Visiting from out of town, Pinwheel Records was my first stop on the way to my Airbnb and it ended up being one of the highlights of my week in Chicago. Great little corner shop with a well organized selection and really welcoming. I stopped in twice during the week, Scott helped me one day and Kim the other. Both were super friendly and knowledgeable. They even suggested other record stores within walking distance, which made for a fun afternoon digging through stacks. I ended up grabbing a handful of records throughout the week, including a couple Record Store Day releases I had missed out on back home. Since I was traveling, they were also kind enough to ship my purchases for me, which made things incredibly easy. Really appreciated the recommendations on some local International Anthem label releases I wasn't familiar with. You can tell the staff genuinely loves music and helping people discover new stuff. Looking forward to stopping back in next time I'm in Chicago. read more

Tiny but mighty! Really cool place. Impressive variety of vinyl, CD's, and cassettes. It's organized really well and they really maximize the space. The owners are friendly and super knowledgeable. Fun atmosphere. Cool decor and posters. There's a Pac Man video game in the corner. I appreciate that blast from the past. I hear they host fun events here for the community, such as listening parties. I'll have to check that out. read more

See all

I've been going to Pinwheel since I moved to Pilsen in 2018, and even now that I live up in the north suburbs, I still make the drive down there. That alone probably says enough. The people working there are always cool; super friendly, easy to talk to, and actually helpful without being pushy or acting like they know more than you. You can ask about something specific or just chat music and they're always down. Yeah, the shop's a bit smaller than it used to be, but they still have a solid selection. And what I appreciate most is that if you're looking for something, they'll actually try to find it or keep an eye out for you. Not a lot of places do that anymore. It just feels like a real neighborhood record store. Nothing fancy, just good people who care about music. That's why I keep going back. Also, you may spot a pilsen celeb wandering around the store, aka Marco or Porkchop read more

selection is extremely small, and the sales person was rude and snotty. I will be patronizing one of the many other, far better record stores in town in the future. read more

Literally the cutest record shop in Pilsen - owners are so great and turned what used to be a run down bakery into such a cool and unique spot. 10/10 recommend! read more

Love this place! Kim & Scott are the nicest people. Was looking for a Christmas gift for my mom some years ago. They had a signed After Hours vinyl that felt like I hit the lottery. When I told them it was a gift, they knocked the price down and gave me a record frame so that it could be an even more presentable gift. I've stayed loyal to them ever since. They are great for the neighborhood that is currently being gentrified because the give a lot back to the community and volunteer their help and space a LOT. If they don't have what I'm looking for in stock, they order it for me and I'm able to pick it up same week. Really love this business and have enjoyed my experiences here! Everyone I send over has nothing but great things to say. Will always recommend them! read more

Found some incredible records and had some great conversation with Scott. He was very knowledgeable about the records I was looking for and even specific pressing quality. Visiting Chicago there are a ton of great record stores. Pinwheel is absolutely a must stop! read more

Underrated aspect of Pinwheel: they're always on the hunt for cool stuff to bring into the shop, so the inventory is less reliant on what someone happens to bring in to trade. There's something for all tiers of collector, whether you're just starting your Taylor Swift collection or spend your days and sleepless nights coveting early UK copies of Syd Barrett's solo stuff - it's worth making Pinwheel a regular stop in spot. read more

I really liked this place. And I'm a Cubs fan. Owner was really cool and helpful. Nice selection. PS- the namesake are the old electronic pinwheels that used to spin high above old Comiskey Park whenever a White Sox player hit a home-run. There's a really great taco place across the street. read more

Very cool spot. Great people, very helpful. I will definitely be stopping in again to play the Pac Man machine! :) read more

A really great selection and owners who are happy to help if you need it! New records are priced pretty fairly (ranging around $20-25) and they had some record store day ones left over. I was surprised at what they had in stock and they nicely label "Pinwheel Favorites" for a quick buy of the most popular album by an artist. They really take care of their records here and all of them have sleeve covers or are new. By the entrance, there's a nice 25c bin of older records that you could miss, so make sure you look through it! read more

