Conveniently located in downtown Champaign near the Illinois Terminal (Amtrak, MTD buses) and a…read morestone's throw from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, Exile on Main Street has a fantastic selection of new and previously loved vinyl, CDs, cassette tapes, and more. I recently met the owner, Jeff Brandt, at the store while my partner was on the hunt for Taylor Swift and Charli XCX vinyls. Jeff was immediately attentive and we struck up conversations about Taylor Swift, the positives and areas of improvement downtown Champaign could use, the area's history as a musical mecca, and much more. It was easy to see how much love and sweat equity he's put into the community and the store. An adjacent vintage store has closed but Exile regularly hosts pop-ups, underscoring its community-first vibes. When you're looking for vinyl finds, skip online, Target and chains and support institutions like Exile on Main!

This is the THE record store to visit in Champaign-Urbana. Yeah, there's Record Swap if you want…read moreused classic rock or See You Vinyl with their dozens of records, but Exile is the place to be. The store itself has an interesting layout that promotes exploration and discovery. There's a nice mix of used and new vinyl, (mostly used) CDs, and even some cassettes and VHS tapes. I'd say Exile's strengths are all things indie, major artists from the 90s onward, classic rock, and a bunch of niche stuff. I like to find reissues of 90s and 00s electronic stuff there, and they typically stock new jazz releases from Blue Note and some of the other big labels (not a huge selection, but everything they have is good). Of course, this is just my perception. You'll find each genre well represented. If you don't see what you want, the owner is happy to get it for you. He's a great guy with a deep knowledge of music. He actually has a whole section that he's selling from his personal collection, which is an interesting category. It's like a bunch of great titles that have been out of circulation for a long time. Overall, this is a fun place to find good music. Check it out.

Came through in my way to Chicago, decent selection and good prices. They used the small space very…read morewell and had a very chill aesthetic. Jesse was very nice and recommended a new album based off what I liked. He was very nice and humble and it was easy to talk to him. I will be coming back! -Cy

This review is about my experience, plus constructive feedback that can be used to make this shop…read morebetter. While I love digging through the stacks at local record shops, I have experienced much better. I've been through quite a number of fantastic record stores in my lifetime, so I have expectations on how a record store should be (even for smaller and newer shops that may just be starting out). I root for local record stores and encourage them to do their best. I've been here, Record Swap, and Exile, and I find Record Swap is the best one. Let me start off by saying I did leave with the purchase of two records today. The shop wasn't terrible, but I do think it was lacking a bit. I understand building up a quality stock takes time, but given the amount of time this store had been around, I expected just a little more. Some selections are spot on with the prices, while other selections aren't worth the $5+ as they look like they've been pulled from thrift stores and $1 bins elsewhere. The layout of the store was decent for the size space, but how the stock was "organized" was honestly a bit of a choppy mess. For the size store, I'd honestly shrink down the "new arrivals" spot significantly and put the items where they're supposed to go. This will make browsing so much smoother (only bring in a bigger new arrivals spot when you've got much more merchandise coming in). Do away with the boards you've got taking up a wall. You may have a passion about them, but they don't belong in a record store, nor will people use Google to look you up if they're in the market for a board... it's just not expected to be found in that type of store. Use that space for more music merchandise, which is expected to be found in this store. Move your cash register to the bar that was built into the spot. This makes the extra merchandise ready for sale behind bar moved to another spot and easier to get to. These are just some of the key changes that could made to make this shop 100x better, instead of adding injury to your name, and will help you take off.

First and foremost and ultimately important is the fact that Polyvinyl has a handful of my…read morefavourite bands signed to its roster. But the obvious love for this record company that sprouts from that fact aside, the whole business is legit. The selection of merchandise rules, and they are always having awesome sales to get rid of backstock and excess inventory. If, by chance, a t-shirt size is wrong and the error is on my end, they will still replace it with the proper size at no additional cost. Only once in nearly a decade of supporting this company has my order been wrong, and even then they immediately took steps to correct it. Each package I receive always has extras as well: posters and stickers and samplers and promo material. And there is always, always an Airhead, which is awesome because they're delicious AND vegan. WIN. I will be a Polyvinyl fan for life, and although the record industry is changing drastically, I hope that people still continue to support the independent labels out there that are doing it right.

