8 Record Stores That Keep the Beat Alive
Just as important as Buffalo’s art and architecture, music is woven into the fabric of the Queen City’s rich history. From the roots of jazz at the historic 100 year-old Colored Musicians Club to the new local wave of young, startup indie rockers, Buffalo is quite in tune. Fostering that passion for music appreciation, these local record stores are cranking out the jams for generations, young and old, to discover new music.
Revolver Records, 1451 Hertel Ave., Buffalo & 831 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo and 6840 Transit Rd., Williamsville
Now operating at three locations, this music lover’s paradise stocks nearly 15,000 albums spanning over six decades of music history. The owners of this shop also take a modern approach when it comes to letting you know when the latest music has hit their shelves, posting the latest releases directly to their social media channels.
Black Dots, 363 Grant St., Buffalo
This independent record boutique calls the diverse Grant Street neighborhood its home. Step through the doors and into their brand new corner space to find a record collection just as diverse as the community around it – hard to find jazz and rock album, psychedelic tunes and new pressings of modern music perfect for the young, up and coming audiophiles.
Doris Records, 286 E. Ferry St., Buffalo
Doris Records’ background and role in East Buffalo is as storied and legendary as the music it sells. A young musically inclined James Johnson lived in an apartment next door and frequented the shop. That young man would grow up to become the Super Freak, Rick James.
Record Baron, 3048 Delaware Ave., Kenmore
Record Baron is the classic sort of “no frills” record store. Don’t let its unassuming size fool you, this audio heaven is packed to the gills with great tunes, both from the modern age to the classic eras. Take your time and chat with the always-friendly and knowledgable owner as you flip through through thousands of albums.
Bob the Record Guy, 6067 Transit Rd., Depew
This unassuming shop on Transit Road stocks a huge wealth of vinyl, cassettes and music across all genres. What’s more, Bob the Record Guy moved into a larger setup just a couple doors down from their former space.
Cool Beat Music & Books, 1445 William St., Cheektowaga
Books, toys, cassettes, posters and, of course, records are the name of the game at Cool Beat. Browse their wide selection and genres or get some cool cash by trading in your collection.
Rick’s Record Shack & Wifey’s Closet, 3348 Lakeshore Rd., Hamburg
Not only does Rick’s Record Shack have a big selection of popular and hard to find vinyl, but also gives you an opportunity to upgrade your spinning setup with vintage equipment available for purchase.
Hi-Fi Hits, 5221 Main St., Amherst
Pop into Hi-Fi Hits to scan their huge collection of vinyl, CDs and DVDs, or browse the selection from your couch by shopping online at hi-fihits.com.
