Record Stores and Vintage Vinyl Collecting in Marin
Maybe you haven't heard, but vinyl records are hot again! In this day of instantaneous digital music streaming, vinyl sales are growing year after year. Why? Maybe it's the warm tones of a record, or the album covers, which are way more interesting on a 12-inch LP sleeve than on the screen of your iPhone. Many kids and young adults are buying turntables and collecting vinyl records now, so it's definitely not something that's reserved for middle-aged audiophiles and hipsters anymore. It's also relatively affordable for a beginner to get into.
One warning: most used vinyl is, well, old. In used record stores, you're most likely to find what would be classified as "classic rock" made before CDs took over in the '80s, so if your kids are into the Beatles, Dylan, Pink Floyd, or even vintage Disney, fantastic. Taylor Swift or KPop Demon Hunters, not so much (although they both have new vinyl releases that will set you back around $30 or so).
Fortunately for those of us in Marin, we have some great local resources for vinyl collectors. If you need an excuse to visit, then mark your calendar for Record Store Day Black Friday 2025, which takes place on November 28 and features 178 exclusive vinyl releases of both new and classic music.
Where to Buy Vinyl Records in Marin
Here's where to head to buy used and new vinyl records in Marin County. We've included a few other Bay Area record shops that are close by and that we think are worth visiting if you're in the area. Thrift stores like Goodwill in Novato and San Rafael, Salvation Army in San Rafael, and Flipside Thrift in Novato all have a pretty big selection of vinyl records, but be prepared to dig through a lot of easy listening, show tune, and German yodeling albums in your quest to find something worth buying.
Since all of these shops constantly get new inventory, you'll usually find something new when you visit. If you're looking for something specific, it's usually best to make a list of what you want so you don't get overwhelmed and forget to look for something! They'll usually do special orders as well, so if you don't find the new vinyl you're looking for, just ask!
Watts Music, Novato
1211 Grant Avenue, Novato CA 94945
(415) 897-2892
www.wattsmusicnovato.com
Our hands-down favorite independent record shop in Marin is Watts Music in downtown Novato. A fixture in the community since 1979, Watts Music offers ever-changing array of used vinyl, along with new vinyl releases, tapes, CDs, T-shirts, stereo equipment, thousands of posters, and more. Owner Darin is super knowledgable about all things music, from jazz to heavy metal, and is always friendly and helpful, too. We always manage to find something interesting here and seldom leave the store empty-handed. Open daily 11 am–7 pm weekdays, 10 am–7 pm Saturdays, and noon–5 pm on Sundays.
Mill Valley Music
320 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley CA 94941
(415) 389-9090
www.millvalleymusic.com
Mill Valley Music on Miller Avenue is the spiritual successor to legendary and long-gone Village Music and its always worth a visit. This small storefront is crammed with both used and new vinyl of all different genres, as well as CDs, posters, DVDs, and music memorabilia. There's so much packed into each room that it's sometimes hard to move around and look through all the bins. They usually have a bargain $1 record box right outside the front door that occasionally contains some treasures. Open daily 11 am–6 pm Monday–Saturday, and noon–5 pm Sundays.
Red Devil Records, San Rafael
894 Fourth Street, San Rafael CA 94901
(415) 457-8999
www.reddevilrecords.net
Red Devil Records on Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael specializes in hard-to-find vinyl records, with an emphasis on vintage punk and classic rock. Red Devil has a great selection, a fun atmosphere, and wide range of prices, and it's fun to check out some of the ultra-rare records on display. Open daily, 11 am–6 pm.
Rain Dog Records, Petaluma
1010 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma CA 94952
(707) 776-6187
www.raindogrecords.net
Located in a strip mall on Petaluma's west side, Rain Dog Records has a huge inventory of new and used records as well as CDs, tapes, and rock T-shirts. Their big selection of $2 bargain LPs is well worth spending some time looking through. Open weekdays, noon–6 pm and weekends 11 am–6 pm; closed Tuesdays.
Down Home Music Store, El Cerrito
10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito CA 94530
(510) 525-2129
www.downhomemusic.com
Specializing in roots music, Down Home Music Store in El Cerrito has a huge vinyl room where you can listen to records of all musical genres before you buy them as well as a large inventory of $1 bargain records, CDs, and tapes. They also host live music performances and other community events. Open Wednesday–Sunday, 1–6 pm.
Record Players for the Beginner
It's no secret that you can spend tons of money on a high-end vinyl record turntable setup, but there are affordable options out there for those who want to dive in without breaking the bank. There are also a lot of cheap turntables out there, some of which may even damage your vinyl records. We recommend the Audio Technica LP-60X automatic turntable, which at under $200 sounds way better than it should. You can get an upgraded version with wireless connectivity and stream your tunes right to your Bluetooth headphones or speakers. Another entry-level option is the Fluance RT81 which costs around $300. Or maybe you'll get lucky and find a usable vintage turntable at the thrift store!
