Awesome place to come and find everything music related! Vinyls/records of all types, genres, and sizes. Cassettes from local artists, CDs, huge selection of new and used. They even have a section for $1 CDs if your feeling adventurous and $1 to $4 vinyls. They have cool merch, pins, etc. so much fun to look around! Staff seems knowledgeable and friendly as well(: read more

Plan 9 Music - Music & DVDs Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I loved to be back inside a brick and mortar record shop...wow. There is a large variety of musical genres, and that's really cool to see. Parking is street parking as it's on Cary Street but worth the visit and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. I was glad they were open on 12/24. They also sell some basic record cleaning gear and headphones, as well as some other tools for your record player. I know someone wrote that the majority of records are used...that's was not the case yesterday. I saw mostly brand new wrapped records and they have a small section in the back for used good quality records. I will return. read more

Plan 9 Records is a glorious glimpse into the past institution known as the record store. We don't see many record stores anymore, which sadly, is a loss to this generation who do not know the true wonder and glory of a record store and what it meant to the community. Record stores were a hub as a place not only to buy the latest music (before downloads were a thing), but were also a place for kids to gather and share their tastes and latest discoveries with other kids. Record stores were an institution and a cathedral to the religion of rock & roll. Plan 9 Records is a glimpse of this past and a glimpse of hope for this generation. The staff was friendly and it was amazing to browse through the inventory and to go back in time to when I was a younger man and discovering some new musical gem. Hey, there were albums that I bought on the power of if the album cover looked cool. I was sometimes disappointed, but sometimes blown away. I could not download a sample to see if I liked it. I bought it and then discovered it. Plan 9 Records is a blast from the past and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. I give Plan 9 Records five stars and my recommendation. If you are in the area, stop on by. read more

Good record store. Last time I went the building was hot, but this certainly changed. Great record selection, love the imported bootlegs that other stores don't sell, and they had CD's for people who don't want Vinyl. Hopefully I can go back soon to cop the Veteran bootleg they had that I foolishly didn't buy. read more

Plan 9 Music - The "Veteran" bootleg mentioned in the review itself. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Vinyl paradise!! For all my music lovers this place has something for everyone. CDs, vinyl, tshirts, ect. I immediately had nostalgia strolling through the aisles looking at albums. As the majority of the items in this store are used there was a lot of dust so people with allergies beware. Cool place to grab vintage music if that's what you are into. read more

Plan 9 Music - Outside - Music & DVDs Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Big record shop in town that you could spend all day digging in. They have a large selection of new rock, hip-hop/soul, jazz, and whatever else you're looking for. Also a large section of used and $3 records, CDs, and DVDs. Friendly staff. read more

I went to Plan 9 for their Barbie Movie Album listening party! The employees were great with the crowd control, and were very nice. I wished they had announced more that the album was starting, or possibly asked people to quiet down, because it was quite loud while listening to music. I had a great time walking around the store though - they have a wide selection os tapes, CDs, and vinyls, lots of options at all price ranges. I even snagged an autographed CD for a gift! It's a pretty chill place to shop, and especially if you're looking for something specific. read more

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Plan 9 is a must-stop destination on our road trips from Portsmouth to Richmond. I love coming here with my audiophile father. We browse separately, each picking out our recommendations for the other, then meet at the checkout. The used vinyl is where I do most of my browsing. Great collection of classic rock, country, funk, oldies. I do wish the blues section was larger -- it's so small, if you blink you'll walk right past it. Other than that, the quality of the vinyl has always exceeded my expectations, and the employees are helpful. Make sure you grab a free sticker at checkout so you can rep this cool store! read more

Plan 9 Music - Huge haul for my vinyl collection - Music & DVDs Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I am not a music buff at all. I fully admit that I do not have an MP3 player, Spotify, iTunes, or even CDs. I am that person who only listens to music on the radio or if someone else is playing it. But even I enjoy browsing the vinyls at Plan 9, and it's one of the first places I'll go to look for gifts for my music loving friends. The store feels open and welcoming and the staff is friendly. The store isn't much to look at, but the layout is simple and easy to navigate. Albums are organized by genre, artist, and alphabetically, so you can quickly find what you want or hone in on something you've never heard of but might enjoy. They have a very large variety at any given time, from soul to death metal, classics to contemporary. They also sell other music related merchandise such as posters, players, and magazines, as well as a decent used DVD section for rock bottom prices. If you're in Carytown and have some time to kill, come check it out. read more

