The Sorta Definitive Guide to Washington, DC area music stores

last modified 2008-08-31

This is a list, inspired by this DCist post and the resulting comments, of record stores in the DC megalopolis--with a special emphasis on small-time, indie-type places. Please let me know if there are others that should be added to this list! If you like, you can also leave a comment here with new places. Thanks!

To see these music stores and more on a Google Maps-style interface, check out this site

The District Proper

Dupont Circle

• Melody Records (1623 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009)
• Second Story Books and Antiques (2000 P St. NW) [thanks Mike]
• Olsson's Books and Records (1307 19th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036)

U Street

• Red Onion Records & Books (1901 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009) [thanks Daniel]
• Som Records (1843 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009) [thanks Neal]

Adams Morgan

• Crooked Beat Records (2318 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009)
• CD Gameexchange (2475 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009)
• Smash Records (2314 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009)

Shaw

• Tiny collection of records at the info/merch/indie bookstore in the basement of the Flemming Center (1426 9th St. NW)

Tenleytown

• CD Gameexchange (4533 Wisconsin Ave. NW)

Burbs

College Park, MD

• CDepot (9039 Baltimore Ave.)
• CD Gameexchange (4433 Lehigh Rd.)

Rockville, MD

• Joe's Record Paradise (1300 East Guide Dr., Rockville, MD 20850)

Silver Spring, MD

• CD Gameexchange (8236 Georgia Ave.)

Baltimore, MD

• Not a burb really, but where else do you want it?
• Sound Garden (1616 Thames St.) - a mecca. There's one in Syracuse, NY, too.

Northern Virginia

Arlington

• Orpheus Records (3173 Wilson Blvd. - Clarendon -- CLOSING SOON! GO AND BUY MUSIC!)
• CD Cellar (2614 Wilson Blvd. - Clarendon) Phone: (703) 248-0635
• Olsson's Books and Records (2200-G Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202)
• Olsson's Books and Records (National Airport, Terminal C, Arlington, VA 20001)
• Olsson's Books and Records (2111 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201)
• Olsson's Books and Records (106 S. Union St., Alexandria, VA 22314)

Falls Church

• CD Cellar (709 W Broad St.) Phone: (703) 534-6318

Fairfax

• Record and Tape Exchange (9448 Main St.) [CDs/Vinyl/VHS/DVDs. classical too. right next to Trader Joe's.] [thanks Derek]

Annandale

• Strangeland Records (7203 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003) [small vinyl collection, mostly punk/electronic] [thanks Devo]

Other burbs/misc.

• Montgomery County Library Friends stores (cheap vinyl & 78s)
• Blue Dog CDs & Tapes (1019 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA) [decent used selection] [thanks Derek]