One Pennsylvania record store opened in 1932 and still stocks more than a million 45-rpm singles. In New Jersey, another shop has been in business since 1934, long before Elvis Presley became a household name.
These aren’t museums. They’re working record stores where collectors can hunt for rare vinyl, browse decades-old releases, and discover music that never made it onto streaming services.
From a Texas shop specializing in Tejano and conjunto to a California store with ties to legendary rock concerts, these businesses have survived nearly every major change in how Americans listen to music.
Here are 15 long-running record stores that have kept physical music alive, and the stories that make them worth visiting.
1. George’s Song Shop, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Brothers Eugene and Bernie George opened this shop in 1932, giving it a strong claim as America’s oldest continuously operating record store. That’s older than the LP itself, which arrived in 1948.
The inventory is huge and refreshingly mixed. You can dig through 45-rpm singles, full-length LPs, CDs, and even eight-track tapes, a format most stores gave up on decades ago.
Johnstown is famous for its floods, and the shop has survived serious water damage over the years. It moved to its current Market Street home in 1977 and has stayed put ever since.
Bring a want list of oddball releases. Collectors hunting forgotten singles often have better luck here than at newer shops built around reissues.
Address: 128 Market St, Johnstown, PA 15901
2. Music Country, Cliffside Park, New Jersey
How many businesses can say they’ve had the same address since 1934? Music Country can, and it all started under a different name, Taliaferro Radio and Electric.
Founder Anthony Taliaferro sold radios and electrical goods back when a radio was the family entertainment center. His daughter, Joan Demarest, later kept the shop running on Anderson Avenue.
The store still pairs records with audio equipment. That combo makes sense here, since buying an album and something to play it on once happened at the same counter.
It’s a small neighborhood shop, so don’t expect warehouse-sized aisles. Expect a business that quietly outlasted the jukebox era, the cassette boom, and the CD craze without ever packing up and moving.
Address: 553 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
3. Stan’s Record Bar, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
A bandleader got this one rolling. Andy Kerner opened the business in 1953, and it eventually became Stan’s Record Bar.
The shop leans into old-school browsing. Used vinyl and classic recordings are a big part of the draw, so plan to spend time flipping rather than scrolling.
Its North Prince Street location sits right in downtown Lancaster. That makes it an easy add-on if you’re already exploring the city’s shops and historic streets.
Pennsylvania clearly has a knack for keeping record stores alive. Stan’s is the second shop from the state on this list, and it’s been spinning since Eisenhower was in his first year as president.
Bring patience and some cash for impulse finds. Older stores like this reward people who take the slow route through the bins.
Address: 30 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
4. Canterbury Records, Pasadena, California
The Rose Parade rolls right past this store every New Year’s Day. Canterbury Records sits on Colorado Boulevard, the famous parade route.
Leonard Gordon founded the shop in 1956. That was years before the Beatles reached American radio, so Canterbury was already selling music when the British Invasion arrived.
It has remained family-owned through the decades. In Southern California, where countless record shops have opened and closed, that kind of staying power is rare.
Generations of Pasadena music fans have browsed its shelves. Some likely bought their first album here and later brought their kids along to buy theirs.
Planning a parade-day visit? Check hours first, since the route gets crowded with spectators and street closures.
Any other day, it’s a relaxed stop for a record hunt.
Address: 805 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91101
5. Val Shively’s R&B Records, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
Doo-wop fans speak this name with respect. Val Shively’s operation outside Philadelphia is closely tied to vocal-group and rhythm and blues collecting.
It began as a mail-order business in 1966. Back then, collectors sent letters and waited weeks for packages of rare singles to arrive.
The shop became famous for its enormous stock of 45-rpm records. Vintage R&B and vocal-group recordings are the heart of the collection.
This isn’t the place for the latest pop reissue. It’s built for serious hunters chasing obscure songs that almost never turn up in ordinary bins.
Know what you want before you go, or at least know the group names. With this many singles, a specific request can help the search go much faster.
Address: 6731 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082
6. Del Bravo Record Shop, San Antonio, Texas
Forget classic rock bins. Del Bravo is all about Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music, which makes it stand apart from most stores on this list.
The Gutierrez family opened the shop in 1966. Multiple generations of that family have since helped keep its musical identity intact.
It has strong roots on San Antonio’s West Side. The store moved into its current spot in 1978 and has stayed there for decades.
Curious about accordion-driven conjunto or the history of Tejano stars? This is a good place to start, since the selection focuses on music many big retailers barely stock.
Ask for suggestions if you’re new to the genre. A family shop with this much history is usually happy to point you toward the classics.
Address: 554 Old Highway 90 West, San Antonio, TX 78237
7. Salzer’s Records, Ventura, California
Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin both played shows promoted by this store’s founder. Jim Salzer was a concert promoter before and while he was selling records.
The story starts in 1966 with Arcade Record Shop in Oxnard. Salzer relocated to Ventura in 1972, and the business grew into a sizable music retailer.
Today the store is known for records and music merchandise. Its link to Southern California’s concert history gives it a backstory few shops can match.
Think about that next time you flip through a Zeppelin LP here. The man behind the counter’s legacy helped bring that band to local fans.
It’s a solid stop on a drive along the coast. Ventura sits between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, so it’s easy to work into a road trip.