I wish I could buy every record from Polyvinyl. I just got my 7" from the band STRFKR in and it…read morecame with another 7" of a band they wanted me to hear for free. Along with that was a couple stickers and as always an air head! Even with all of this included the 7" I bought was only $5.00 and shipping came the same week I bought it! definitely the best and quickest shipping I've seen beyond Amazon.

This store has absolutely everything you need and mores my first time visit I was primarily…read moreupstairs getting EIU gear. I didn't really check out the rest of the store. This time was a different story. I walked don't the entire first floor and boy was I surprised! They have sage, crystals, jewelry, dream catchers, Greek supplies, tshirts, posters, records, etc. I really can go on and on. This store meets both your spiritual needs and eiu swag needs lol. Service was great. I had question about some crystals. The young man working let me know he didn't know much about crystals but his girlfriend did and she would at work the next day. I went the next day and she surely knew about crystals. She answered all of my questions and more. I really like this store! And everything is reasonably priced.

if ur looking for some crystals they definitely have them, also lots of records and incense ^_^read more

Great independent music or record stores are getting harder to find. It often will be in a college…read moretown when you come across it. North Street Records is in such a town. Hard to find records and other artifacts. The staff certainly knows a lot about what they have, and will help find something. As in places like this, the music is the main thing of course. It has a lot to look through. They, as the name implies, specialize in vinyl. Great place to find more popular artists. Or more obscure. Also despite the name they also have other forms of music such as CDs. These like the records also are obsolete so might as well have these. Has a big collection of new and old items. It seems most people come in and just look around, but some people actually buy something. The main thing is the vinyl.

I talked with Jeff. He's a really knowledgeable cool human. I felt he offered fair prices for the…read morerecords I brought in...my childhood memories. He's honest with you. Which I find commendable. He is responsible in recycling, reusing, up-cycling records that can't be used anymore. I had a really great experience. I do need to say the I know nothing about records...but I can imagine he has an amazing selection.

Reverberation is an unusual record store. I've never seen so many records in one place from…read moreartists/bands I don't recognize, but at the same time, I've spotted some very obscure stuff in the experimental and jazz sections, so I wonder if they cater to people with a taste for lesser known music. At least for the styles I shop for (jazz, experimental, electronic), this store is full of strange, unknown things. I like how they have a special section for deluxe horror movie soundtracks (think Waxwork Records, Mondo, and the like). I also appreciate how you never know what kind of weird thing you'll find there (like an old DJ Krush Mo Wax 10" for a reasonable price). My main complaint is the difficulty of browsing. First, the record bins in the main area are so high that you need a stool to see the furthest back albums unless you're decently over 6' tall. The store has stools sitting around for just this purpose. Second, the bins are completely packed, so there's no flipping through records. You have to grab a chunk, set them aside, and then you can brows. It makes digging a real pain and is one of the reasons Reverberations isn't in my regular rotation. Some have written about the owner being rude. I didn't find him rude, but yeah, he doesn't usually say hello or goodbye or look you in the eye when you check out. Definitely not the gregarious type you find at a place like Exile in Champaign, but I never got a rude vibe. Maybe he's more effusive and warm if you're a regular. If browsing wasn't such a pain, I'd give it four stars. Any record shop that continues to exist is a good thing. Certainly worth checking out if you're in the area.

I don't live anywhere near Reverberation, but I've had the pleasure of digging here 2x in the past…read moreyear, and this is a great record store. Friendly owner, ample parking, and an incredible array of new and used records. Items are priced to move not gouge the customers, and conditions are exact. And what's crazy is the depth of the inventory. Really, this store is stacked. Local collectors are lucky to have Reverberation as one of their brick and mortars. Highly recommend!

