Spin City: The Best Record Stores in Durham, NC

Q: Are there other record stores near Durham worth the drive?

Yes. Raleigh has Schoolkids Records and Sorry State Records. Chapel Hill has CD Alley. Greensboro has Phil's Vinyl and Glenwood Records. For a Triangle weekend, hit all three cities. See our North Carolina directory for the full map.

Table of Contents

Bull City Vinyl: A Scene in Transition
Carolina Soul Records
Hunky Dory Record Store and Bar
Chaz's Bull City Records
Worth the Drive: The Triangle
The One-Day Durham Dig
Tips for Digging Durham
Durham Record Store FAQ

The best record stores in Durham, NC are three independents that each carved out their own corner of the Bull City vinyl scene: an internationally respected soul and funk specialist, a vinyl-plus-beer hangout on Ninth Street, and a 20-year indie that is in its final months. April 2026 is a genuinely interesting moment to visit Durham for records. One era is winding down, another is just starting.

This guide covers every independent brick-and-mortar record store in Durham, with addresses, hours, what each one is known for, and a one-day itinerary that lets you hit all three without running out of gas. Every shop here is locally owned. Every shop here has shaped the Triangle's music scene. And one of them deserves a last visit before the lights go off.

Carolina Soul Records

Downtown117 E Main StRare Soul & Funk

Address: 117 E Main St, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 908-6620
Hours: Mon-Fri 12-7, Sat 11-7, Sun 11-5
Web: carolinasoul.com · also on Discogs

James Brown album covers and posters representing rare soul and funk vinyl — Carolina Soul is the Southeast's reference point for rare soul and funk. Photo by Angelica Teran on Unsplash.

If you care about soul, funk, jazz, or disco on vinyl, Carolina Soul Records is a destination, not just a stop. Located on East Main Street in downtown Durham, they specialize in rare and classic soul, funk, rock, jazz, disco, boogie, gospel, blues, and R&B on LP, 12-inch, and 45 rpm. Plus sought-after shellac 78s for the real deep-catalog hunters. Their inventory runs nearly 10,000 records at any given time, curated by a team that has built a serious international reputation.

That reputation is not just hype. Carolina Soul is one of the most respected soul and funk dealers on the planet, with regular listings on Discogs and eBay that pull bids from Japan, the UK, and across the U.S. The physical shop is where collectors who are serious about these genres come to browse in person. And where walk-in customers end up getting educated about records they did not know they needed.

What to dig for: rare soul 45s, Southern funk, gospel and jazz pressings, deep disco and boogie cuts, and the occasional shellac 78. The staff know what they have and can point you to it. Come in with a want list. Leave with five you never heard of.

Insider tip

Carolina Soul's online inventory is updated constantly and ships worldwide. If you are hunting something specific and cannot make it to Durham, their eBay and Discogs stores are the next best thing. The physical shop is still the best experience, but shoppers in any state can buy from them.

Hunky Dory Record Store and Bar

Est. 2010Ninth StreetVinyl + Beer

Address: 718 9th St, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: (919) 286-1916
Hours: Mon-Thu 12-8, Fri-Sat 12-10, Sun 12-8
Web: hunkydoryvinyl.com

Hunky Dory is the shop that figured out something the rest of the record store world is still slowly catching up to: you can sell records and beer in the same building. Located on Ninth Street near Whole Foods and The Regulator Bookshop, Hunky Dory is the original Durham location (they have since opened a second store), and it leans hard into being a neighborhood hangout for music people.

The shop has two floors of new and used vinyl, a basement lounge, and a fully functional bar with 10 taps of North Carolina beers. You can pull a record off the shelf, grab a pour, and settle in to browse the rest of the stack. The collection spans classic rock, hip hop, jazz, funk, soul, indie, and the usual mix of surprises you get when the buyer is paying attention. They also carry music-themed Durham merch. The kind of hat or tee you actually want to wear.

What to dig for: used classic rock, hip hop, and jazz, curated new releases, and weekly restocks. Also: whatever NC beer is best on the taps that day. Check the downstairs listening station if you want to hear a record before you buy.

Find More Record Stores in North Carolina

Browse every independent record store we have mapped across the Tar Heel State.

