Lou's Records in the early to mid 90s was the best record store in southern California. The left side had the new vinyl and CDs, and the right side (their current store) was were you took your used CDs to sell/trade. I used to go every weekend to check out the new releases display at the front of the store, buying albums solely based on the label (Matador, Sub Pop, Touch & Go, etc.). It was an incredibly vibrant store. read more

I never post a negative review, but seriously the experience was so weird. Went to this record store to shop around and maybe sell some old records I inherited from family. Most of the records in the store are pretty expensive, which is understandable, it's not a bad collection; but overall the experience was bad. The store owner was super condescending, not only to me and my partner but the couple that checked out ahead of us in line as well. It's a record shop man, what's with the horrible vibes?? Won't be returning. read more

I was told today that they aren't buying records for the rest of the year. Then maybe take down the message on your Google page that says you are buying records until you are actually buying them! They open at noon which is rather late and they don't answer the phone before they open so I wasted gas getting here. I'm pretty sure they would not have offered me much even though I brought some rare records. The parking lot if you even want to call it that is microscopic. I witnessed technical issues via their POS system just by standing in line for a few minutes. Overall avoid Lou like the plague read more

Glad to see this mecha for audiophiles is still doing well! Easily reached off the Pacific coast highway 101 in Encinitas. Limited parking. A slight musty/dusty smell greets you as you enter, but one adapts quickly and at least the front door stays open to let in fresh air. Welcoming vibe, accessible organization of merchandise including lots of Lou's merch (hats, shirts, stickers, mugs, tote bags). Few staff, knowledgeable and helpful, generally stay up front at counter, so go there for questions. With the resurgent popularity of records, there is a smaller inventory of CDs at this time, which makes sense. Standard prices for records. read more

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These folks are low key and easy to talk to. They absolutely approachable and know their music. Selection is not always the best depending on the genre, but I find that they have a great jazz section and local artists section. You'll occasionally find things here that I can't find online after years of searching and they have enough influence to get some rare pressings. They've managed to keep the old school beach town vibe from the 80's intact even with so much change around them. My only beef with them is that they have a no drinks rule that some enforce and others don't and so I'm taking a star. It's a valid rule, but most of my enjoyment going there is the vibe and enjoying my coffee from nearby Pannikin Coffee as I thumb through searching for a gem. They lose a sale every time I'm asked to leave it outside. Small issue but it's my preference. read more

Great find here in Encinitas. Solid selection of old and new. Super nice staff (owner?). My daughter was able to find what she wanted and I was able to find what I wanted. Even though there is construction, it is open. read more

Nostalgia, all day, every day. I don't live in the past, I just want to bring all the good parts with me into the future. The way they do it on " Stranger Things". There is not much that beats live music. Lou's has been known to be a host site for local live break out performances. My father was a collector of vinyl, even interviewed on the topic. Music was always played on the next electronic device in the home. Memories of people, places and things stay with us through time, space and music. So, go to Lou's any day but especially on record store day. Pick up some pieces of you here: past, present and future. Note: I picked up Joe Stummer's record day release. #Luecadia #LousRecords #RecordStoreDay #Strummerville read more

Lou's Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Encinitas, California

This place is so fun and well stocked! I lined up on Black Friday early in the morning and unfortunately did not get the record I wanted, but still had a great time. The staff used a number system so at a certain time, those in line would receive a number and then come back at a later time to buy what they want. They kept us updated through Instagram on where they were in line. read more

Lou's Records - Waiting outside - Music & DVDs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Lou's is the vinyl store of record in San Diego. Every member of every notable band from San Diego grew up shopping at Lou's, where they got all the music that influenced their careers and songwriting. And all of that music was curated by Lou's notoriously specialized staff--each a walking encyclopedia of all genres of music. I started shopping at Lou's in 1982, and having traveled the world and shopped at many of the fabled record stores across the US and Europe, none has compared to the quality and selection of Lou's. It's more than a local institution, it's nurtured generations of San Diegans who continue to enjoy evolve our musical tastes, and continue to rely on Lou's to have what we seek or to recommend something new. Because for more than 40 years, it always has. read more

Lou's Records - Pro freestyle skater Per Holknekt skating in front of the old Lou's location in downtown Encinitas in the early 80s. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Lou's is awesome !!! Always check it out if you happen to be in the area . They have a great selection. Amber and I love Lou's records !!!! read more

Lou's Records - Some of the items Lou's has ! - Music & DVDs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Very good selection and the biggest record store I've ever been to. It has everything. The service is incredible and the staff know their music very well. An amazing value as well and I can't find a lower price for most of the records I end up buying there. read more

Records galore! And super well organized stocked with a lot of epic new records and to a lesser degree a bunch of great used records. In the area from the San Francisco Bay and dig this record shop! read more