I absolutely LOVE this place! They have everything I need that helps ease my broken hip pain and…read morehelps me sleep, the staff and everyone is always so cheerful and it brings a smile to my face as if I came home after a long day, the value at which they sell their products is unbeatable!!!! Now this is where I have my "problem" I guess you could say. I came in this morning cheerful and enthusiastic cause I was able to get more supplies for my said hip, but when I walked in this morning on 11-2-25 the security guard lady had this attitude on her face that read "I'd rather be somewhere else than here". I truly do understand she has a job to do and to make sure everyone is safe and sound when walking into the establishment, but it really did leave a sour taste in my mouth to the point I didn't get to enjoy my items cause it had me thinking if I did something wrong. Like I said I ABSOLUTELY LOVEE this store and will continue to come to this place of business and will continue to spend my money here. I'm just stating how I felt in this review cause i couldn't get in touch with the owner/owners.

This place has got some serious personality. My husband and I like to check out the local…read moredispensaries when we visit Illinois and some can be really sterile, but this one is fun and funky. Last time I visited they barely had any records, but the collection has definitely grown. Their catalog and collection of products and accessories is abundant as well. The staff is knowledgeable, fast and friendly. The pricing is decent too.

Locally owned record store offering new and used records. Check out the bin by the front door,…read morehidden bargains.

Waiting Room is one of those places that is tiny but every single title is good. Most of the stock…read moreis new, but it's not just a bunch of mainstream stuff that you can find anywhere. I'm a fan of a lot of fairly obscure industrial, experimental, and electronic stuff, and they never disappoint. You can also find a lot of contemporary popular music (especially if it's more on the indie side of things), a great selection of metal, soundtracks, and jazz. They even have a cool selection of blu-rays, including some boutique label stuff. It's a great place for discovery. I can always count on finding some obscure jazz reissue that I hadn't even realized was available or some experimental/electronic title that I figured I'd have to order straight from the label. Highly, highly recommended.

Went there the first time about a month ago. WOW! So much to look through, Bought quite a bit and…read morewill be buying more.

I've been coming to GB's for 20+ years now, and even though I moved away and went digital years…read moreago, I always make it a point to come here and buy some CDs when I'm in town. Gary and Bob are great guys and have always been able to make good recommendations no matter what genre. Everything from the old shop smell to the faded posters on the wall is the same as it's ever been, and I couldn't be happier they've never changed despite everything around them. GB's should be considered a historic landmark of Decatur. I wish them all the best and hope they keep it going another 26 years.

Be careful if you are taking things in to sell. Be VERY careful. Not the best place to sell things…read more In fact, a BAD place. The buyers, though, will find almost everything they are looking for. Usually, the prices are good. But forget about the "swap" part. A very uneven playing field that.

I was incredibly impressed with the selection of new vinyl, and the selection of vintage vinyl was…read morepretty good too. Staff seemed friendly and polite, everything was clean and organized. The issue is the pricing. I prefer to buy in a store and support independent record stores and small businesses. I have my limits though. Not sure how he can get away with charging 20-300% more than other sellers. My record store day I bought for $26 he had for $45, my RSD I got for 35 he had for 50. The Zappa broadcast I bought for $8 new sealed he wanted $40 for, another I got for $13 sealed he wanted $40 as well. Most the vintage vinyl was worth half what it was priced at. I know you've got to pay the rent and I know prices are higher brick and mortar, but why are your prices higher than stores in downtown Chicago? Highest priced store I've ever been to, and I'm a traveler, I go to a LOT of record stores. I could have easily bought a couple dozen albums if they were even 20% cheaper, but I left with nothing and very sad that I had to pass on so much good stuff. I guess you can build a pretty epic collection if you don't price things to actually sell...Went online and bought what I wanted for 30-50% less than he wanted. Didn't feel good about it, but I'm not going to be ripped off just to support indie record stores...