North Carolina Record Store Directory

Chaz's Bull City Records

Est. 2005Closing 2026Indie / Rock / Jazz

Address: 124 E Main St, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 251-9762
Closing Hours: Wed-Sat 11-6, Sun 12-5
Web: bullcityrecords.com

Chaz Martenstein opened Bull City Records on East Main Street in 2005 and spent the next two decades building it into one of the Triangle's most trusted indie shops. The selection has always leaned toward rock, indie, garage, punk, psych, jazz, electronic, and hip hop, with a sharp curatorial eye and a small-shop-with-deep-knowledge vibe that regulars have depended on for years.

In March 2026, Chaz announced he is retiring and closing the store. As of this writing, Bull City is running a closing schedule (Wed-Sat 11-6, Sun 12-5) with sales happening through the wind-down period. If you have been to Bull City before, you already know what is about to be lost. If you have not, this is the last window. A 20-year indie closing is a moment. Go say hello, buy a record, and thank Chaz on the way out.

What to dig for during the wind-down: indie and rock catalog at sale prices, the last of the shop's curated used section, and whatever Chaz is putting out on the front table. Cash is appreciated.

Worth the Drive: The Triangle

Durham is the heart of the Triangle, and the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill record store trail is one of the best multi-city digs in the Southeast. If you have a full day or a weekend:

Raleigh, NC (25 minutes east). Schoolkids Records and Sorry State Records are both essential stops. Sorry State is punk-and-hardcore heaven; Schoolkids is the all-genre flagship.
Chapel Hill, NC (15 minutes west). CD Alley is a longtime Franklin Street indie, small but carefully stocked.
Greensboro, NC (55 minutes northwest). Worth a trip for Phil's Vinyl and Glenwood Records.
Brightleaf Square, Durham. Offbeat Music on West Main is worth a look if you are already in the neighborhood. Call ahead for current hours.

The One-Day Durham Dig

Here is the most efficient way to hit the three Durham shops in a single day, respecting each store's pace:

12 p.m. Carolina Soul Records (117 E Main St). They open at noon on weekdays, 11 on weekends. Start here while your focus is sharp. This is not a shop you rush. Budget 90 minutes, longer if you are deep in soul or funk.
1:30 p.m. Lunch downtown. You are two blocks from half of Durham's best food.
2:30 p.m. Chaz's Bull City Records (124 E Main St). Walk there from lunch. It is literally next door to Carolina Soul. Browse the last of the closing inventory, say hello to Chaz if he is in, pick up something you will regret missing later. 45-60 minutes.
3:30 p.m. Drive to Ninth Street (8 minutes). Pull up at Hunky Dory.
4 p.m. Hunky Dory (718 9th St). Two floors, a bar, a basement lounge. This is where you end the day. Browse, pour a beer, settle in. Budget 90 minutes minimum. If it is a Friday or Saturday, stay later. They are open until 10.

Weekend version

If you have a full Saturday, add a morning drive to Raleigh's Schoolkids Records before the Durham run, or finish at Hunky Dory in the evening and drive to Chapel Hill's CD Alley the next morning. The Triangle is a real two-day trip.

Tips for Digging Durham

Park smart. Downtown Durham street parking is metered and fills up. The CCB Plaza deck a few blocks away is the safer bet.
Ninth Street is walkable. Park once, hit Hunky Dory, then walk to The Regulator Bookshop or Cocoa Cinnamon next door.
Cash helps. Especially at Bull City during the closing sales.
Protect your haul. Durham summers run hot and humid. Do not leave records in a hot car. Full vinyl storage guide here.
Check socials the morning of. Bull City's closing hours may shift. Hunky Dory sometimes runs late for events.
Follow up online. Carolina Soul's Discogs listings drop daily. Set alerts for artists you collect.

Browse the Full Directory

Every independent record store in the U.S., organized by state.

Record Store Directory

Durham Record Store FAQ

What is the best record store in Durham, NC?

Carolina Soul Records on East Main Street is Durham's flagship. Internationally respected for rare soul, funk, jazz, disco, and R&B. Hunky Dory on Ninth Street is the Durham hangout: vinyl plus beer, two floors, classic rock and hip hop. Chaz's Bull City Records is the long-running indie on East Main, though as of spring 2026 it is in its closing wind-down.

