A whole basement full of jazz, blues, metal, and bargain bins sits right under your feet at this record shop. Upstairs, the crates keep going with new and used vinyl, CDs, and racks of cassette tapes.
The walls get in on the fun too. Painted murals cover the building inside and out, including tributes to John Prine and to albums released in recent years.
I like how the store treats music as something to hunt for, not just buy. The staff even keep a recommendations box for anyone who needs a nudge.
I believe that kind of care is rare, and it makes this Tennessee shop feel personal.
So what happens when you give a music lover two floors and no time limit? I can’t imagine anyone leaving with empty hands.
Two Floors of Music on East Trinity Lane
Grimey’s New & Preloved Music is a record store in Nashville built for people who love to browse. It stocks vinyl, CDs, cassette tapes, books, and more across two full levels.
That second level matters a lot. Plenty of record shops squeeze everything into one room, but this one gives music room to spread out.
The name itself hints at the mix. You’ll find brand-new pressings sitting near used records that already lived a life in somebody else’s collection.
New releases share space with older finds and nostalgic favorites. That blend means a teenager and a grandparent could shop side by side and both walk away happy.
Music City has no shortage of guitars and stages, but a great record store fills a different need. It lets you take a piece of the sound home and play it again whenever you want.
Grimey’s has become one of the best-known stops for that in Tennessee. The store pulls in hometown shoppers along with travelers who plan whole afternoons around a visit.
Think of it as a library where every book spins. Only here, you get to keep what you find.
A Bigger Home With Room to Roam
Moving a record store is no small job. Grimey’s did exactly that, and the current building on East Trinity Lane gives shoppers far more space than the old spot.
Some longtime fans still feel fond of the previous location. Still, the extra elbow room changes how the whole place works.
More space means more crates. More crates mean more chances to stumble onto something you didn’t know you wanted.
The building itself has character, too. One visitor thought it looked like it may once have been a mid-century church, which would make a record store a fitting second act.
Inside, the layout stretches across an upstairs and a downstairs. Each floor feels like its own room with its own personality.
Here’s the address for your map app: 1060 E Trinity Ln, Nashville, TN 37216. It sits in the East Nashville area, a short drive from downtown.
For anyone coming from Knoxville, Chattanooga, or Memphis, the trip makes an easy weekend add-on. Pair it with a show or a meal and you’ve got a full Tennessee day planned around music.
Crates Upon Crates of New and Used Vinyl
Vinyl is the star here, no question about it. The upstairs is packed with records, both freshly sealed and gently preloved.
The selection covers a wide range of genres. Rock, country, pop, hip-hop, and more all get their own sections, though hip-hop may run a little lighter than other styles.
Organization makes a big difference when the stock is this deep. Grimey’s keeps things sorted well enough that browsing feels fun instead of overwhelming.
Shoppers have pulled out everything from classic Johnny Cash to newer indie favorites. Some found the exact album they came for, brand new and at a fair price.
Used records add the thrill of the chase. Collections come in at different times, so what you see this week might be gone next week.
That’s the funny part about record hunting. Timing matters almost as much as taste.
Prices lean friendly for a shop with this much variety. Treat it as a reason to dig a little longer, because the next crate might hold the record that finishes your collection.
The Basement Where Jazz Takes Over
Head down the stairs and the mood shifts. The lower level at Grimey’s is devoted to jazz and related genres.
Blues records live down here too. So do metal albums, which makes for a pretty entertaining neighborhood of sounds.
Jazz fans often have to settle for one dusty rack at most stores. Here, the genre gets a whole floor’s worth of attention.
The downstairs also holds more obscure finds. It’s the kind of section where a curious shopper can grab a double album they’d never heard of and leave thrilled.
Bargain bins fill part of the basement as well. Some preloved items are priced very low, so a small budget can still stretch surprisingly far.
Plan extra time before you head down. The basement rewards patience, and rushing through it would feel a bit like skimming a novel by reading only the chapter titles.
For collectors, this floor might be the real reason to make the drive. Upstairs gets you in the door, but downstairs keeps you there.
CDs and Cassettes Still Get Their Moment
Not everyone has a turntable, and Grimey’s gets that. The shop carries a big selection of CDs alongside its vinyl.
Used CDs can be a quiet goldmine. Some shoppers have walked out with stacks of them, including a few rare titles.
Cassette tapes make an appearance too. A couple of racks hold them, with more tapes found in the basement.
Tapes have been making a comeback with younger listeners. There’s something charming about a format you have to flip over halfway through.
Videos have also shown up in the mix over the years. It all adds up to a store that respects every way people have played music.
For parents, the CD bins can be a sneaky win. A kid hunting for a favorite band’s album gets the fun of searching, and you skip the streaming subscription debate.
So bring the car with the CD player. Or dust off that old boombox in the garage, because this is the place to feed it.
Books and Magazines for the Music-Obsessed
Records tell you how music sounds. Books tell you why it matters, and the basement at Grimey’s holds a lot of them.
Music-related books fill the shelves downstairs. You’ll also find music magazines, which make easy add-ons at the register.
Some shoppers come for vinyl and get sidetracked by a biography. It happens, and honestly, nobody should feel bad about it.
A good music book pairs nicely with a record purchase. Read about an artist while their album plays, and the whole thing hits a little deeper.
Magazines appeal to younger visitors too. A teen flipping through glossy pages can feel just as excited as a collector pulling an old pressing.
The book section also makes the store friendlier for groups. Not everyone in your crew needs to be a vinyl expert to enjoy the visit.
