Unearth The Voyage
Broadway in Elmwood Park has a record shop that does not act like a tidy little boutique, and that is exactly why people keep talking about it. The place is packed with vinyl, cassettes, DVDs, CDs, collectibles, guitars, and other physical-media oddities that can turn a quick stop into a serious hunt.
It also has a reputation for one firm in-store rule: some items are best handled with help, especially when rare stock sits close to budget finds. For New Jersey collectors, it is the kind of local stop that raises a simple question: treasure chest, puzzle box, or both?
A Shop Open Since 1985
Longevity gives Ez 2 Collect a different kind of weight. The owner has described the shop as being open since 1985, which places it in a rare category among small physical-media businesses.
That date matters because music shopping has changed dramatically since then. Records gave way to CDs for many buyers, DVDs became household staples, streaming changed habits again, and yet places built around shelves, cases, and crates still have their loyal crowd.
Ez 2 Collect reflects that whole timeline rather than one clean era. The inventory mentioned around the shop ranges across vinyl, CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks, VHS, DVDs, Blu-rays, TV season sets, older cartoons, video game consoles, toys, and guitars.
That mix can make the store feel less like a single-category stop and more like a record store that kept saying yes whenever another collectible format gained a following. The result is not minimalist, and nobody should expect minimalist.
The history also explains why strong opinions follow the place. A store packed with decades of stock can delight one collector and frustrate another, especially when organization, access, and item value all become part of the visit.
Still, surviving since the mid-1980s says something practical. Ez 2 Collect has found enough devoted buyers to remain part of New Jersey’s collecting map.
Wall-To-Wall Physical Media
A neat little row of albums is not the draw here. Ez 2 Collect is known for scale, with the owner once referencing 100,000 records and 60,000 CDs, along with other media stacked into the shop’s broader inventory.
Numbers like those change the way a person should approach the visit. A fast skim may barely scratch the surface, while a longer browse can reveal sections devoted to formats that many chain retailers no longer treat as everyday goods.
Vinyl remains the headline attraction, but the supporting cast is unusually large. Mentions around the store regularly point to cassettes, DVDs, Blu-rays, VHS tapes, TV sets, CDs, and older media that collectors still chase because titles can disappear from online platforms.
The shop’s physical-media focus gives it a useful role for people who prefer ownership over access. A disc, tape, or record stays on a shelf after a subscription catalog changes, which is part of the reason these formats continue to matter.
That said, quantity comes with a tradeoff. The store’s packed layout can make targeted searching more complicated, so the best strategy is to plan extra time and treat the trip as browsing rather than a quick errand.
Ez 2 Collect rewards the methodical, the curious, and anyone whose media shelf still has room for one more format.
The Crate-Digging Puzzle
Some stores guide shoppers with wide aisles and tidy category signs. Ez 2 Collect asks for a different skill: the ability to slow down, look carefully, and accept that the hunt may be part of the point.
The shop is often described as packed and not always easy to navigate. Records can be stored in crates, boxes, and stacks, while other collectibles and media share nearby space.
That setup creates a genuine divide in how people respond to it. Collectors who enjoy digging may find the experience entertaining because surprises can turn up in places that do not feel overly curated.
People searching for one specific album, film, or set may need more patience. Organization has been a recurring concern, especially when the amount of stock makes it difficult to browse every item freely or quickly.
The most realistic plan is to arrive with a flexible list rather than a strict mission. Ask for help when needed, give yourself time, and check items carefully before making a decision, especially with open discs or records.
In a state full of quick shopping stops, Ez 2 Collect moves at collector speed. That pace can be charming or challenging, depending on how much puzzle-solving one wants with a purchase.
Rare Finds Beside Budget Bins
A good record shop always has tension between the affordable bin and the special-item shelf. Ez 2 Collect leans heavily into that contrast, with mentions of extensive 5 dollar LP sections alongside higher-value records and harder-to-find items.
The budget section is one of the clearest practical reasons to stop in. Several accounts of the shop point to large groups of 5 dollar records, sale CDs, and lower-cost areas that can make browsing worthwhile even for cautious spenders.
At the same time, many shoppers have found parts of the main collection expensive. Some compare prices to online market information before buying, which is a smart move for anyone collecting seriously.
The owner’s side is that the shop carries a wide range, from inexpensive records to rare stock, and that not every item should be judged like a garage-sale find. In collector retail, condition, scarcity, and demand all affect the final tag.
That balance is exactly why preparation helps. A phone search, a condition check, and a quick conversation can prevent confusion before money changes hands.
