City Spotlight: Best Places To Shop Used Vinyl Records

I don't own a TV for many reasons. Instead, on my TV stand sits a record player. I treat it the way most people treat their TV, I turn it on when I come home from work, use it for background noise while I'm cooking, and invite friends over to listen to records rather than watch a movie. I love the sound quality, the artwork, and the thrill of digging through a box of used records not knowing what kind of masterpiece I'm going to find.

This post was updated March, 2013:

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore in North Canton: sells records for 50 cents and the selection is always pretty decent. Some of the records aren't in the best shape but the good thing is they are all organized by categories. 

• Village Discount Outlet on State and Waterloo Roads sell used records for 60 cents. For whatever reason, the selection at the Sate Rd location is much better than the Village on Waterloo Road. If you don't mind flipping through albums in the most unorganized fashion ever, you will most likely walk away with an excellent selection.  Make sure that you always check the record itself so when you find The Best of Nat King Cole you're not taking home The Best of Disney record. This has happened to me many times and it can be a really big letdown. The records are in a corner of the store and like most thrift shops, it can get a little overwhelming when there are tons of people around you. So, it's not the most comfortable situation but it's worth it. 

My favorite places to shop vinyl in the Akron / Cuyahoga Falls area:

• American Cancer Society Discovery Shop sells their records for $1. It's a little more organized than the Village and they have a larger selection. This means more Barbara Streisand albums to rummage through, but also means you will are more likely to find a gem like Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, or Marvin Gaye. 

• Goodwill on State Road in Cuyahoga Falls sells their records for 30 cents! This is a hit or miss kind of place, but if you do hit the jackpot, you're paying 30 cents for it. Again, total chaos and plan on squatting for a good 20 minutes to find what you're looking for (why are the records on the bottom shelf?) Although it tends to be more "miss" than "hit" I decided not to give up and found a few great albums for less than $1. Also, it's sometimes nice to listen albums you otherwise wouldn't buy, so at 30 cents a pop you can afford to pick something up that you've never heard before but seems interesting. 

• Square Records in Highland Square sells vinyl anywhere from $3-5 with no record selling for more than $15. Whenever you buy records at thrift shops you're taking a chance of buying a scratched and beat up record. Square Records is selective about the records they buy and sell so you're much more likely to find a quality record in great condition. Additionally, you're able to browse by genre in a clean and organized manner. No long term squatting necessary. They also buy and sell used CDs. Plus, it's important to support local shops like this one. How many record stores are still around?

• Time Traveler on State Rd in Cuyahoga Falls has records ranging from $3-20 with a great variety and a lot of many must have records. 

Have an place you'd like to add to the list? Tell us in the comments section, on Facebook, or Twitter!