Best Places For Vinyl In Minnesota
There are many stores with vinyl for those who may still miss the now defunct stores such as Northern Lights, Wax Museum, Positively 4th Street or Oar Folkjokeopus. Here are five of the best places to buy vinyl records in Minnesota. See a list of 10 of the still viable best local record stores with long histories in the Twin Cities at Best Record Stores In Minneapolis published earlier at CBS Minnesota.
Know Name Records
6009 Portland Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
(612) 869-1070
www.knowname.com
Know Name has been buying and selling vinyl records since 1977, resulting in a wide selection for the eclectic collector, especially in new and used classic LPs and original pressings. Know Name got its start near the U of M but has made its home at the Portland Avenue location for a long time now.
Eclipse Records
381 Wabasha St. N.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 224-2500
www.eclipse651.com
The only independent record store in St. Paul, Eclipse Records on University Avenue was displaced due to light rail construction. The business reopened in 2011 at its new location on Wabasha Street between Amsterdam Bar & Hall and Big Table Studio. Check the Eclipse Facebook page for new items and 'Record of the Day' discounts. Eclipse is also the lone St. Paul ticket outlet for First Avenue shows.
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Book House In Dinkytown
1316 S.E. 4th St., Suite 201
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 331-1430
www.bookhouseindinkytown.com
Sometimes small and personal is the better experience. Chris, at the Book House in Dinkydale Mall, loves vinyls. While the store stocks over 60,000 used academic books, you can find vinyl records on the second floor. There is a small browser at the store and Chris thinks that "less is more in some ways." He has been to Amoeba Record Store in Los Angeles and says, "I always walk out of there with nothing and I am completely drained from looking at too many records. I like looking through a smaller amount of records. I'd much rather browse through a smaller amount." The majority of the LPs at Bookhouse are in very good condition. Chris will make house calls and does buy larger collections, turntables, older tube receivers and other high-end audio. He loves tracking down turntables for people.
Let It Be Records
8225 Upland Circle
Chanhassen, MN 55317
(952) 361-3015
www.letitberecords.com
Let It Be is an independently owned mail order record store featuring a wide variety of new and used vintage LPs, 45s and 78s. The store has acquired a vast inventory through large warehouse purchases. Its most recent purchase includes an entire warehouse full of dance vinyl and CDs from the late 1980s through the mid 1990s. The store offers search by specific artists or more generalized searches such as record titles and labels. Also, check out the real-time monthly online auctions of rarities. The store accepts safe credit card transactions or PayPal.
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Immure Records
1740 130th Ave. N.E.
Blaine, MN 55449
(763) 862-5992
www.immurerecords.com
While Immure Records specializes in digital restorations, it has music from artists the firm has worked with over the years and sometimes carries rare recordings. You can make your purchases online with PayPal.
Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
