Some of the best finds in Oklahoma hide behind plain storefronts you could drive past a hundred times. I walked into one expecting a quick browse and walked out hours later with a stack of records and a big grin.
Inside were crates on the floor, posters on the walls, old stereo gear, and the kind of treasure hunt that makes you forget to check the clock. If you have ever felt that itch to dig for something special, this spot deserves a place on your Oklahoma map.
A Record Haven on North Pennsylvania Avenue
Tucked at 1212 N Pennsylvania Ave in Oklahoma City, Trolley Stop Record Shop looks modest from the street. Step through the door, though, and the scale of the place starts to sink in.
Rows of vinyl stretch out in every direction, and the shelves seem to keep going.
At heart, it is a used record store, and a proud one. Visitors describe an enormous selection covering just about every genre you can name, from old school classics to more modern hits.
Several people even call it the largest record shop they have ever wandered into.
Vinyl is only part of the story. The shop also carries cassettes, CDs, 45s, 78s, laser discs, DVDs, posters, collectibles, and used stereo equipment.
Music memorabilia and vintage clothing pop up throughout the store too.
Shoppers from Nashville, Michigan, and beyond have said they never expected to find a favorite record store in OKC. That surprise is a big part of the charm.
You come in thinking you will flip through a few bins, and you leave feeling like you found a secret most of the state has not discovered yet.
For anyone who loves the hunt, it is a destination worth planning a whole afternoon around.
Old Penn Theater Bones
History hums under your feet here. According to visitors, the shop sits on the site of the old historic Penn Theater, a fitting home for a business built around music and entertainment.
There is something poetic about flipping through albums in a building that once drew crowds for shows. The setting adds a layer of nostalgia before you even pull your first record from the stack.
Some guests say walking inside feels like going back in time, with plenty of fun touches that recall the 1990s and earlier decades.
The building also hosts more than records. One longtime fan mentioned the shop has a stage and has held music events, which keeps that performance spirit alive in a fresh way.
Few record stores can claim that kind of backstory and still put on a show.
Owner John Dunning, as regulars describe him, spent many years as an antique dealer before expanding that passion into this record venture. Some of the walls display pieces from his own personal collections, so the space doubles as a peek into one collector’s lifetime of finds.
Put all of that together, and the setting feels less like a store and more like a living music scrapbook for Oklahoma.
Stacks, Crates, and Floor Boxes
Bring patience and comfortable shoes. The vinyl here is spread across tall stacks, labeled bins, and boxes sitting right on the floor, and digging through all of it is half the fun.
One regular who drives about 40 minutes each week says the floor boxes are the best part of every visit. New arrivals tend to land there, and a classic seems to turn up almost every time.
Another visitor accidentally spent two hours sorting before realizing how much time had slipped by.
Fans praise the older and more original pressings, which is a big draw for collectors hunting for authentic copies. Rarer requests get answered too.
One traveler was thrilled to find Thin Lizzy on vinyl and even reel-to-reel albums.
Be ready for some chaos. A few shoppers note the store could be better organized, and some stacks are tough to reach.
If you prefer neat alphabetized rows, that may test you a little.
For true diggers, though, the disorder is part of the thrill. Every crate holds the possibility of a find you did not know you needed, and that keeps people coming back again and again.
Cassettes, 45s, and Every Format in Between
Remember making mixtapes? Cassette fans get plenty of love at Trolley Stop, and tapes come up again and again when visitors talk about the place.
The format lineup is impressively wide. Shoppers mention 33s, 45s, and even 78s, along with CDs, DVDs, and laser discs.
A great selection of 45s gets a shout-out from people who love singles, the little records that once filled jukeboxes across the country.
Laser discs deserve a special mention. These shiny, oversized movie discs had a short moment in home entertainment history, and spotting them in the wild feels like finding a time capsule.
Movies and comics also show up toward the back of the store.
Paper treasures round things out. Longtime visitors list songbooks, sheet music, and buttons among the goodies tucked around the shop.
If you play an instrument, browsing old sheet music can be a sweet surprise.
So whether your collection is all vinyl, all tapes, or a happy mix of everything, there is something to flip through here. It is the kind of store where a quick look at the cassette rack can easily turn into an hour exploring formats you forgot existed.
Turntables, Needles, and Stereo Treasures
Great records need something to play on. That is where the used stereo equipment at Trolley Stop comes in handy for both beginners and seasoned audio fans.
Shoppers mention finding equipment alongside the music, which makes the store a handy one-stop trip. Instead of buying records in one place and hunting for a player somewhere else, you can browse gear right next to the bins.
Small parts matter too. One visitor from Michigan was delighted to find record needles and phono cartridges, the tiny pieces that actually read the grooves on your vinyl.
Anyone who has tried to track down a replacement needle knows how handy that can be.
Reel-to-reel fans may also feel at home. Reel-to-reel tape was once a favorite format for serious listeners, and spotting those albums here hints at how deep the audio history runs in this shop.
