CAAAAN YOOOOU DIIIIIIG IT? Poo-Bah can!…read more Poo-Bah Record Shop is a time machine disguised as a music store, and let me tell you--it's the place for anyone who appreciates good tunes and even better customer service. My recent visit felt like stepping into a live Spotify mixtape, and here's why. I went in on a mission: find some records as a Christmas gift for a high schooler who's super smart, learning to play piano by ear, and whose taste in music is a mystery to me. No pressure, right? I grabbed a couple of records with piano-heavy tracks and headed home. But something told me, "Maybe give these a spin before handing them off." Glad I did--one of the albums had lyrics I wasn't exactly keen on giving to a kid. Determined to support a small business (because, let's face it, every dollar counts more there), I went back to see about an exchange. Walking in, I braced myself for an awkward return situation. I explained my dilemma at the counter, saying I didn't want a refund but was open to suggestions. And that's when the magic happened. The guy at the register immediately hopped off and started digging through records to find something more suitable. Then, the owner joined in--tag-teaming the search like Billy Taylor and Quincy Jones putting together a jazz masterpiece. They didn't just recommend records; they curated options with the care of someone arranging the perfect piano solo. At one point, I half-expected Ray Charles to pop out from behind the counter, saying, "Now this is how you dig Baby!" They found me some Count Basie to keep things swinging, threw in some Modern Jazz Quartet for that cool, intellectual vibe, and made me rethink my entire approach to gift-giving. I walked out with four records instead of two, grinning like a kid at their first jam session. These folks didn't just help me solve a gifting problem; they brought me back to a time when crate-digging was an art form and music was the language of discovery. As a former DJ, I know the joy of unearthing hidden gems, and Poo-Bah's team shares that same passion and knowledge. If you're into music and crave a place where the love for it runs deep, Poo-Bah Record Shop is it. This place isn't just a record store; it's a soundtrack to the golden era of music and a reminder of why we love vinyl in the first place.

I like coming here to add to my vinyl collection. You can find a lot of interesting records for…read more$2-4, and I enjoy discovering new artists for myself here. The staff is very engaged and polite.

This store was on our random path we were walking one day and we dropped in! It was a nostalgic…read moretrip to the good old days when you bought music products that you can grasp and hold in your hands. There was a bunch of CDs, vinyl and record players. I was kinda hoping they would have metal artist pins, but I get it, it's a music store, not a memorabilia shop. Totally worth a trip to warm your heart and fill your ears with great tunes!

I visited this place many times and they're very friendly and helpful and they help me order things…read moreI need.

What a great introduction to Pasadena. First time in town, I stumbled across this store. Love the…read morewhole vibe of the store. The selection is great and found some rarities from the few sections I was able to look through. It's refreshing to find used bookstores like this. Wish I had more time to look through. I will be coming back. The shop owner is very friendly as well!

Lots of books. A few records. Friendly service. Things are kinda in disarray but that adds…read morecharacter to the store. Decently priced. The guy at his desk is friendly. And they do take credit cards!

I can't say enough how special this place is to me. Amazing little thriving record store - that is…read moreactively adding to their collection. Everything is very curated. I'm so happy to spend my money and time there. Katie and Shane and Daily and the others that work there are great people and happy to talk about and recommend music. I live in the area and they've made life better.

Been following this record shop for a while on IG and finally made the trip up for my birthday…read more Getting there was a bit frustrating- GPS took me to the wrong side of the building, and calling for directions wasn't very helpful. For some reason the person on the phone was frustrated pretty quick. Once inside, the space was clean and spacious, but no music playing. Unfortunately, the selection felt pretty limited and not fully stocked, so there wasn't much to dig through this time. Cool shop overall, just not the vibe for me on this day.

A video store for all of us intellectual movie nerds!…read more Videotheque sells some new and used DVDs and Blu-Rays, but their main purpose of being is as a video rental store and it's like no other video store I've been too. Their videos are organized by how a cinema fan's mind works. By category, by country, by director. John Woo movies in the Hong Kong director's section. Hou Hsiao-Hsien in Taiwan. There's classic porn from the 70s, 80s and 90s. There are Criterion discs. There are John Huston movies, Godard movies, Wim Wenders and David Lynch. Dario Argento horror movies. Sci-fi. Pre Sci-fi. Post Sci-fi. Brazilian. African. Silent films... I could go on and on. If you are looking for an obscure out of print classic film that's not on streaming, there's an 80% chance that you can find it here to rent. There is street parking nearby. The problem? I live in OC and this place is in Mount Washington/Montecito Heights. So if I move down there, I'll be renting some unheard of movies, that's for sure!

This is a movie rental place. I know hard to find now days. They do sell some stuff. It is really…read morefun to look through all the movies they have. Most everything is dvd, but they have blu-ray and 4k too. I liked talking to the staff about their stock. They had some stuff that I'm been looking for rent. They said the they move all the shelves around so they can have a movie night where they bring out a projector. I recommend this place if you got the time. They do seem to have most every that I asked for.

