Illinois RSD FAQ
How many record stores are in Illinois?
Illinois has roughly 113 active record stores from the Wisconsin line down to the St. Louis metro. Chicago alone holds thirty-four shops, eighteen Half Price Books locations spread across the suburbs, and downstate clusters anchor Champaign, Bloomington, Peoria, Rockford, and Alton. The Chicago metro spills naturally into Indiana and Wisconsin, and the southern-Illinois shops in Alton and Belleville sit across the river from the Missouri scene.
What are the best record stores in Chicago?
Reckless Records runs three Chicago locations (Lakeview, the Loop, and Wicker Park) and remains the city’s most-trafficked indie chain. Dusty Groove on Ashland in Wicker Park has been operating since 2001 and is one of the country’s most respected used shops. Beverly Records on Western Avenue has been the South Side anchor since 1967. Around the neighborhoods, Shuga Records, Saki in Logan Square, Bric-a-Brac Records in Avondale, and Permanent Records Roadhouse in Avondale fill out the heavy-hitter list.
Where do you find blues, jazz, hip-hop, and house records in Chicago?
Chicago is the birthplace of both electric blues and house music, and the record-shop map reflects that. Bob’s Blues & Jazz Mart is the city’s specialist for the blues and jazz catalog Chicago basically invented. Gramaphone Records on West Belmont has been the house, techno, and DJ-vinyl anchor for decades. Hyde Park Records sits a few blocks from the University of Chicago and carries deep jazz and soul alongside its general stock, while Dave’s Records in Lakeview keeps a tightly curated rock and jazz selection.
Best record stores in the Chicago suburbs?
Audiophil’s Records at 76 N Chicago Street in downtown Joliet nearly tripled its floor space after the 2024 move from Rialto Square. Vinyl Frontier Records on West Elm Street in McHenry replaced its smaller Riverside Drive shop. Kiss The Sky in Batavia covers the western Fox Valley, The Old School Records relocated to Maywood in August 2025 after twenty-two years in Forest Park, and Reef Records in Antioch holds down the far north end near the Wisconsin line.
Does Illinois participate in Record Store Day?
Yes. Chicago is the largest indie-shop market in the Midwest, and its indie storefronts are mainstays of the annual Record Store Day drop every April. Reckless Records, Dusty Groove, Shuga Records, Saki, and Permanent Records Roadhouse all draw the Chicago RSD crowd on event weekend. Check the official Record Store Day store locator each spring for the current Illinois participant list.
Where can you find rare and collectible vinyl in Illinois?
Beverly Records in Chicago has been pulling estate collections since 1967 and keeps a deep used wall. Dusty Groove on Ashland is the city’s most internationally known dealer, supplying soul, funk, jazz, and Latin rarities to collectors worldwide through its online catalog and Wicker Park shop. Audiophil’s Records in Joliet runs a serious audiophile and used wall in its expanded Joliet space, and Hyde Park Records near the University of Chicago is the go-to for jazz first pressings on the South Side.
Best record stores in downstate Illinois?
Downstate Illinois carries its own scene around the university towns. Reverberation Vinyl on North Main in Bloomington is the Twin Cities anchor for Bloomington-Normal, and Error Records on South Neil Street and Exile On Main Street on North Chestnut split the Champaign-Urbana college crowd. Down in southern Illinois, Plaza Records on South Illinois Avenue handles the Carbondale and SIU trade.
What about Belleville, Alton, and the St. Louis-side shops?
The southern-Illinois shops directly across the river from St. Louis make their own metro scene. Alton alone holds three: Rediscovered Records and Score! Records on East Broadway, plus Slackers Music Movies Games inside Alton Square Mall. Big Finger Records on East Main in Belleville covers the south end of the Illinois Metro East, and the same Slackers chain also runs locations in Fairview Heights and Glen Carbon for used CDs, DVDs, and games.