If you are not sure what you need, ask. Staff members get praise for being helpful and knowledgeable, and visitors say oddball requests are welcomed rather than shrugged off.
Building a home setup can feel confusing, so having friendly folks nearby who understand the gear makes the whole process a lot more fun.
The Antique Wing Next Door
Surprise number two waits on the other side of the building. Trolley Stop connects to a full antique shop, and visitors love the bonus of a huge room filled with flea market style finds.
Antiques come up often when people describe their trips here, and for good reason. The owner’s background as a longtime antique dealer shows in the variety.
You might spot collectibles, vintage oddities, and items that spark a memory of a grandparent’s living room.
Wandering from records into antiques feels natural. One minute you are flipping albums, and the next you are studying an object you cannot quite identify.
It turns a shopping trip into something closer to a mini museum visit, except you can take things home.
Families seem to enjoy the mix. One parent shared that her 13-year-old loved the old posters and the comics and movies in the back.
Kids who think records are just old stuff often get curious once they see everything around them.
Plan extra time if you enjoy quirky Oklahoma stops. Between the music and the antique room, it is easy to lose track of an entire afternoon.
Yellow Submarine Restrooms and Poster-Covered Walls
Yes, the bathroom is a highlight. Guests rave that the restroom is decorated top to bottom with Beatles items, so it feels like stepping into Yellow Submarine or Magical Mystery Tour.
The fun decor does not stop there. Vintage posters cover the walls, and they catch the eye of teens and grown-ups alike.
Memorabilia, clothing, and music items fill corners throughout the shop, giving it a trippy, lived-in personality.
People often use words like cool, trippy, and awesome to describe the vibe. It feels old school in the best way, with a sense that every shelf has a story.
Nothing here looks like it came from a corporate design plan.
The space even works as a backdrop for photos. One loyal shopper took her maternity pictures in the store, and the owners proudly cheered her on.
That tells you a lot about how memorable the look and feel of the place is.
Snap a few pictures while you browse. Between the posters, the collections on the walls, and that colorful restroom, you will have plenty to show friends who did not believe a record store could be this much fun.
Fair Prices and the Art of Asking
Budget-minded collectors, rejoice. Many visitors say prices here are reasonable and even below market value, which is rare now that vinyl is popular again.
One Nashville shopper walked out with a stack of records where not a single album cost over 20 dollars. Others describe the pricing as realistic and say they check this shop first before going anywhere else.
A regular praised owner John for fair prices and friendly negotiation.
A little honesty helps here. Some records are not marked with prices, so you may need to ask.
A few shoppers wish more items were labeled, and if the owner is out, staff may need to check with him before quoting. Some customers say quoted prices can vary.
That conversation is part of the old-fashioned charm for many fans. The owners are known to buy, sell, and trade, so bring a few records of your own if you like swapping.
Most importantly, bring cash. The shop is widely known as cash only, and that detail comes up more than almost anything else.
Hitting an ATM before you arrive saves you from leaving a great find behind on the counter.
Who Feels at Home Among the Bins
Serious diggers top the list. If you love flipping through crates for hours, visitors call this a must stop, and many say it beats their hometown shops by a mile.
Travelers fit right in too. People in town on business or passing through make a point of stopping, and many leave planning a return trip.
It is a fun break for anyone road-tripping across Oklahoma and craving something offbeat.
Parents and kids can share the adventure. One mom found records for her daughter, a young fan of older music, with help from the friendly staff up front.
Another family’s teen was hooked by the posters.
Casual browsers are welcome as well, though they should know the store rewards patience. A couple of guests suggest allowing plenty of time because things are not perfectly organized.
If you want a speedy in-and-out trip, it may feel a bit overwhelming.
What ties these groups together is the people running the place. Customers repeatedly describe the owners and staff as kind, knowledgeable, and happy to help.
Regulars fondly mention John and Mrs. John by name, which says a lot about the neighborly feel of this locally owned shop.
Planning Your Visit and a Final Spin
Timing is easy to work with. Trolley Stop opens Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, and on Sunday from 1 to 6 pm.
You will find it at 1212 N Pennsylvania Ave in Oklahoma City. For questions, such as whether they carry a specific album, call ahead at 405-208-8833.
Shoppers say the staff happily handle particular requests.
Pack a few essentials. Bring cash, since the store is cash only, and leave room in your schedule.
Regulars often spend an hour or more, and first-timers frequently lose track of time completely.
So is it worth the trip? For anyone who loves music history, quirky decor, and the joy of hunting for something rare, the answer leans strongly toward yes.
The organization will not please everyone, and unpriced items might mean a quick chat at the counter. Still, most visitors walk away thrilled with their finds.
Between the giant vinyl stash, the stereo gear, the antique room, and that Beatles bathroom, this Oklahoma City gem offers a rare mix of fun and discovery. Put on your digging shoes, grab some cash, and let the crates surprise you.
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