Plan 9 Music - Music & DVDs Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Really just an average music store - certainly wouldn't make a special trip but if you're in Carytown, stop by. Large selection of music, including some lesser known old-school bands. Store was what you'd expect, sort of crunchy, no ambience and just a straight up "dig for music" type bare bones environment. Prices seemed fair but we did leave empty-handed, nothing we needed to spend money on. Overall, truly just an average music store, there's a store like this in most cities. read more

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Had an amazing selection of records but my dance Gavin dance vinyl is warped and sounds kinda funny. Overall would still recommend stopping in and looking around no one is really at fault for funky records most of the time ‍. Great prices as well so can't complain. read more

Was super hyped to come and visit Plan 9 based on the heritage and stories I've heard. After driving around for 30 minutes to find a parking spot I was finally there! I was a little underwhelmed. Not how I enjoy my records shops. They have an ok selection of vinyl both new and used but it's not organized well or kept in good shape. The bins are awkward and either over or under stacked. I would like to see the used vinyl in protective sleeves; especially the rarer ones. No outer sleeve means the used vinyl gets beat up quick! I don't feel like they put much care into protecting or sorting the vinyl. Has a chop shop vibe. Didn't find anything I wanted and gave up due to the hour time limit on parking. read more

I really don't know why I never made it here. I have nary a good excuse. Either way I was more than pleased to waltz into a blast from the past and to see a thriving record store. That settles it for me, I was buying some vinyl. "Nevermind"* that i got rid of my record player when I last moved. "Nothing even matters at all."^ What I want to buy is some 1960s Ska and Rocksteady. That and Funk from North Africa, Thailand, etc. That's what I really want on top of wanting everything and more. The big issue I ran into was that beyond Toots and the Mytals and The Wailing Wailers, I need to do more research. So I ended grabbing You're the Man by Marvin, a "Cuban" record for the cover and 1999. I didn't want the 1999 cd box-set because I want to get back into vinyl but as I am walking down Cary street satisfied I remembered that I already had 1999 and didn't need a reissued copy. I went back to make a return and it was seamless. I totally left finally like..."whew." Shout-out to Barky's and R.I.P. Willie's and Kemp Mill. *cheap Nirvana reference. ^Richmond's own, D'Angelo on the track. read more

I believe that this is the first time I have been in plan 9. It's really cool to get the throwback vibes and see all the records and related items. Tried to talk my husband into getting a record player for our future house!!! read more

I've found so many treasures at Plan 9 over the years. So many good used finds and hard to find new albums. I can't guess why they did away with their loyalty program (prior to that it was even a membership program) but overall they do a decent job. I have a newfound appreciation for their standard of quality now that I visited a much shoddier music store in Atlanta recently. Discs, cases, and vinyl I have a trust for all of them in the cleanliness and condition I always find their used music to be in. I never even check them prior to buying anymore. Things are clean and in order, something I appreciate also. Staff is decent and overall glad to see then still going strong. They've been in Richmond's Carytown since for thirty or more years that I can remember. I don't get there as often as I'd like these days but am always looking forward to going by there. I tend to grab 4-6 albums (records or cd's) on each visit recently. read more

A Richmond classic. Been coming for years, and so glad it's basically remained the same for decades. Love browsing used records- great selection and value. Check it out next time you're strolling through Carytown. read more

In town visiting and needed my shopping fix. 50 cent cassette tapes and killer selection, awesome collection of vinyl records that they specialize in. They also had some cool vintage stereo equipment for sale, to bad I did not have enough luggage space! Looking forward to getting back here in the Fall! read more

Love this since the 80s . Always go there when I'm in town . I would tell anyone looking for vinyl to go there

I've been to hundreds of record stores and enjoyed my experience at Plan 9. With the explosion in record collecting it's harder and harder to keep the used bins stocked, so record stores have to do more with their new releases. The used records weren't great - the prices seemed high given the condition of the vinyl - but I walked away with some nicely priced represses of records I love but don't seem to own (Yusuf Lateef, Chester Thompson, Mort Garson, Monophonics). I plan on going back the next time I'm in town. read more

