Best Record Stores in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is unusually walkable for a serious record-store crawl. Downtown, South State Street, and Kerrytown put rare used stock, new releases, deep catalog, and budget physical media within a compact route. The best day here is less about driving between stores and more about giving each small shop enough time.
Quick Takeaway
Start at Wazoo for rare used records, use Underground Sounds for new releases, then walk through Kerrytown to Encore and Your Media Exchange. State Street and Fourth Avenue make this one of the easiest city guides to follow on foot.
The 4 Best Record Stores in Ann Arbor
Wazoo Records
Independent record storeWazoo is the collector's anchor, with rare and hard-to-find records, used depth, and a genre range that includes jazz, funk, electronic, and classic rock.
Best for: Rare records, hard-to-find catalog, funk, jazz, and electronic
Location: South State Street downtown
Wazoo's compact storefront rewards patient digging rather than a quick scan. Its Wednesday closure is easy to work around, and the location makes it a natural first move before the Kerrytown leg.
Underground Sounds
Independent record storeUnderground Sounds is the new-release specialist in the downtown route, with current vinyl and CDs, Record Store Day relevance, and a strong discovering-new-music profile.
Best for: New releases, indie discovery, Record Store Day, and current CDs
Location: Downtown on East Washington Street
Go here when the want-list is current rather than archival. The late Friday and Saturday hours are helpful for a post-campus browse, and the downtown location pairs cleanly with Wazoo.
Encore Records
Independent record storeEncore brings deep used-media browsing to Kerrytown, with records, CDs, DVDs, and a catalog broad enough to reward open-ended crate digging.
Best for: Used records, deep catalog, and Kerrytown browsing
Location: Kerrytown on North Fourth Avenue
Encore is the shop to slow down in after the downtown stops. Its daily schedule is generous, and the Kerrytown address makes it easy to combine with Your Media Exchange without moving the car.
Your Media Exchange
Independent record storeYour Media Exchange offers the broadest budget-oriented physical-media browse in the group, with used records, large selection, and a corrected basement location in Kerrytown.
Best for: Budget finds, broad used media, hip-hop, jazz, and electronic
Location: Basement storefront on North Fourth Avenue in Kerrytown
YMX is built for the collector who enjoys turning over a lot of inventory. The basement location matters, as does the Tuesday through Sunday schedule, and it makes an effective final stop after Encore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit Ann Arbor record stores without a car?
Yes. Wazoo and Underground Sounds are downtown, while Encore and Your Media Exchange are both in Kerrytown, making this one of the most walkable routes in the directory.
Where should collectors look for rare vinyl in Ann Arbor?
Wazoo Records is the clearest rare-record destination, with hard-to-find used stock and a strong jazz, funk, electronic, and classic-rock mix.
Which Ann Arbor shop is best for new releases?
Underground Sounds is the best fit for new-release vinyl, current CDs, Record Store Day, and discovering newer music.
Final Thoughts
Ann Arbor is a model digging day: start downtown, walk the State Street and Kerrytown blocks, and leave enough time for YMX's basement racks. The compact route is the advantage, so use it.
More City Guides
Explore More Record Stores in Ann Arbor
This guide features our top 4 picks, but Ann Arbor has more to explore in our directory. Browse the full list for hours, addresses, and detailed descriptions.