How many record stores are in Durham, NC?

Three independent brick-and-mortar record stores are currently open in Durham: Carolina Soul Records, Hunky Dory Record Store and Bar, and Chaz's Bull City Records. Bull City is in its announced closing wind-down as of spring 2026, so the Durham scene is actively changing. See the full North Carolina directory for the wider state list.

Is Bull City Records closing?

Yes. Owner Chaz Martenstein announced in March 2026 that he is retiring and closing Bull City Records after 20 years. The store remains open on a reduced closing schedule (Wed-Sat 11-6, Sun 12-5) with sales during the wind-down period. If you have been meaning to go, this is the time. Bull City has been a fixture of the Triangle music scene since 2005.

Why is Durham called Bull City?

Durham earned the Bull City nickname from Bull Durham Tobacco, the tobacco brand that made the city famous in the late 1800s. The bull became the city's unofficial mascot, and you will see it on everything. Breweries, sports teams (the Durham Bulls), street art, and yes, record stores. The Bull City name is core to Durham's identity.

Does Carolina Soul Records ship internationally?

Yes. Carolina Soul is internationally known for its rare soul, funk, and jazz catalog and ships worldwide through their website, eBay, and Discogs stores. The Durham storefront at 117 E Main St is the physical shop, but serious collectors anywhere can buy from their online inventory. Their Discogs store is updated daily.

What does Hunky Dory have on tap?

Hunky Dory runs 10 taps of North Carolina beers alongside its vinyl inventory. The store is designed as a neighborhood hangout with a basement lounge, two floors of records, and a bar you can actually browse from. It is the rare record store where you can legitimately make an afternoon of it. Tap list rotates. Check their website or socials for current pours.

Do Durham record stores participate in Record Store Day?

Yes. Hunky Dory and Carolina Soul are regular RSD participants. Bull City Records was a long-time RSD participant before its closing announcement. Check each shop's socials the week of Record Store Day for specific open times and exclusive stock. See our how to shop Record Store Day guide before you go.

Where can I find rare soul records in Durham?

Carolina Soul Records is the destination. They specialize in rare and classic soul, funk, jazz, disco, boogie, gospel, blues, and R&B on LP, 12-inch, and 45 rpm formats. The shop also carries highly sought-after shellac 78s. Few shops in the Southeast rival their depth in these genres, and their staff know the catalog inside and out.

Are there other record stores near Durham worth the drive?

Yes. Raleigh (25 minutes) has Schoolkids Records and Sorry State Records. Chapel Hill (15 minutes) has CD Alley. Greensboro (55 minutes) has Phil's Vinyl and Glenwood Records. The Triangle is one of the best multi-city record store trails in the Southeast. For the wider map, see our full North Carolina directory.

Can I sell vinyl records in Durham, NC?

Carolina Soul Records buys both new and used soul, funk, jazz, and R&B collections and is known for fair pricing. Hunky Dory buys used vinyl across genres. Bull City Records is winding down but may still be buying during its closing period. Call ahead. For all three shops, phone or email ahead before bringing a large collection so the buyer has time to appraise it properly.

What is the oldest record store in Durham, NC?

Chaz's Bull City Records, founded in 2005, is the longest-running of the current Durham independents. With its 2026 closing, Hunky Dory (opened 2010) becomes the senior independent shop in the Bull City, followed by Carolina Soul Records. Durham has had a rotating cast of independents over the years. Schoolkids Records Durham was a long-time fixture before closing in 2018.

The Bull City has always punched above its weight for records. Go see it.

Photo CreditsHero image: Photo by Sara Aurora Cimminiello on Unsplash. Carolina Soul Records section image: Photo by Angelica Teran on Unsplash. Carolina Soul Records logo courtesy of Carolina Soul Records. Hunky Dory logo courtesy of Hunky Dory Record Store and Bar. Chaz's Bull City Records logo courtesy of Bull City Records. Store addresses, hours, and store histories sourced from each shop's official website and verified Yelp/Google listings as of April 2026.

The Best Record Stores in Durham, NC

Carolina Soul Records