Located next to the 99 Ranch Market. They have a lot of household products and Chinese things like…read morecalendars, red envelopes, etc. They also sell some clothes. Very convenient to pick up some items that I need from here.

I shopped here and they have such interesting items. Lots of goods from China. They have Chinese…read morered envelopes for a good price. I got a birthday card for my grandma here and it was under 1 dollar. Chun Kwok was the cashier and she gave good service.

A gem! So happy we…read morestumbled upon Book Alley after brunch. It looks small from the street view, but it's a whole treat as soon as you step in. Upon entering you see a cool collection of records and CDs. They also have a wonderful selection of books and friendly staff. I could spend forever getting lost in this place.

This is my kind of bookstore. There is plenty of free street parking so you have no excuses…read more They have mostly used books but I found a couple of long sought after new ones, too. The used books are generally in very good condition. They also buy books so bring in your old stuff and you might get lucky (we scored $15 which, of course, went right back to the store after we selected a bunch of stuff to buy). They have LPs and some CDs near the front. The CDs weren't great but the LPs are worth browsing. If you are looking for vintage pulp fiction or sci-fi, they have you covered. The prices are not cheap, nor should they be. I did find the prices of the new and used books to be very reasonable. For booklovers, put this one high on your list if you are in or near Pasadena. You could easily and happily spend a couple hours (and a couple hundred bucks) here.

Alexandria Bookstore is one of those rare places that feels magical the moment you walk in. The…read moreselection is thoughtfully curated, with everything from spiritual and metaphysical books to unique gifts and meaningful finds you don't see everywhere else. The atmosphere is calm, welcoming, and full of character. You can take your time browsing without feeling rushed, and there's something about the energy of the space that feels grounding and inspiring at the same time. The staff is kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful if you're looking for something specific or just exploring. It's the kind of bookstore you leave feeling a little lighter and more connected. A true Pasadena treasure. I always find something meaningful here.

I was in the area and did a search for a metaphysical shop and Yelp pointed me to Alexandria II and…read moreit did not disappoint. I went looking for some smokey quartz and left with not only that but also several pieces of jewelry, a book, a tarot deck and a few other odds and ends. When I tell you I was like a kid in a candy store I'm not exaggerating. Service was a little off at first but in the end I was able to get help looking at some jewelry in a locked case. Will definitely be back.

Originally came to Book Off because I saw it had merchandise from Tokyo Sea. Apparently so did…read moreeveryone else. By the time I came, all the good merch were sold out. But no fear, they have so many other items to choose from. They offer books, collectable figurines, old game consoles and games, vinyls, and many other items. Some are Japanese related but not all of them are. I would say it's a pretty good sized store and everything is organized and labeled. It's fun rummaging through the boxes to see what goodies one might find, remember that this is a used book store so most items are pre-loved. I didn't get any Tokyo Sea items but I did get a pre-loved well kept Japanese Pressed vinyl of Air Supply's greatest hits! Priced at only $19, I thought it was a great find. Clean, well organized, lots of things to go through. Definitely a place worth checking out if you like hunting for treasure.

This is our first visit to Book Off. We are normally not just hanging around in Monterey Park, but…read morewe had a lot of time this visit and I love a bookstore. This is mostly used books. They also have CDs and other items. They have a great selection of books. Their prices are a tad high, but not insane. It is my understanding that they don't pay much for books you bring into sell, but I have found that to be true where ever I go. I just don't bother anymore and give my books away. The service is great. They know where the books are, there are so many, and they will actually help you and not just point in some direction. Parking is easy and free. The place is packed with books, but you can get through with no problem. I found a couple of books that I did not have and have not had the chance to read. All in all I was very happy.

I visited Vroman's Bookstore during a girls trip to Pasadena, and it turned out to be such a fun…read moresurprise. We initially expected a typical bookstore, but it's so much more than that. As one of the oldest independent bookstores in California, it has a really special charm. Inside, there's a wine bar, a coffee shop, and even a cute gift shop upstairs, which makes it easy to spend a lot of time browsing and relaxing. While I was there, I got to listen to an author present her book and answer questions, which added such a unique and memorable touch to the visit. The store was busy, and you could really feel how much people enjoyed being there. The layout is well organized, making it easy to find books by genre. Upstairs, there's a spacious children's section, which is great for families. I also loved the section featuring Orson Welles books and posters. It was a really cool and unexpected addition. Overall, Vroman's is more than just a bookstore as it's an experience. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area!

Always a great night out to hear from authors. There's usually something interesting going on…read moreupstairs or in the wine bar! Let's do the numbers. PARKING There's a free lot out back. Plenty of spaces for everyone. SELECTION there's more than enough for me in my regular sections, but there are tons of sections I don't usually peruse. Like "wind chimes" and "backpack" sections . If you're looking, they even have snacks for your next read STAFF super helpful and friendly. If they don't know your book (they do), they'll ask a coworker who will know it and have all the extra details you didn't know to ask for. PRICE better than affordable: Supportive! (Readers and writers communities) SPACE There are a ton of accessible open aisles. Huge space outside (maybe for outdoor events?)