So if a friend tags along and says they’re only there for you, point them downstairs. There’s a decent chance they’ll leave holding something of their own.
Murals Worth Stopping the Car For
Bring your phone camera, because the walls deserve it. Murals cover Grimey’s both inside and outside.
Some of the outdoor murals celebrate albums released in recent years. They work like a giant, painted playlist on the side of the building.
John Prine shows up in murals too. For fans of the beloved songwriter, that tribute adds a warm, personal touch.
Artists have been spotted painting on site. That means the walls can change over time, giving repeat visitors something new to notice.
The murals make a great photo backdrop. A snapshot here doubles as a souvenir and proof you made it to one of Music City’s beloved record stops.
Art and music feel like natural partners at Grimey’s. Album covers have always been their own kind of art, so painting them big just makes sense.
Take a lap around the building before heading in. It’s a nice warm-up before the serious crate digging begins.
Staff Picks and Friendly Crate Guides
A great record store lives or dies by its people, and helpful staff come up again and again at Grimey’s. The team is known for being kind and welcoming.
Need something specific? Employees can look up what’s in stock and what isn’t.
That help sometimes goes the extra mile. Staff have tracked down a requested CD after a busy rush and set it aside for the shopper.
A staff recommendations box also sits in the store. It’s perfect when you want something new but have no clue where to start.
Picking from that box feels a bit like borrowing a friend’s taste. You might discover your next favorite artist from someone who spends all day around music.
No store is perfect, and service can vary from person to person. Still, the overall reputation points to a crew that genuinely loves helping people find music.
So ask questions. Worst case, you learn something, and best case, you leave with an album you’ll play for years.
Whatever’s Spinning Gets a Spotlight
Ever hear a song in a store and wish you knew what it was? Grimey’s solves that in a clever way.
The cover of the album currently playing is displayed near the counter. One glance and the mystery is over.
The music in the store tends to be eclectic. You might hear a fresh release one minute and something from decades back the next.
That rotating soundtrack works like free advertising for great records. Plenty of shoppers probably end up buying whatever caught their ear while browsing.
It also sets the mood. Flipping through crates feels better with a good record playing in the background.
The shop’s vibe gets described as laid-back and chill. Nobody seems rushed, and the music helps keep things easygoing.
Keep an ear open while you shop. The best find of the day might not be in a crate at all, but playing over the speakers.
In-Store Shows and Local Music Pride
Grimey’s isn’t only about buying records. It also hosts live music, including record release performances and meet-and-greets.
Those events give fans a chance to see artists up close. That’s a rare treat in a city where many big shows fill large venues.
The store has strong ties to many artists. It’s even been called a favorite haunt for musicians, including Kacey Musgraves.
Support for independent Nashville musicians is a big part of the shop’s identity. Local flair shows up across the store, and that matters for Tennessee music fans.
Here, you can find the side of Nashville that lives beyond mainstream country. Americana, indie, and other homegrown sounds get real love.
Buying local records here helps keep the city’s creative scene going. Every purchase sends a little support back to the people making the music.
Check the store’s channels before a visit. Catching an in-store performance could turn a quick shopping stop into a story you’ll tell for years.
A Shop That Suits Every Kind of Listener
Serious collectors will feel right at home. So will casual listeners who just want one good album to remember the trip by.
Families do well here too. Parents and kids have hunted for favorite bands together, from classic rock to current hip-hop artists.
Out-of-town visitors often treat a record as a Nashville souvenir. It beats a keychain, and it actually plays something.
Hard rock fans, jazz fans, and indie fans can all find their corner. The variety keeps any one group from feeling left out.
Beginners shouldn’t feel intimidated. The staff picks box and the organized layout make it easy to start without knowing much.
Groups with mixed tastes might enjoy splitting up. Meet back at the counter later and compare finds like a treasure hunt.
Nostalgia also plays a big role. Spotting an album you grew up with can feel like bumping into an old friend in the aisle.
Parking, Neighbors, and Getting There
Parking is shared with several other businesses in the same lot. On busy days, a little patience goes a long way.
Extra spaces sit in a back lot. Plenty of shoppers miss it at first, so circle around before giving up.
The neighbors add bonus fun. A vintage shop shares the same parking area, making it easy to turn one stop into two.
Aisles can feel snug when the store fills up. Smaller bags and a relaxed pace make browsing more comfortable for everyone.
Bathrooms are available, though a line can form during busy stretches. Plan accordingly if you’re bringing kids along.
Driving in from out of town is simple. East Trinity Lane connects easily to major roads around Nashville.
Road-trippers from Kentucky or Alabama can make it a weekend stop without much trouble. Pair it with a concert, and Tennessee suddenly looks like the best music trip around.
Why This Record Store Earns a Spot on Your Playlist
Some stops are fun. Grimey’s New & Preloved Music manages to be fun, useful, and a little bit magical all at once.
Two floors of music give it real depth. The jazz-filled basement alone sets it apart from most stores around.
Add in murals, friendly guides, and live events, and the picture gets even better. It feels less like a store and more like a clubhouse for music lovers.
Prices stay friendly, and bargain bins keep things affordable. That makes it a smart pick for a budget weekend in Tennessee.
It also says something about Nashville itself. The city’s music story isn’t just on stages, but in shops like this that keep records spinning.
Out-of-state visitors often call it a trip highlight. Tennessee folks get the bonus of having it close enough to visit again and again.
So clear some shelf space at home. You’ll probably need it after a trip to East Trinity Lane.
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