I'll simply relate my experience here and you can decide what you think about the place. Came here on a scavenger hunt put on by Sugar Shack Donuts, with the prize being tickets to see Foo Fighters. One of the scavenger items was to buy a record in the area, so this place was the logical choice. Came in shortly after they opened, found a nice record that I actually would enjoy listening to (the original recording of Man of La Mancha, in good shape too), and brought it up to the cashier to be rung up. I mention the several other people buying records as well and note that the uptick in business must be a good thing for them, the cashier responds "I don't know what y'all are doing, but I don't like it." He asks if it's some sort of scavenger hunt, I tell him it is, he proceeds to complain that people should have come in and bought records from HIS store for THEIR ticket giveaway. So, you don't appreciate this extra business, you're just sour that we weren't here for YOUR event (which wasn't advertised anywhere)? How incredibly rude. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! When I get back to Sugar Shack to complete the hunt, they ask how the establishments responded to their involvement in the hunt (all of which were extremely nice about it except Plan 9), and I informed them about this record store's displeasure. The gentleman from Sugar Shack then informed me that he was disappointed to hear that, since SUGAR SHACK GAVE PLAN 9 THE TICKETS FOR THE GIVEAWAY EVENT THEY HAD! Seriously, you gave sugar shack customers a hard time for not coming to your event, when sugar shack gave you the tickets to have the event in the first place, and even sent people to your store for their event! This is the very definition of ungrateful. I will not be returning here for any reason in the future. This is Richmond, no shortage of music places around, and hopefully one of the other places will be happier to have your business. Overall: 1 star ------------- Pros: - Decent selection of older vinyl LPs. Cons: - By far one of the worst service experiences I have ever had the misfortune to receive. I'd drive 20 miles to go somewhere else rather than return here. read more

If you ever need any sort of music, this is the place to start looking. I guarantee that you'll probably find EVERYTHING you'd ever imagine treating your ears to. Every time I'm in Richmond and I need a CD that I can't find or if my mom puts some weird-ass request on me from Korea, this is one of the places I'll stop by and find my prize (and yes, I do trek the 95 corridor frequently). Prices are pretty good compared to other "vintage" stores and you leave not feeling ripped off when you're done. read more

I went to their new store hoping that Plan 9 would have maybe-- just maybe-- discovered the concept of alphabetizing the vinyl, and they still haven't. All their LPs are just plunked into racks with little rhyme or reason. You can spend a good couple hours combing through all of it it. There's a small chance you might find a gem in there, or you just might come away frustrated and empty-handed. I know I usually do. If you like spending entire afternoons digging through dusty, dog-eared (but very reasonably priced) LPs of boomer rock, hip hop, and jazz, then this is the place for you. Otherwise, just skip it. Plan 9 used to be hands down one of the best record stores in the mid-Atlantic, but its best days are long behind it. read more

I had this image in my mind of what Plan 9 would be like before visiting this shop. I thought it would be this tiny little shop with the walls completely covered in quirky posters, a broken Elvira pinball machine gathering dust in the back , new-in-box sci-fi action figures atop shelves that held little-known DVD titles like "They Saved Hitler's Brain" and "Manos, The Hands of Fate." And, of course, the vinyl would be in haphazard hoarder stacks, some of it priced, that you had to squat and contort in order to pick through. Imagine, then, my surprise when I walked in to this huge shop without a piece of kitsch in sight, rows of CD bins at the front and vinyl in well-labeled bins in the back. The used vinyl was in the $1-$3 range and was a random mix of rock through the ages, some country, soundtracks, soul, spoken word, electronica, singles, even a collection of laser discs. Theirs wasn't an enormous inventory but I found a handful of gems hidden in their bins and walked away pretty satisfied. And, as I checked out, I was amused to see that they have a vinyl cover "remix" contest where you can creatively alter album covers and post them in the store and on their facebook page. Death Metal Phil Collins still makes me chuckle. read more