Ez 2 Collect is not the place to assume every find will be a bargain. It is better treated as a mixed field where low-cost digging and premium collecting live close together.
Cassettes, VHS, DVDs, And Other Side Quests
Vinyl may bring people through the door, but the side quests can take over fast. Ez 2 Collect has become known for more than records, especially among people searching for cassettes, VHS tapes, DVDs, Blu-rays, and older TV season sets.
That broader inventory makes the store useful for collectors who dislike depending only on streaming catalogs. Older series, cartoons, films, and out-of-rotation titles can matter more when people want a copy that stays available at home.
DVDs come up often in conversations about the shop, and Blu-rays appear in the mix too. Some stock may be new and sealed, while open discs should be checked before leaving, a practical habit in any store that sells used media.
VHS also has a presence, including horror tapes, which the owner has described as a strong category with collectability. VCR interest has appeared as well, with people looking for a working machine to play or transfer old tapes.
The result is a shop that appeals beyond traditional record collecting. A music person may come for LPs, while a film collector may leave focused on discs, tapes, or a player instead.
That is the sneaky charm of Ez 2 Collect. The main aisle may say record store, but the detours are very much part of the trip.
Collectibles With A Nostalgia Streak
Every collector knows the danger of going in for one category and leaving interested in three others. Ez 2 Collect has that effect because its inventory stretches into toys, collectibles, retro game consoles, and assorted pop culture items.
The shop has been associated with collectible toys, Funko Pops, older consoles such as SNES, and media from several decades. That range gives it a 1990s-friendly reputation without limiting the store to one decade or one fan base.
Nostalgia is a major part of the appeal, but not in a polished museum way. The items are for browsing and buying, with the practical messiness that can come when a small business carries a huge amount of stock.
That matters for New Jersey day-trippers who enjoy places with a local, independent personality. Ez 2 Collect does not present itself like a chain store, and the experience is shaped by abundance, owner involvement, and the thrill of spotting something unexpected.
The collectibles also make the shop a good stop for mixed-interest groups. One person can search records while another checks movie shelves, toys, games, or instruments.
It is not a sterile display room. It is a working collector shop, and the nostalgia arrives with price tags, piles, rules, and plenty of browsing homework.
Guitars In The Mix
Not every record store adds guitars to the equation, but Ez 2 Collect does. The shop’s inventory has included more than 50 guitars, with the owner describing a range that can reach high-value instruments.
That category comes with one of the clearest examples of the store’s firm handling approach. The owner has stated that guitars, especially expensive ones, are not simply picked up and played without permission.
For musicians, that rule may feel strict compared with stores where instruments are freely tested. For the shop, the reasoning is tied to protecting inventory across a broad price range in a space already filled with delicate or collectible items.
The best way to handle the guitar section is simple: ask directly, explain what you are interested in, and expect some supervision. A buyer who wants to inspect an instrument should also be prepared for a more controlled process than at a dedicated music gear shop.
Prices on used instruments have drawn mixed reactions, so comparison shopping makes sense here too. Informed buyers can check model, condition, and current market range before making a decision.
Guitars are not a side decoration at Ez 2 Collect. They are another branch of the store’s collecting universe, with their own rules and expectations.
The Firm Rule About Handling Stock
The headline rule at Ez 2 Collect is not printed in giant letters, but it shapes the experience: some stock is not meant to be handled casually. The owner has explained that expensive records can sit near cheaper ones, so assistance may be required in certain sections.
That policy has created strong reactions. Some shoppers prefer to browse freely and dislike feeling watched, while the store frames close assistance as a way to protect inventory and keep items in place.
Both sides are easy to understand. Collectors need to inspect condition, verify contents, and make confident choices, especially with used records, discs, tapes, and instruments.
A small shop with valuable stock, stacked sections, and hard-to-replace items also has to worry about misplaced records, damage, and loss. When the inventory ranges from 5 dollar LPs to much more valuable pieces, casual handling becomes a bigger issue.
The practical answer is to visit with clear expectations. Ask before moving piles, request help in tight areas, and confirm whether a stack or section is open for browsing.
That approach may prevent tension and keep the trip focused on the fun part: finding something worth taking home. Ez 2 Collect is best visited by people who can work with the house style rather than fight it.
A Store For Patient Collectors
Some people shop by list, and some people shop by instinct. Ez 2 Collect clearly favors the second group, especially those who enjoy taking time with boxes, shelves, and mixed-format sections.
The shop suits vinyl hunters, DVD and Blu-ray collectors, cassette fans, VHS seekers, CD buyers, and anyone who still believes physical media has value. It may also interest people who enjoy vintage toys, retro consoles, and music gear under the same roof.
