imagined every record store looked like before I started going to record stores. Crates and crates of vinyl for the most passionate of collectors to peruse through. Prepare to be enlightened. Peoples Records also buys well-preserved used vinyl, so you can bring an oldie and depart with something new.
This facility also houses the Michigan Audio Heritage Society Museum, a free museum committed to preserving Michigan’s musical past. The enormous stock of crates will have you looking for treasures, and the sense of local history will make you feel more connected to the city of Detroit as a whole.
Detroit Threads
10238 Joseph Campau Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212; 313-872-1777
If you’re looking for more than just vinyl, be prepared to also check out the vintage clothing over at Detroit Threads. Their selection of music spans many (pop, punk, techno, rock, soul, and more), so there’s a good chance you’ll find something you like.
You’ll need some cool clothes to match with your new music, that’s why this Hamtramck location is so handy. They specialize in electronic, house, techno, and dubstep albums as well as vintage clothes. Fans of rock, soul, and funk have plenty of options as well.
Hello Records
165 Fort St, Lincoln Park, MI 48146; (313) 300-5654
Hello Records has a pretty solid selection of genres, on top of decent prices. The staff is more than happy to help you if you need to find anything in particular. Local DJs will be playing all day at Hello Records with refreshments for those that browse the aisles.
Hello Records, located in Corktown, is a meticulously curated destination for anyone looking for consistent quality across many genres. There are cheap bins to sift through, as in any decent record store, but one of the attractive prices of Hello Records is how curated a lot of the selections are. If you have any questions or are looking for a specific CD, the personnel is as friendly as they are informed, and the atmosphere is both homey and professional. Everything from CDs to DVDs to LPs to historic artifacts is available.
Street Corner Music
26020 Greenfield Rd, Oak Park, MI 48237; 248-967-0777
Street Corner Music is a hidden gem with lots of character. They have a great selection of R&B and jazz vinyl. Keep yourself caffeinated here on Record Store Day with fresh coffee at 9AM.
This simple Oak Park staple (and adjacent to indie bookshop Book Beat) is perfect for vinyl aficionados old and new, as well as anyone looking for that ’90s-style record store experience.
Found Sound
234 W. Nine Mile Rd. Ferndale, MI; 248-565-8775
Found Sound is one of those record stores where you can strike up a conversation with the staff about almost any type of music. Relaxed and friendly, this unique neighborhood store will be open late with a free live concert at 8pm.
Melodies & Memories
23103 Gratiot Ave, Eastpointe, MI; 586-774-8480
Packed wall to wall with records and a favorite shop of J Dilla, Melodies & Memories is a mom-and-pop shop that has been around Eastpointe since 1988.
Stormy Records
13936 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI; 313-581-9322
Nestled above the Green Brain Comics shop you will find Stormy Records. A great place to go to if you are searching for more uncommon vinyl. Their staff is knowledgable and super friendly.
Flipside Records
3099 Coolidge Hwy, Berkley, MI 48072; 248-585-4090
Flipside Records is like if FYE didn’t suck. Records, CDs, cassette tapes, laser discs, DVDs, you’ll find a little bit of everything here. 20% off all used products, including CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, video games, and vinyl.
Flipside Records acquired the storefront treatment when it began selling records independently in 1980 and immediately expanded to include T-shirts and other collectibles.
If you enjoy video games and novelty t-shirts as much as vinyl, Flipside is a terrific store. They’re always having sales, and they’re known for throwing in-store events, discount days, and, of course, Record Store Day specials.
Dearborn Music
22501 Michigan Ave. Dearborn, MI; 313-561-1000
This is about the only place you can get a reel of quarter-inch tape around these parts. Dearborn Music will be celebrating record store day with a 20% off sale on all vinyl including over 370 RSD titles and unveiling an additional 2,000 square feet of space full of new and used vinyl.
Dearborn Music has been serving up miles and tons of vinyl (stocking over 49,999 titles spanning LPs, CDs, and DVDs) since 1956, and has been chosen the finest record store in Wayne County each year by Metro Times readers.
UHF Records
512 S Washington Ave. Royal Oak, MI, 248-545-5955
UHF is a modest-sized store with an expansive selection of vinyl. Great place to stop in when you’re out and about in downtown Royal Oak.
UHF shares a wall with beloved vintage apparel boutique Lost & Found and sells new and used LPs, CDs, and DVDs, as well as books, periodicals, and vintage turntables and receivers. If you’re a lover of Record Store Day specials, UHF Records’ selections will not disappoint. Every year, they have a scattering of fantastic deals on LPs, and the rest of the year is just as plentiful. UHF Records is a great place to go if you want a clean, well-organized environment.
The store’s appeal rests not only in its collection, but also in the care with which everything is sorted, curated, and in categories. If you’re not looking for a new record, there’s a well-stocked book section, periodicals, and artistic posters, and music aficionados may get tickets to events at The Majestic, Magic Stick, and Royal Oak Music Theatre. This is also a good option if you enjoy listening to movie soundtracks.
Weirdsville Records
61 Macomb Place, Mt. Clemens, MI; 586-468-2665
Weirdsville Records is a great place to find super obscure and hard-to-find vinyl. Spend more than $75 and you’ll be walking out with an RSD t-shirt. 20% off of all used vinyl, cassettes, DVDs, and CDs.
Solo Records & Tapes
0118 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak, MI, 248-549-0581
Solo Records has a great selection of music, and the staff is more than willing to help you find it. Within this welcoming atmosphere is a variety of different media and a great assortment of stereo equipment.
Solo Records, founded in 1982 by jazz drummer Dan Levitt and his daughter, has served the metro Detroit region with a vast collection of vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, reel-to-reel tapes, DVDs, and 8-tracks from every genre you can think of.
Final Word
Detroit is one of America’s finest music cities. From Aretha Franklin’s stunning soulful melodies to Stevie Wonder’s funk songs and The White Stripes’ alternative rock jams, Motor City has been producing amazing performers since its foundation. The music scene in Detroit is alive and well, welcoming both major touring performers and local bands. It’s ideal for audiophiles and vinyl enthusiasts, but it makes choosing the greatest record store in Detroit all the more difficult.
There are approximately 400 exclusive RSD releases created for the US market. The list is extensive and diverse, ensuring that stores and customers can choose the special releases of most interest to them. Be sure to check out the entire list over at Record Store Day’s official website. There are definitely more record stores that can be added to this list. What are your favorite ones?