Just to help, if your traveling south and you go passed the round about, you missed it. Turn around, don't get frustrated, you'll be rewarded if a vinyl enthusiast. If you're looking for used vinyl, I would say you would probably be disappointed. But if you're looking for new pressings, this is your place. What an incredible selection of all genres of music. read more

Such a cool place with very nice people. Amazing selection and very fair prices. Lou's is a great for anyone that loves albums, CD's and nostalgia. read more

This place was great! Decent selection of records, cd's, vhs's and dvd's. Prices are fair, and the staff were friendly. If you're in the area, I would recommend stopping by to browse the selection. read more

Best record store I've ever been to, if you like obscure rock music and are a music nerd in general this is 100% the place to go. They had really cool options that I NEVER see anywhere else like Seam, Mary Timony, These Arms Are Snakes etc, and the store is really big and neat. The workers don't really interact with you or anything (they didn't even say hi when I walked in lol) but the options are really fantastic, you can tell that whoever sources the records actually loves music read more

Great selection! I came here when I was just starting to build my record collection and I ended up finding my favorite album of all time.

My friends and I (High School - in the 80's) used to take joy rides up the coast from Solana Beach to Lou's all the time. This was our go-to . . . We've all seen the record industry change and most large brick and mortars go down in the last 20ish years, but I'm so happy to see that Lou's has held on. Now there's lines every time I go in again! Yay! I still love going through album covers - the art, the large photos etc. Once again, we're collecting vinyls. Thank you for always being so helpful - staff is awesome. Keep it up Lou's! read more

Lou's Records - Got it! - Music & DVDs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Hands down best record store north county will ever see. Small but has everything upon release. Prices are more than fair and so lots of like-minded folks jump on buying stuff that will sell out. Gotta go often and buy lots. This place has gotten me for close to five figures. Not crazy but only second to Amoeba. They staff is amazing, and each seems to have their own genre. Encinitas is a small place and definitely lucky to have this spot! read more

I always love going to Lou's. It's like stepping into a Time Machine of all the great eras and genres of music. I can always find what I'm looking for and the staff and so fun and incredibly helpful read more

"All things must pass". Started shopping here at location #1 in 1979-80, before location #2 and their current spot. They had everything worth a listen. Many great memories (Au Pairs, Altered Images, ASWAD, Echo & Bunnymen, Xtc, etc.). Well, all that, and any chance at a parking spot is all gone. It's a top 20 only vinyl store and the people are even bigger jerks than before. Skip it and shop online. This place deserves to die off. read more

If you are a collector of vintage used vinyl don't waste your time going here. It's almost as many CDs as vinyl, and the vast majority of the vinyl is brand new pressings - not vintage vinyl. And the tiny bit of used vinyl is all filler. No rarities on the walls - all new stuff. And strangely there is no soul records section. There was a reissue of a Meters record but it was in the blues section. I expected something very different. read more

There are so few places left in San Diego where you can find a great selection of music. Sure you could buy your music on Amazon, but it is so impersonal, and there's no one to chat with and get their opinion. So how super cool that Lou's Records is such a great location to hang out with other like-minded music lovers, browse through a selection of music and find what you are looking for. Serving us since 1980 - thank you Lou's! read more

BEWARE! This place has gone to shit-blacklisted! Don't waste your time/$$. The place smelt of mildewed moldy vinyl, dirty scratched CD's, & the dealbreaker: Bad Customer service - 0 stars! Lou's used to be decent (never great) when there was competition. Now they act like its a monopoly for lame music you can't even hear, selection SUCKED. No listening station, asshat snooty staff, too cool to do his job and they played shitty music even inside. If you want to stay in biz, allow returns, treat people well/ Do your job& help your customers, lazy fuckwad! Worst customer service ever! Used to love this place years ago. No reason to go back, I advise against supporting them in the slightest. They deserve to go out of business for the terrible attitude and shit policies. Another shady place that used to be cool. Fucking San Diego does it again. Go suck an egg, Lou! I feel bad I ever used to support here, never again!!! read more

Well organized store that specializes in new and re-releases. If you are crate digger like me this is not the record store for you. Very few original releases or old stuff. I'd say about 80% of the records in this store were new releases or re-releases of classic albums on various colors of vinyl or 180 g Vinyl...you know the gimmicky stuff kids like. I feel like this is a Record Store for newbies not for those who are into collecting classic records or serious collectors. They have lots of CDs and a few cassettes. Customer service was OK nothing to write home about but decent. Prices seem relatively fair. Just wish there would've been more to dig through. Pretty easy to find but limited parking. I wouldn't go back but that's not to say it's a bad store just not my cup of tea. I want dusty old records of the bands I love not a bunch of pink re-releases. :-) read more