Patience is the key trait. A person expecting spotless organization, wide open aisles, and quick self-guided access to every stack may not have the easiest time here.
On the other hand, a collector who likes searching through a dense local shop may find the visit worthwhile. There are mentions of rare 45s, Queen albums, harder-to-find TV sets, horror VHS, and older titles that are not always easy to locate locally.
It also helps to be comfortable asking questions. The owner is part of the shopping experience, and communication can make a difference when a section is crowded or a higher-value item needs handling.
Ez 2 Collect is not trying to be frictionless. It is a place for collectors who treat effort as part of the buy, not a reason to leave immediately.
A Nostalgic Stop With A Filming Footnote
One of the more unusual details about Ez 2 Collect is its connection to small creative projects. The shop has been used as a backdrop for a short film with a 1990s theme, and the owner shared that other filming projects have happened there too.
That detail fits the store’s personality. With older media, collectibles, and decades of pop culture items gathered into one place, the shop has the kind of real-world texture that independent creators often want.
Still, anyone interested in filming should not assume open access. A project would need permission, timing, and a clear conversation with the owner, especially because the shop is packed with inventory and operates as a retail business first.
The filming footnote also explains why Ez 2 Collect feels different from a standard shopping stop. It is not just a place where items are sold, but a setting tied to memory, collecting, and the way older formats continue to show up in new creative work.
For casual customers, that background adds another layer without changing the practical visit. The best reasons to go remain the records, media, and collectibles.
Even so, the creative angle gives the shop a small New Jersey story beyond the cash register, and that makes the place easier to remember.
Hours, Website, And Trip Basics
Practical details matter before a crate hunt, because nobody wants to arrive on the wrong day. Ez 2 Collect is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM and closed on Sunday.
Those hours make the shop workable for weekday errands or a Saturday collector run. A Sunday plan, however, should be saved for another destination or shifted one day earlier.
The store’s website is ez2collect.com, which is useful to know before visiting. Since inventory at collector shops can change, direct confirmation is the safest move for anyone chasing a specific format, instrument, or title.
No admission fee is listed because this is a retail store, not a ticketed attraction. Costs depend on what a shopper chooses to buy, and the store includes both budget areas and higher-priced collectible stock.
Public transit, parking specifics, and accessibility details are not included in the provided information, so planning should stay basic and address-based. Use 133 Broadway in Elmwood Park for navigation and leave enough time to browse without rushing.
The smartest trip plan is simple: avoid Sunday, arrive during the 11 AM to 6 PM window, and treat the visit like a slow search through a local collecting institution.
A Soft Verdict For Curious New Jersey Collectors
Ez 2 Collect is not the kind of place that can be summed up with one tidy label. It is a long-running Elmwood Park record store with a huge inventory, a loyal collector appeal, a packed layout, and a browsing style that asks customers to respect the house rules.
The strongest reason to go is the range. Vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, Blu-rays, VHS, toys, retro gaming items, and guitars all appear in the shop’s orbit, which makes it more varied than many single-category stores.
The biggest caution is equally clear. Organization can be difficult, some prices may require comparison, and handling certain items may involve owner assistance rather than free browsing.
That combination makes Ez 2 Collect best for patient collectors, New Jersey locals who enjoy unusual independent shops, and day-trippers who would rather hunt than glide through a polished retail layout. It is less ideal for shoppers who need quick access, strict order, or a quiet solo search with no guidance.
In the end, the shop’s identity is built on abundance, not simplicity. Go in with time, manners, questions, and a willingness to check condition before buying.
For the right collector, Ez 2 Collect is a Broadway stop with enough physical media to turn one visit into a very full afternoon.
A Broadway Record Shop In Elmwood Park
Broadway gives this story its starting line: Ez 2 Collect is a record store at 133 Broadway, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States.
The address matters because this is not a vague online seller or a pop-up table at a weekend fair. It is a fixed local shop with regular weekday and Saturday hours, a real storefront, and a long-running identity tied to collectors who still want physical media in hand.
Ez 2 Collect is best understood as a record store with a much wider collecting habit. Vinyl gets the spotlight, but the place also draws attention for cassettes, DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, toys, retro game consoles, guitars, and other pieces from several decades of entertainment culture.
That wide reach is the first clue that a visit works better with patience than with a tight checklist. People looking for one exact title may have a harder time than people willing to browse, compare, ask, and keep circling back through the stacks.
For New Jersey residents, the appeal is also local pride in a simple form. A store like this keeps physical media in public view, not packed away in storage or reduced to a thumbnail on a screen.
