(Shopped 09/17/2026 TH @ 4:00pm): Nothing but tasty tunes at this music shop!…read more In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes and things to do throughout Jersey City (specifically the Heights) and by extension nearby Hoboken, I found the only music store in the area... Tunes Hoboken. If you knew me, my primary travel trinity once I had my feet on the ground included beer, cuisine, and music. Independent music stores were rapidly becoming extinct with the proliferation of digital media, but with the resurgence of vinyl records thanks to hipsters, some of these shops had a fighting chance. Opened in December 1995 by then co-owners Chip Heuisler and a friend, it became solely owned by Heuisler in 2018, and as of this review was celebrating more than 30 years in business. Was I able to find the right tunes to keep my head bobbing and my toes tapping!? PURCHASE(S) Jeff Buckley "Live At Sin-é" New Deluxe 2CD Set ($17.99): An awesome version with more previously-unreleased songs than its original issue. M. Ward "A Wasteland Companion" Used CD ($4.99): My first CD purchase of his, and it had a nice moody vibe. The Revivalists "Get It Honest" Used CD ($8.99): Their latest release of good Southern soulful rock music. "Lilith Fair A Celebration Of Women In Music" Used 2CD Set ($3.99): With Olivia Rodrigo's recent "Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival", I was psyched to find this relic that I attended in its second year. "Thumbsucker" Soundtrack Used CD ($3.99): Familiar with this film, it had cool music by The Polyphonic Spree and Elliott Smith. Ben Folds Five "Ben Folds Five 30th Anniversary Re-Issue" New Deluxe 2CD Set ($21.99): As a fan, this was my first purchase of their music, and a special one of their first release. Madeleine Peyroux "Careless Love" Used CD ($1.00): Also a fan and my first purchase of her music, she was the pre-Laufey, and it was a fun listen. Bumper Sticker ($2.00): I loved stickers and proudly stuck them on the walls of other shops if available. Logo T-Shirt Grey M ($20.00): Not that I needed ANOTHER t-shirt, this was for support and to promote them back home. SERVICE Casually greeted by a young man at the front counter as I entered, I was then left to my own devices as I slowly looked through every bin, rack, and shelf for anything that caught my attention. There were a handful of employees, but the same person rang me up as we chit-chatted about the shop. They also did mail order and provided special orders. I was fine with the hands-off approach - rock on! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): This was a moot point since I walked the slightly flat-to-downhill leisure 25-minute distance from my friend's place. No parking lots in sight, there seemed to be plenty of spots along the main drag of Washington St. and all surrounding side streets - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A compact one-level floorplan with bins, crates, racks and shelves thoroughly stocked with cassettes, CDs, vinyls, DVDs, and more, while other items and materials were displayed from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. The back half of the store was dedicated to vinyl records while the front half dealt with everything else. A decent amount of natural lighting filtered through the front glass doors and windows while electric ceiling track lights filled in the rest. There weren't any TVs while an eclectic mix of music played in the background. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I was so happy to visit Tunes Hoboken, and I would definitely return the next time I was in town. I loved scouring independent music shops one bin at a time for bargains, new artists to try, anything to fill in my collection, any odds-and-ends, and more. I lived in L.A. where Amoeba Music was my music church, but these indie shops always had a vibe of their own albeit limited in scale and quantity. Plus, I always preferred to support small mom & pop businesses. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $89.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

Each time I come here I learn something new. Thank goodness to their staff informing me and…read moreanswering my questions. They're terrific! I wasn't looking for anything specific but found and bought a vinyl very unique and endearing to me. I also found out their store hours: 12-7. I usually pass by at different times so I wasn't sure of their hours. I'm happy for this place. Keep going!!

I mean. I spend hundreds of $ on CDs. I've spent over $500 on this trip this week alone…read more I've never been in such a disaster of a store. Can't find anything, can't see anything and can't get to anything. I would have probably bought a lot. I walked out after 10 minutes as it was like trying to find a spanner in a garage. Hopeless. Either sort out your stock so people can at least start to try and find things, or face the fact you'll end up clos

This ace is a throwback to a time when vinyl, 45s, and CDs ruled the music world…read more Large selection of vinyl across all categories. Hard to find items too such as cassettes and DVDs of old TV shows. Some great stuff in here and you can spend hours perusing the cabinets holding all the albums. The proprietor is also really knowledgeable and can help you find what you're looking for.

Princeton Record Exchange is the kind of place that convinces you the past did not entirely lose…read moreit's argument with the present. Walking in makes me feel like I'm stepping back into the 90s, when music required effort and curiosity and a willingness to be wrong about what you thought you liked. They have everything. Records, tapes, CDs, and yes, even DVDs and VHS tapes, like artifacts from a civilization that understood patience. The selection is not just large, it is deep in the way a good conversation is deep. Jazz standards sit comfortably alongside obscure classical recordings. Somewhere nearby is a Japanese scream band you have never heard of but suddenly feel compelled to investigate. What makes the place work is the staff. These aren't people who ended up here by accident. They're here because they love music in a way that can't be faked. Ask for something familiar and they will find it. Ask for something strange and they will find it too, and then suggest three more things you didn't know you needed. It reminds me of the record stores I grew up in, back when discovering music felt like a small personal victory instead of an algorithm handing you a suggestion like a fortune cookie with better branding. Streaming may have made everything available, but it also made everything feel the same. This place resists that. It insists that music is still worth searching for, still worth holding in your hands, still worth talking about with another human being. Go here. Spend more time than you intended. Trade in something you hope others will discover as you once did. Leave with something unexpected. That's the whole point. Five stars, and I don't give them lightly, because enthusiasm is a finite resource and should be spent where it matters.