I've heard that the owner is unpleasant, but I experienced it firsthand when he rudely marched over to me and shouted at me to not touch the vinyl kept below. It was tremendously rude and a little embarrassing. Having mistakenly missed one of the signs that says "don't shop below," I had wondered if the box below would have the vinyl I was looking for. A habit since I frequent Spin Records and Amoeba, both of which allow you to shop underneath. Horrible customer service. I'd much rather support a more welcoming business such as Spin Records. read more

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME HERE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR USED RECORDS. No idea WTF happened here...I know they used to sell used vinyl, but all I could find was maybe like 100 "new arrivals", a couple hundred (dusty) rap/R&B 12"s on the floor, and the sort of easy listening crap that will never sell. Looked like they had thousands of used records in the back but not out for sale, which is fairly inexplicable in the year 2023. They do have a fairly big selection of new records which I would not call competitively priced, but if I was just another San Diego-area burnout with no credit card, I guess it'd be something..? As someone with 40+ years of music collecting (a decade of which was spent working in music retail), believe me when I say: all the positive reviews for Lou's are based entirely on nostalgia, and have *nothing* to do with the current reality of the store. read more

People say that paper media is dead, but I don't believe that to be true. People say CD's are dead, but I also don't believe that to be true. With the invention of programs like Spotify and Pandora people are able to listen to music they want with/out purchasing. Also they can have it all stored just like they would any other electronic form. Like all us CD playing people who said vinyl was dead and that's lasted I believe CD's will stick around too for a while, for collectors and novelty, but not as a main music listening source. I've been coming to Lou's for 15+ years to get CD's. Granted I don't go as much now and sometimes I would just get tickets, t-shirts or other music merch. It's not so much about the music, but the music experience, listening, sifting, looking at the cover art and whatnot. Getting the super rare, getting the underground stuff you can't even find online like ITunes. At the height they had the large building and expanded and now they just have the expansion. Still the cruddy old parking lot with stickers all over. Still the smell of vinyl, paper, plastic all around, but their selection has dwindled from having rare heat to what amounts to some guys collection of unwanteds. They the latest releases and undergrounds, but it's kind of uninviting seeing VHS, used DVD's and stuff everywhere. I used to love Lou's, loved opening new cd's (I got really good and could undo the plastic and hinges in seconds). I'll always remember it in its prime and not for what it's degraded into. Service has become spare, but still very helpful, enthusiastic and nice. Prices for most things has barely gone up over time. The shack vibe has lost its luster and means less to me now. Reviewing this has motivated me to sell my entire cd collection to them, I know I'll get pennies, not on the dollar, but pennies, but that's ok. I should probably just donate it and only keep my hard to find, rare stuff. I feel like I'm reviewing a dinosaur. read more

Lou's Records is an institution in Leucadia. Last time I was in here was 2009. Since moving back, I see they have moved to a new location, it is a great space. Very good for anyone with ambulatory disabilities, all level and wide aisles. Prices are about what you would expect to find for CDs but really good selection of vinyl for aficionados. Worth pawing through. Glad to see they are there. read more

Lou's Records - Lou's Records storefront - Music & DVDs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Had a nice drive up to Lou's finally, after hearing about this place since I don't know when. Even took the kiddies up there, they had a nice time toddling around the block a couple of times. But, my vinyl-loving aficionado came out empty handed, even after lurking in both buildings for about an hour and a half. This place has been around since the '80's, and it definitely looks and feels like it. I was very amused at spotting Keith Carradine's latest release(wasn't he an actor?), and equally amazed at how many 99cent hip-hop/rap cd's they had(as in, take them off our hands, please)! We took the scenic 101 back home, what a nice way to end our Sunday. read more

Lou's Records has been in business for a long time for a reason. They carry music accessories people like and want. I have been a long time fan of Lou's. It was my go to place growing up in the 80''s. A good place to find all the punk rock records I wanted. They've always had the best rare selection of old and new music. I highly recommend Lou's Records. read more

The selection and setup is top-notch. I appreciate the mix of new and used items. Everything is priced very fairly. The staff was courteous and informed. I will certainly be going back to Lou's time and again. read more

As explained to me by the clerk, Lou's has taken the ultimate plunge to become just another average independent music store: the person that knew the classical/contemporary/modern music left, they decided that it wasn't worth it to keep the stock and dissolved the collection. They now have 2/3 standard classical CDs and 1/3 Naxos. One of the last bastians of contemporary classical has gone the way of the world. Still they have an ok used CD section, although my fingers feel sticky and dirty after looking throught the CDs. And they guy working in the used section was a bitch. read more