See all

Great shop! One of the stores I always stop by when I'm Pilsen. Scott, Kim, Marco and the crew are always helpful / knowledgeable about what's up and have good taste when they're out digging for the shop. read more

A solid inventory of indie/rock/soul/soundtrack/hip hop selections. Scott & Kim are very friendly and knowledgeable, they are also good at following up on special requests. I recommend hitting the 'new' records section in the front (new to the store, but quality used records) before checking out the actual sections. They have a seating & event area where they host bands and local performers. There's also a classic PAC Man video game in the back corner. Make sure to stop and say hello to Marco, the record store cat. read more

Pinwheel is great place to check out for records. Nice addition to the thriving Pilsen strip on 18th . The owners are really nice and helpful. Above all they have Clean records at reasonable prices. Well organized. Great Carnitas across the street and other cool thrifts and shops in the area to check out as well. There is a reason Pilsen is hot now and Pinwheel is a big reason to explore the area. Don't be afraid.. it's cool ! read more

The store its a oasis in the dessert but, the owners are not so friendly with young music fans. THIS IS NOT A KID FRIENDLY music store. Don't waste your money here and do not help this business grow. read more

They have a whole section dedicated to Huey Lewis' Sports & a FREE Pacman machine! Need I say more? Awesome decor with fun artwork. Very welcoming & super nice owners. Fantastic selection of records & turntables. They do in-store performances by bands & comedy nights. The owners also recommended a restaurant that had the best steak taco I've ever eaten! This is a MUST HIT spot! read more

Pinwheel Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Long live analog media! Great record store with something for everyone. Focuses on pop, indie, and rock with smaller sections of rap/hip-hop and jazz. They also sell wall art, turntables, speakers, receivers, some apparel, tapes and CDs which is fun and good to know. Air conditioned, accepts credit cards, and make sure to say hi to Marco the shop cat. Good selection, very fair prices, and easy to find. Love this spot! read more

Newer record shop in Pilsen, leans more towards the pop/indie/rock spectrum, but a little something for everyone. Not packed to the gills but well curated bins with good deals and rare gems alike. Laid back atmosphere with some original art in back and framed show posters on one wall. A friendly cat was lounging on the counter and greeted everyone that came in. Towards the back there's a small lounge area with a Wesley Willis painting by Derek Erdman. The clerk/owner was very nice and chatted with everyone about various music. I'd return when in Pilsen, hopefully with a combined trip to 606 and Shady Rest next time. read more

I've lived in Pilsen for over a decade and was thrilled when Pinwheel opened up! It's a super friendly, welcoming shop right off the train stop. The selection is a healthy mix of new and used vinyl, and they seem to get new stuff all the time. They carry all the new releases and will even take requests/do special orders. I've been to a few events here as well - live music, and it's always laid back and fun. I don't feel like they are "judgey" the way some record stores are and it's easy to talk about music with the owners without feeling dumb. The best thing about this store, however, is their store cat Marco - what a charmer!! Overall, this place is a great addition to the neighborhood - definitely check it out if you love vinyl! read more

Very chill shop run by some of the best people. I live in AZ and order regularly and was even more impressed on my first in person visit. Love these guys and plan on being a customer for years to come read more

Great spot to find a wide variety of records. It is always a pleasure to see Scott and Kim, and they know their stuff. They also have a video game that my son can play while I am looking around so I don't have to hear, "when are we leaving?" every 5 seconds! Cool swag too! Definitely recommend at stop at Pinwheel if you are passing through Pilsen. read more

This is another of the stores in Chicago that I feel falls into a certain group--stores that are really good at carrying LPs in specific genres the owner(s) have decided to focus on carrying. However, they lack the focus on the kind of broad range of genres other places in Chicago have that I've placed higher in reviews (e.g., Reckless, Dave's, Dusty Groove, and Record Breakers, as well as Oak Park Records in the suburbs). Others that fall into this group include 606, Permanent, the now closed Saki, or Bric-a-Brac. This isn't a bad thing mind you, but if the genres they have aren't your thing, you'll not be as well served. Given this the case, Pinwheel gets an overall rating of a 4. read more

