Long Beach Record Stores
Record stores are magical places where music lovers build community around a shared appreciation (or compulsion): searching for their favorite sounds while discovering new ones. Long Beach is fortunate to have an abundance of groovy independent record stores perfect for whiling away an afternoon browsing and listening. Here’s a rundown of great places in Long Beach to shop for music, organized by neighborhood.
DOWNTOWN
Twelves (746 E 7th St) owner Hector Waluyo is a resident DJ for Funky Sole, a long-running monthly 60s funk party at bars like El Cid in Los Angeles. Stop by the shop to relax as he spins his favorites on the in-store turntables. Andy George started Toxic Toast (757 Pine Ave) online in 2010 and set up shop Downtown in 2014. Punks, metalheads, and all other record lovers are welcome here to stock up on out-of-print vinyl, t-shirts, patches, and stickers. The Record Box (324 Elm Ave) got its start selling its wares out of a truck. Today it’s a highly rated shop with a modern-yet-homey interior where DJs spin live and customers can check out records on listening stations.
EAST VILLAGE ARTS DISTRICT
Opened on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore in 1992 by owner Rand Foster, Fingerprints Music (420 E 4th St) has since moved to the East Village Arts District, where the shop has an expanded space for in-store concerts. The Foo Fighters, Brian Wilson, Jack Johnson, and Chrissie Hynde have all appeared at Fingerprints. Bagatelle Records (260 Atlantic Ave) has had a brick-and-mortar shop in Long Beach since 1977. Bagatelle buys and sells records and CDs from all eras and genres of music, with owner Steve Mintz attending collector’s fairs to ensure his shop is well stocked with both classics and rare gems.
RETRO ROW
Third Eye Records (2234 E 4th St) fits in seamlessly with the other vintage shops on 4th Street’s Retro Row, providing the soundtrack for your trip back in time with new and used vinyl records, vintage turntables, posters, and other memorabilia. Owner and buyer Gary Farley also stocks new releases and posts regular Instagram updates about new arrivals in the store.
CENTRAL LONG BEACH
World Famous V.I.P. Records (1028 E Pacific Coast Hwy) was opened by Kelvin Anderson Sr. in Long Beach in 1978 and fostered Long Beach artists like Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G. Today the shop still hosts listening parties for new releases and sells merch featuring their iconic sign from the original location. Housed in a building that looks like a small castle on 7th Street, Dyzzy on Vinyl (3004) is a collector’s haven, with walls covered floor to ceiling with records, posters, and memorabilia. Opened by Dizzy Diehm in 1999, the small shop also occasionally crams local bands into its space for intimate shows.
VINTAGE VINYL
Thanks to Long Beach’s retro shopping scene, there are several other places around town where you can browse vintage vinyl. Urban Americana (1345 Coronado Ave) has a sizable vinyl section inside its 16,000 square foot warehouse of mid century art, furnishings, and design. MAKE Collectives (430 E 1st St) stocks a curated selection of records inside the East Village shop alongside housewares, apparel, and interior decor. You can also find vinyl treasures at the Long Beach Antique Market (4901 E Conant St) held every third Sunday of the month at the Long Beach Veterans Stadium.
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