Best Music Stores In Chicago
Hyde Park Records
1377 East 53rd Street
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 288-6588
Facebook: Hyde Park Records
It might be a small space but Hyde Park Records has a large selection of genres. They feature a traditional, all-encompassing 'rock' section that seems to have a little bit of something for everyone. Sections for jazz and hip-hop are also prominently featured. Equal amounts of vinyl and CDs are available, as well as a random smattering of DVDs. The thing that really stands out about this place is the price points. There are some good deals to be found and a bounty of music can be had for a relatively small amount of money.
Reckless Records
1532 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 235-3727
3126 North Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 404-5080
26 E Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 795-9106
www.reckless.com
When music stores in Chicago are discussed, Reckless comes up quite frequently. The Wicker Park location is the original shop and looks & feels exactly the way a record store should. The success of this store enabled the opening of two more locations in different neighborhoods. The Loop location is very small and the Lakeview location feels a bit too much like a warehouse. Nonetheless, the presence of three branches makes anything you could possibly be looking for practically certain to be somewhere in Chicago. Reckless is the authority in Chicago music stores and their prices & attitude can sometimes reflect this in a negative way. However if you need music, you can be sure to find something you like at Reckless.
Groovin High Inc
1047 West Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 476-6846
This Lakeview music store is perfect for the neighborhood. It is a small but comfortable shop with a focus on vinyl. CDs are available, however you're more likely to find a pleasant surprise in the selection of big, black discs. The diminutive size limits the amount of variety they can carry but they have managed to do an admirable job of covering lots of musical ground. The major negative is the very spotty hours of operation. Hours are posted but the store is often closed at unexpected times. If you happen to catch this place open, stopping in will most likely get you some of the music you've been craving.
Dusty Groove America
1120 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 342-5800
www.dustygroove.com
This place is a gem for music lovers in Chicago. Dusty Groove has a very clean energy and is organized extremely well. The highlight of this place is the extensive selection of jazz and soul vinyl & CDs at fair prices. These massive sections for two off-the-beaten-path genres really set this store apart from the competition. There is a nice selection of hip-hop and rock as well. This place is a vinyl store at heart and offers one of the most unique collections of music you will find anywhere.
Permanent Records
1914 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 278-1744
www.permanentrecordschicago.com
This Ukrainian Village music store has a very comfortable and 'neighborhood shoppe' energy. It is clean but has that worn-in feeling that makes music stores so much fun to just poke around. The selection of music is a mostly traditional rock section with smaller sections for jazz and hip-hop as well. An equal proportion of CDs and vinyl offers up many choices you might not have even come in for. This store might not have absolutely everything, but they have done a good job of covering all the bases and providing a selection that would appeal to many people.
