Find Your Groove with Our 7 Favorite Downtown Brooklyn Record Stores

Everyone has their own way of unwinding. Your relaxation routine might involve a rare moment of quiet, or it might mean unwinding with your favorite music. If the latter sounds like you, then crisp vinyl records, a quality turntable, and high-end speakers make all the difference. Downtown Brooklyn’s record stores are home to all of this and more. Digging through their crates and listening at home may feel even more immersive with cannabis, so we’ve paired our favorite DTBK record stores with our top cannabis products for extra-smooth sailing.

1. Vinyl Veritas

Vinyl Veritas isn’t just one of the best record stores in downtown Brooklyn — it’s two of them. It operates two locations around the corner from each other in DUMBO, and the one on Front Street between Washington and Adams Streets is open daily. The other location, on Main Street between Water and Front Streets, is open on Mondays and Fridays. Whichever location you choose, you’ll find the hottest new releases alongside modern and longtime classics in genres ranging from mainstream pop to jazz rap.

Vinyl Veritas also hosts listening parties for new albums from big-name artists. If that sounds like your kind of jam, get lost in the sound with cannabis edibles from Wyld. The brand’s Strawberry gummies, with a 20:1 ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), may relax your body and lessen your anxiety while keeping you locked in.

Address: 111 Front St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 / 45 Main St Suite 728 7th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Distance from The Travel Agency Downtown Brooklyn: 20 minutes via the R/F trains (two stops on the R, then one stop on the F; transfer at Jay St – MetroTech)

2. Vinyl + Thread

This woman-owned record shop near the iconic Brooklyn Flea is more than just a music store. Across from Vinyl + Thread’s thousands of LPs, you’ll find racks with t-shirts, jackets, and other fashion-forward must-haves. The clothes are as vintage as some of the records, while the occasional live performances and DJ sets keep the moment grounded in the present. Although cold non-alcoholic drinks are available on-site, bringing your own THC beverage from Harney Brothers Cannabis offers a shift in perspective without the hangover.

Address: 55 Anchorage Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Distance from The Travel Agency Downtown Brooklyn: 20 minutes via the R/F trains (two stops on the R, then one stop on the F; transfer at Jay St – MetroTech)

3. Record Whirled

If you’re seeking out vintage record stores in downtown Brooklyn, you’ll love Record Whirled. Although you can find modern albums here, the store’s specialty is LPs from decades ago, including iconic punk and rare finds from the ‘60s. And if you’re not familiar with the LPs you encounter, shoppers say the store’s friendly owner is happy to tell you about everything in the selection. For a simultaneous mental uplift and relaxation to be chatty, RYTHM’s Jet Fuel OG cannabis vape may be the perfect fit.

Address: 117 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Distance from The Travel Agency Downtown Brooklyn: 20 minutes via the R train (three stops plus a 7-minute walk from the Court St stop); 15 minutes via the 2/3/4/5 trains (two stops plus an 11-minute walk from the Borough Hall stop)

4. Finer Sounds

Conveniently located near DeKalb Market off Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, Finer Sounds straddles the line between a downtown Brooklyn vintage record store and a modern audio technology shop. Its new arrivals are as likely to include decades-old soul and hip-hop classics as newer indie-rock staples, and its turntables, speakers, and headphones are among today’s very highest-quality.

As with Record Whirled, the staff at Finer Sounds is known to be outgoing and highly knowledgeable about everything in the store. Trying Alchemy Pure’s Dusk to Dawn cannabis flower before you visit may help you feel uplifted and engaged, while calm in your body, as you chat with everyone in the store.

Address: 252 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Distance from The Travel Agency Downtown Brooklyn: 9-minute walk

5. Buzzed Monkey Records

Head just a bit south of Fort Greene Park, and you’ll wind up at Buzzed Monkey Records. A record store hidden in the Persons of Interest barber shop, this small-but-might spot stocks records, tapes, and CDs as well.

The genre selection at Buzzed Monkey runs the gamut from hip-hop to rock and Latin while spanning decades of music history. It’s a great spot for getting creative in your crate digging, and Nanticoke’s Sour Diesel pre-rolls may deliver the inspiration you’re seeking.

Address: 88 S Portland Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Distance from The Travel Agency Downtown Brooklyn: 8-minute walk

6. Sterling Records

Go crate digging at Sterling Records just south of Flatbush Ave, and you’ll find iconic rock records from recent years and past eras alike. This record store occasionally hosts listening parties, too, so it’s easy to build community with fellow Downtown Brooklyn music lovers here.

Sterling Records’ calming aesthetic is a highlight, with a red-accented wall behind some LPs, posters, and books giving the Space a home-like feel. For an especially chill time, pair your visit with non-intoxicating CBD flower from Barbari, a women- and AAPI-led cannabis brand.

Address: 121 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Distance from The Travel Agency: 10-minute walk

7. Sure Shot Records

Sharing a storefront with Ninth Street Espresso and Threes Brewing, Sure Shot Records is small in size but mighty in selection. Since its collection spans just two boxes of records, it’s perhaps the best record store in NYC for first-time crate diggers.

Even longtime LP lovers, though, will cherish Sure Shot since its records run the gamut from iconic ‘70s and ‘80s albums to 21st-century hip-hop staples. Sink into the stacks with Camino’s Pineapple Paradise Bliss gummies, which may bring out your most relaxed yet explorative side.

Address: 333 Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Distance from The Travel Agency: 10-minute walk

What is a fair price for vinyl records?

As you browse the selections at the best record stores in Brooklyn, you might pay $20 to $30 for a new LP. Vintage and used LPs can cost as little as $1, but rare finds can be exorbitantly expensive.

Why are vinyl records making a comeback?

Some potential reasons vinyl records are making a comeback include people thinking the music sounds better, enjoying the experience of physically interacting with their music, and simply liking having a tangible music collection.

If you’re newer to collecting LPs, you might find that listening to them encourages greater focus, a more meaningful connection with what you listen to, and an easier way to digest an album’s liner notes. This is even more true when you pair your listening with cannabis.

Get lost in the sound with The Travel Agency

Cannabis interacts with the brain’s endocannabinoid system, and one of the results may be enriched sensitivity to sound – making for a more perceptive, in-depth listening experience. Visit The Travel Agency’s licensed Downtown Brooklyn dispensary for cannabis that’s lab-tested in accordance with state law to ensure its potency, purity, and quality. From your record store visit to your time at home with the music, greater travels lie ahead.