Address: 5777 Valentine Road, Ventura, CA 93003
8. Memo Record Shop, Houston, Texas
Spanish-language music has been the focus here since 1968. Guillermo Memo Villarreal founded the shop in Houston’s East End.
It remains a family business. Latin music sits at the center of the collection, covering regional styles that mainstream retailers often skip.
You can browse vinyl, CDs, and older formats. That mix helps when you’re hunting an artist whose catalog never made it to streaming in full.
The store has helped preserve the musical traditions of its neighborhood for more than five decades. That’s a long run for any small shop in a city as fast-changing as Houston.
Texas shows up a lot on this list, and Memo explains part of why. The state’s Latin music scene supports stores that big chains never served well.
Address: 4715 Navigation Boulevard, Houston, TX 77011
9. Out of the Past Records, Chicago, Illinois
Polished boutique shopping? Not here.
Out of the Past puts the focus squarely on the hunt, and the shelves are packed tight.
The shop opened in 1969 and has stayed connected to Chicago’s musical heritage. Think blues, soul, and the sounds that made the city famous.
Inventory goes far beyond vinyl. You’ll see eight-track tapes, cassettes, CDs, and memorabilia mixed in with the records.
That variety appeals to collectors who enjoy older releases. An unexpected find in a crowded corner can easily become the highlight of the visit.
Wear comfortable shoes and give yourself time. Stores like this aren’t designed for a quick in-and-out, and that’s half the fun.
If you collect Chicago soul, keep your eyes peeled for local labels. A shop this rooted in its city is a smart place to look.
Address: 4407 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60624
10. Music Millennium, Portland, Oregon
In 2026, longtime owner Terry Currier announced he was looking for someone to carry the store forward. That news showed how much Portland values this place.
Music Millennium opened in 1969. It quickly became a destination for people who wanted music beyond the commercial mainstream.
The store keeps a strong connection to independent music. It also carries a wide range of new and used recordings across many genres.
Currier’s search for a successor is a reminder that these shops need people as much as customers. Keeping a 50-plus-year-old store alive takes real commitment.
Visiting now gives you a chance to support it during a turning point. Buying a record here helps make the case that it deserves another generation.
Address: 3158 East Burnside Street, Portland, OR 97214
11. Rasputin Music, Berkeley, California
Ever heard of Amoeba Music? Some of the people who helped start it once worked at Rasputin, which shows how deep its Bay Area roots go.
Rasputin has been a fixture on Berkeley’s Telegraph Avenue since 1971. The street sits right by the University of California campus.
The store built its name on a big selection of records and other physical media. Students exploring alternative music and veteran collectors chasing unusual pressings both have reasons to visit.
Its influence spread well beyond its own walls. Bay Area record culture owes a lot to the habits and people that came through this shop.
Telegraph Avenue makes for easy walking. Pair a record run with a stroll near campus, and you’ve got a classic Berkeley afternoon.
Address: 2401 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704
12. Peaches Records, New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans gave the world jazz, so it fits that a local record store would carry the city’s sound proudly. Peaches Records has done that since 1975.
The shop sits on Magazine Street. Records span many genres, but jazz, funk, soul, and Louisiana artists give you the strongest reasons to dig.
Looking for local legends you won’t find at a chain store? This is a smart place to search for New Orleans musicians.
Peaches also stocks music-related merchandise. That gives you plenty to browse beyond the record bins, including souvenirs that actually connect to the city’s music.
Magazine Street is lined with shops and restaurants. A visit here slips easily into a day of wandering one of the city’s busiest shopping corridors.
Address: 4318 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
13. Hogwild Records, San Antonio, Texas
Punk, metal, and classic rock fans, this one’s for you. Hogwild Records has been part of San Antonio’s independent music culture for decades.
The shop sits near San Antonio College. It’s known for an eclectic selection that goes well past mainstream releases.
Shelves hold vinyl, CDs, and other music merchandise. The compact, old-school layout recalls the indie stores that thrived before big chains took over music sales.
That small footprint means things are packed in. Take your time, because the record you want could be hiding in the next bin.
San Antonio shows up three times on this list, which says a lot about the city’s record scene. Hogwild gives it a louder, rock-leaning flavor.
Address: 1824 North Main Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78212
14. Waterloo Records, Austin, Texas
Austin calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World. Waterloo Records lets you take a piece of that scene home on vinyl.
The store opened in 1982 and became one of the city’s best-known independent music shops. Its stock includes new releases, used records, and collectible recordings.
In-store performances and artist appearances have made it a gathering spot for music fans. Catching a set there means seeing musicians up close in a record shop setting.
Check the store’s event calendar before you go. Timing a visit around a performance or signing can turn a quick stop into a highlight of the trip.
It’s a newer shop compared to others on this list. Still, four decades in Austin’s music world is a serious track record.
Address: 1105 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
15. Music Connection Record Store, San Antonio, Texas
Record shows are part of this store’s story. Music Connection is associated with San Antonio’s vinyl record shows, taking its role well beyond its own shelves.
The shop has served local collectors since 1982. That makes it another long-running survivor in a city that clearly loves physical music.
Its selection covers multiple genres and formats. You might grab a familiar favorite and stumble onto something harder to find in the same trip.
Those record shows connect buyers, sellers, and dealers across the area. For collectors, that broader network can mean more chances to track down a long-sought album.
Ask about upcoming show dates when you stop in. Pairing a shop visit with a record show makes the hunt twice as fun.
Address: 3703 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78201
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