TL;DR: Friendly and unpretentious! Caters to patron requests! Awesome space! Selection of LPs is solid! I am so happy Pinwheel opened near my home! Pinwheel is a small, but don't let that fool you. They have a solid collection of LPs across genres. Scott has been so helpful letting me know when they expect to get different releases and obtaining different records they may not have had on hand. It's not often you get such great owners who take that kind of time and care with patrons. It's something that is super appreciated! Kim is such a friendly warm spirit and I'm always glad to see her in the shop. She makes shopping a fun experience. These two create a welcoming unpretentious environment. No judgement about what kinds of music you like or what you may be listening to at the moment. Just two folks interested in bringing you your musical joy regardless of what it is you're interested. The set up of the space is nice and open. They have a nice listening area, free pacman and some pretty comfy looking couches. If you're in Pilsen, it's should be on your list of places to stop by. read more

Great selection of exactly the type of records I want. Lots of late 90s weird stuff, lots of classic rock and new wave. Very tiny hip hop selection, but everything they had was good. The staff is really nice. Also, a cat lives there and he is cute. read more

Great selection and nice folks. They can order you just about anything, too. Be sure to say hi to Marco (he's the Cat that lives there)!

I just visited for the first time and appreciated that staff (and cat!) were friendly. My only disappointment was that I was hoping to find more Latin music at a record store in Pilsen. They did have some Rock en Espanol, but I did not see many newer albums. They did offer for me to write down the album I was looking for and my number in case they got it in stock. Still, I think they may be missing the opportunity to tap into the younger latinx/hispanohablante hipster market. read more

Nice listening / lounge area in the back. Very pleasant staff. Good atmosphere. Decent prices. Good for a dig. Owner pays decent prices for used vinyl. read more

Integrity and customer service. I came in looking for some help and selling my records and record player, and these guys treated me with top class service. I felt valued as a customer the entire time. These guys are a legit business and puts customers first. read more

Love this record store. They have a nice selection of new and used records for lovers of jazz, rock, 80's, alternative, oldies and more. Their pricing is very reasonable and much better than eBay. Very hip ambiance with cool accessories like cat stickers, record cleaners and old turntables. Parking is not bad, but the CTA Blue Line 18th Street stop is almost next door. You can play Pac-Man for free there - which in itself is enough of a reason to visit this awesome little record store! read more

This place rocks. Literally. Every record imaginable under the sun. FREE Pac Man and cheap gum ball machines! And best of all, absolutely zilch attitude. (You know, that super-annoying-and-affected/pretentious-record-store-staff-shite. Puh-leez.) Kim and Scott are adorable, friendly, super helpful and knowledgable, and because it's in Pilsen, they actually cater to their clients instead of following the usual corporate protocol. I love this place. Can ya tell? GO THERE. read more

After hauling my vinyl around for 40 years it was time to downsize and let go. They took it all and treated me very fairly.

Great people, great prices! I would recommend shopping here, not the largest store, but clued in to what the record collectors want, and growing everyday! Kudos and keep up the great work spreading the analog joy of music! read more

Over all great store . Been there a few times and they are extremely nice and professional and laid back . I feel like I'm visiting a friends spot. Stopped going to reckless since discovering pinwheel read more

Ever visit a truly indie, truly hip, small scale but really-knows-its-sh!t record (as in, vinyl) store that wasn't loaded down with attitude? Like, "we are so much hipper than you, don't even try to engage us in a chat" kind of BS? Yeah, me neither. Until Pinwheel. If you prefer good proprietors along with your good vibes and tunes, visit Pinwheel. Scott and Kim will actually talk WITH you, instead of at you, or around you. The selection may not be the largest ever (yet -- they're new still). But it has been carefully and thoughtfully curated. I have no doubt this trajectory will continue. Best part is that they just don't take themselves too seriously. And they make pretty good recommendations for Pilsen area restaurants, too. (Bonus!) Support local artisans and store owners, folks. Visit Pinwheel! read more

Great shop. The best selection of indie rock I have seen. I had a bad experience with a manufacturer pressing (not the store's problem) and they exchanged it for another title. Staff was very nice about the issue. I'll be back soon to buy more vinyl! read more