Gem in Princeton! This is a funky little place with lots of cool stuff. Records, CDs, cassettes,…read morevideos, posters, really anything related to music. Everything was priced well or cheap! There were some amazing finds if vinyl is your thing:) Worth a visit!

Amazing store, so many options,great prices and amazing staff! Get ready to loose a couple of…read morehours! So worth the trip!

This record store is great. I typically go to Jack's in Red Bank and I had never been to this…read moreplace. I'll tell you, this place blows Jack's away. The collection of used records for sale is much better. The prices are fair considering the quality and variety offered. Lower quality records are priced lower, better records are a bit more. Just as it should be. I was in a week after I had been a previous time and was impressed with the new stock they picked up in only a week. I'm not sure what the record turnover is, but it seems if you go every couple of weeks, it could be worth it if you just want to "see what's new". Great gear for sale as well. I'm a fan.

I know a lot of you here live quite far from Marine Park/Sheepshead Bay/Gravesend, but if you want…read moreused records, Zig Zag is the place to go. Luckily for me, I live in the neighborhood west of here. I've always ignored this spot for years due to the insanely outdated and weathered posters (really horrible ones, too). However, I manned up and walked in about a year and a half ago and I must say: this place is great. It turns out that Zig Zag is quite historic. Back in the early 80s, heavy metal had its glory days here in Brooklyn. L'Amour's was the place to be and Zig Zag was the place to get records... and meet your favorite bands. It's hard to believe that bands like Metallica, Motorhead, and Venom all stepped through that door at one point. Stan, the guy who works there, has basically seen it all and has not given up his 80s days just yet. As for the actual selection of goods: it's just like any other used record store. You win some, and you lose some. Because this place has diminished into obscurity over the last 20 years, all of the super rare stuff is left untouched and hidden underneath everything else. The prices are a bit high ($12 average for a used record?) though the price is worth it for some records. How Stan manages to keep this place in business after all these years blows my mind. I know he does a lot of EBay-ing, but damn! He must kick ass at it. All in all, this place is filled with unexplored treasures and is definitely worth your time especially if you are a collector of classic rock, classic heavy metal, and everything else related to that from the 60s-80s. Oh, there are CDs too but who cares about that plastic crap?

Another one bites the dust…read more I used to shop here during my teen years. I'm quite sure it had an awesome Metal collection. However, I used to buy Post-Punk and 80s Goth vinyl here. Many times it would be cheaper at Zig Zag than some of the stores in the Village. Well, good music is officially dead. In the age of auto-tuned crap, the bell tolls for another fallen indie store. R.I.P.

True Believers (Located inside Menlo Park Mall)…read more55 Parsonage Rd. Edison, NJ 08837 If you are a millennial and want to relive your past time, this vintage toy store is right up your alley. This location specializes in action figures, statues, retro home consoles, and other keepsakes. As I entered the store, it had the feel of a museum because many items are not available in retail stores. I was especially impressed with the detail of the action figures. The characteristics of each trait are handcrafted perfectly and I can guarantee you will instantly recognize each specific trait. There is a diverse variety of additional merchandise in True Believers. An entire wall is filled Funko Pop! vinyl figures. Although I don't collect any cards, there are many Pokémon trading cards available; they are surprisingly valuable. The video game systems will also keep you entertained. Engage in the Game Boy or neutralize the bad guys with the Nintendo Zapper; now you are playing with power! Although I currently am not in the market for any novelties, it was still a neat experience exploring this store. It is a must visit for true believer that is young at heart. #truebelievers #menloparkmall

I decided to come into this store to see if they had a toy that one of my nephews wanted for…read moreChristmas. The store looked clean, and some areas are organized while other areas were a mess. Pricing: The prices can vary depending on what kind of item you are looking to purchase. Some items are bit overpriced for no reason at all. Items: They have all sorts of items from Funko pops, plushies, video games, hot wheels, Pokemon cards, and etc. The staff: They do not know where the items come from and say that people just sell them anything. When you ask them about selling a toy to them, they give you mixed information. One staff member said to contact them on Facebook on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Another staff member said to contact them on Instagram on Monday and Thursday. When you ask them if it would be cash or store credit they say either is fine. They also do not guarantee that your item can be sold to them even though they say that they buy anything and everything. Overall: The staff members should be knowledgeable about their store and the items they buy and sell. This store is good if you want to buy something once or twice but not all time due to the high pricing for some items.

My 15-year-old daughter has recently gotten into vinyl records and wanted to support a Black-owned…read morebusiness, so we decided to check out this shop in Middlesex. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcome. The staff was friendly and took the time to explain that customers are welcome to bring in their own vinyl records and spin them, or use records from the shop's collection. I thought that was a really cool touch and something you don't see every day. The store itself is on the smaller side, but don't let that fool you. They have a surprisingly good selection of used vinyl at reasonable prices, along with a nice assortment of CDs and cassette tapes. The atmosphere felt authentic, relaxed, and centered around a genuine love of music. If you're into vinyl, looking for something different, or just want to support a local Black-owned business, this place is definitely worth a visit.

Along with a huge selection of vinyl & CDs at great prices, there is a ton of classic books and…read morememorabilia! If you can't find it there, ask Randy!

I took my teenage grandson to Randy Now's Man Cave this week in Hightstown NJ - He is a BIG Beatles…read morefan and fan of other artists from the 60's an 70's. As we walked in I felt like I was a teenager myself - a trip for sure down memory lane. The selection of vinyls and memorabilia was amazing - and Randy was such a great person to meet and talk with. He had such awesome stories to share with my grandson and I. If you are a music lover or collector take the time to visit this store - you won't be disappointed. I look forward to visiting Randy's store again with my grandson. The town itself I learned from Randy is filled with it's own history and stories.