
Whether you're a vinyl aficionado or a newbie who's just learning the ropes, you can't deny that records have hit the mainstream a bit in recent years. That's probably why this year's National Record Store Day on April 20th is expected to be one of the biggest ever.
Baltimore isn't in short supply of local record stores. In fact, you'll always find a record store close to the many Baltimore homes for sale that are currently listed. If you're new to the area, that's okay. Our real estate agents have spent a lot of time in the city's record stores. Here are a few of our favorites.
- The Sound Garden — 1616 Thames St., Baltimore, MD 21231
The Sound Garden prides itself on its eclectic collection of vinyl, cassettes, CDs, turntables, and more. It's the largest music store in the greater Baltimore area, which means it has a huge reputation to fulfill. It impresses vinyl aficionados by keeping everything from rock and pop to fusion and goth in stock at all times. And if you have a huge collection you're looking to sell, you don't even need to leave home because they make house calls.
- Protean Books & Records — 836 Leadenhall St., Baltimore, MD 21230
People come from miles around every week to see what kind of new items have arrived at Protean Books & Records. This quaint little store has a larger selection than you might think. In addition to vinyl, you'll find a sizable assortment of CDs, cassettes, videotapes, and more. They even have a section for role-playing games like the Lord of the Rings and The Legend of the Five Rings. Feel free to choose a favorite record, book, movie, game, art piece, or clothing item in one fell swoop.
- Normals Books & Records — 425 E. 31st St., Baltimore, MD 21218
It seems like just yesterday that Normals Books & Records opened their doors simply because nine individuals wanted to work for themselves and develop a cultural presence in the city. Since this store has been around for over two decades, we'd say that they've fully succeeded. Their collection of records is nearly unmatched throughout Baltimore, but what many people remember are the employees who are hand-selected to be the very best representation of the business. Stop in for a quick browse or hang out for a while.
- Baby's on Fire — 1010 Morton St., Baltimore, MD 21201
Baby's on Fire stands out on our list because it's a mix of record store and coffee shop. They carry a carefully curated selection of vinyl consisting of rock, pop, punk, soul, jazz, hip-hop, and many others. In terms of food, you'll find bagels, pastries, vegan brownies, egg sandwiches, paninis, salads, and more. Pair your new record with a food selection and a cup of coffee for the perfect visit.
- El Suprimo Records — 1709 Aliceanna St., Baltimore, MD 21231
With more than 13,000 music items in its inventory, El Suprimo Records has become a hotspot for Baltimore residents. As with others on this list, you'll find all types of genres, including rock, pop, and jazz. You'll also discover tons of electronica, country, indy, afrobeat, doo-wop, Latin, and experimental. All eras are included, giving you unprecedented access to your favorite music and the potential discovery of a new sound.
These are only a few of the incredible record stores in the Baltimore area. Contact us to find your dream home today.