They have a pretty good selection of vinyl, lots of new stuff here not just a bunch old garage sale leftovers with a few good records. But they do have a decent amount of quality classics of all genres as well with a majority being classic rock (which works for me) and the newer releases being more pop and pop rock. And as far as the people that work there I only interacted with one guy but he was cool to me and although I think some of the newer and/or more desired records are priced somewhat more than you can find them online I do understand they got to pay the bills somehow and looking through the selection and finding an album you either really wanted or had no intention on buying but then couldn't leave without it and being able to play it as soon as you get home is feeling you just can't replicate by ordering it online anyway so to me it's worth the extra couple bucks. Plus keeping places like this in existence is worth every dollar and I'll be back to happily spend some more of mine. read more

*DO NOT TRY TO SELL YOUR RECORDS HERE* Lovely experience with the owner today when I decided to free up some room on a shelf and sell some records I didn't want. As someone who has been buying, collecting, and selling records in the San Diego area for years, it's well known to avoid this shop. Lou's is regarded as more of a novelty store than a record store with any sense of the market. Their selection of anything new or limited is at very best, laughable, and as i've seen on prior visits and today was cranked up to an 11, at their finest passive customer service and at their worst downright aggressive and confrontational. Seeing as most of the positive reviews appear to be friends of the owner or middle-aged tourists, i can assure you the selection is far from "eclectic." If you have any interest in limited releases, experimental or niche bands, or non-rock records, I highly recommend a store that has a pulse on new music as well as classic gems such as M-Theory or Cow Records. Today out of laziness I decided to visit the store solely based on location and drove over with my stack of records all in near-mint quality. Somewhat excited (lord knows why) I came in and politely asked if they bought records, after all choosing to sell records is a business transaction. First red flag was when the owner more-or-less implied he only accepted store credit. No other shop in San Diego will do this, i repeat, NO other shop. Forcing a seller to get store credit is more or less stealing the sellers records and tricking the seller to walk away with less records for nothing. I, still very politely, explained i was not looking for "store credit" but for cash which i guess is a trigger for the owner. He then very rudely asked for my ID after asking "Are these yours?", which I was happy to present to him. Already pretty offended by his initial implication my records were not mine, i became very apprehensive about a fair price for whatever he deemed worthy of money. The entire time he spent with a frown on his face, thumbing through my records with very little care or respect. After about 30 seconds he started interrogating me about them, asking once again with the implication they were stolen, "Why is this one sealed?" (the answer, which should go without saying, is I had more than one copy of that particular record) I then asked if there was some sort of issue or problem and he asked me to clarify so I, still politely, told him what he had said and his demeanor seemed to imply the records were stolen. He then, in his delusional paranoid state, seemed to think this had meant I was being defensive and doubled-down asking "Why? Are they stolen?" My jaw dropped. In the 3+ years i've sold my records, I have NEVER had an accusation like that hurled at me. I had had enough of the absurd notion i was selling anyone's records but my own, and told him I'd take my records to a legitimate shop. Before leaving I asked "Are you the owner?", hoping this was just an awful employee having some sort of a bad day but to my disbelief again, he was in fact the owner. I drove my records down to M-Theory where they were happy to take my records for cash and a good price on all of them as well! I've never written a bad review, seeing as most of the time things like this can be handled by a manager, but the almost humorous paranoia and aggressiveness of the OWNER of the shop is something that should be public. Long story short, NEVER sell your records to this store and unless you're an out-of-touch Boomer such as the owner, I'd be pretty shocked if you could find anything of interest in their collection of poorly handled used bruce springsteen albums and over-priced re-issues. read more

I've been going to Lou's since 1998 and this place is the place to go if you want new and very old music. I would spend hours in the used side of Lou's just looking for old hip hop and r&b, they also have a crate full of tapes for 20 cents or so. Lou's is so much better then any other music store and their prices are very fair too. If you haven't been to Lou's you have to go, the staff is pretty friendly and very helpful. I love Lou's. read more

I purchased a hard to find new record online with them through Discogs. It had a manufacturing defect on it and they made good on it. Will purchase from them again. read more

I had not been here in 20+ years, but yes Lou's is still a great record store. Was in the area on Black Friday RSD, and Lou's had a good selection at fair prices. My favorite thing here is that they haven't thrown in the towel on CD's. All the new release CD's are stocked prominently plus a large used selection somewhat curated and at fair prices. Multiple listening stations as well. Quality used vinyl seemed a little lacking but a good amount of new titles. read more

Got the New Tool album there earlier this year. Always a cool little shop. Support your local shop!

Got the records I needed. My go to record spot since forever. There's a reason why this place has been around since literally forever. Don't believe the bad yelp reviews about this place. They're just bitter people. Thanks Lou's read more