The last few times I've been here when I'm visiting home I've felt like Plan 9 has been slipping. The selection isn't as good as it used to be. A good chunk of the vinyl has gone missing, and some shelves sit empty. Don't get me wrong, I love this place and the nostalgia factor of coming here as a wide eyed teen and spending every dime of hard earned cash from my summer job here makes this a must do everytime I go home. I often fly home with an empty record bag and leave with a full one. I gained a sizeable chunk of my 3,500 pieces of vinyl from here. It's just a shame that the record industry taking such a hit seems to have affected this place so much. I hope it gets back to its former glory. Now about the store it's self, this is very simply the best record store in Richmond. Good selection (though I will admit, Amoeba in San Fran blew it out of the water). The staff is pretty helpful in finding stuff and the store is organized well enough that needing help isn't really an issue. The vinyl Crypt below is a great trove of good records that I could and have spent hours looking through. This place is essential for DJs still rocking vinyl in Richmond. Electronic section is more limited that I would hope, but it might just be that I'm spoiled with Seattle electronic music. Loses a star for staff hipsters who think their hipsters. There's a air of arrogance about some of the vinyl dudes in the crypt that's off putting to me. read more

I called around looking for the DVD "Devil In A Blue Dress" because I dropped a friends DVD and it cracked. Then I remembered Plan9 sold used DVD's. Called and they had it. Asked how much and was happy to hear it was only $4. That's great because no one else had it unless I had to order it. And even though the movie is old, everyone wanted too much for it. I'm an old Plan9 fan, I didn't realize they'd moved across the street from the old location. I ended up buying "The Bucket List" also for $4. Their uses DVD collection is great. read more

UPDATE: I received a very nice response from Sebastian on behalf of James B (owner) regarding my experience. They apologized for the situation and made it right. Not only did they sell the album to me, but they shipped it to me since I was traveling and not able to come into the shop to pick it up. Thanks Bob for your help - I really appreciate everything! I've been a Plan 9 fan for years and a huge lover of vinyl all my life and can't wait to visit you again soon! read more

I took about 30 records here to sell and wandered around while I was waiting for them to look through the records. At first I wondered why other yelpers said Plan 9 is going downhill in selection, they looked well stocked on records to me. As I leafed through the vinyl I realized that the yelp hive mind isn't wrong. The selection was a little anemic. There were a few things I considered buying. I was optimistic about turning around and using the store credit from the records I anticipated selling half of (70s through 90s classic rock and art rock like Devo). They took a handful of my albums and gave me 4.95 in store credit and 5 in cash. I had to wait for the cashier to finish a conversation with some friends of his who were hanging out before he counted out 4$ in cash and handed it to me with a smile. At that point I was so disappointed that I just let the shortchanged dollar go and left the store without buying anything. read more

Holy records, Batman! What you need to know is that I'm squealing just thinking about Plan 9 and a potential re-visit this weekend. It is a music mecca. MEC-CA, I tell you. It's huge, considering the area, where most shops are pretty tiny. To have one neighborhood joint for records and all things music-related is totally awesome. I've been here a few times and what they do well is that they have their new vinyl and 45 sections down pat-- I've been on a huge doo-wop girl group 45 kick for awhile now and I found classics and some things I've never heard of, with each 45 being priced at about 99 cents or so. if you're looking for used vinyl (rarities and common albums alike), you maybe a bit disappointed. But again, if you're looking for re-issues/ re-pressings of albums, you'll probably be able to find it here. It's a shame I didn't get to check out much of their used CD selections-- it looked pretty sizable! Maybe I'll revisit it when I'm not so distracted with vinyl overload. read more

I purchase most music online when I know specifically what I want. If I want to browse through a wide selection and find some good deals, Plan 9 is one of my first stops and I've gotten lucky a few times. If you're looking for vinyl, you can spend some time in their basement, but you're not guaranteed to find something of any value. If you've got time to kill on a Saturday it's worth it, but don't go in with the highest of expectations. Worth following them on Facebook as well if you want chances to get good deals (free!) tickets to live local shows read more

By far the best record store left in RVA! Although they seem to have less and less vinyl every time I visit. Tragic! Definitely stop in if you happen to be in the area! read more

Plan 9 Music - Common In-store 8.27.05 - Music & DVDs Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

For a record store, I'd rate Plan 9 as "decent" but nothing to get super excited about. While prices are reasonable, I was disappointed in their overall selection. They definitely have a robust set of indie and rock inventory, but their world music and electronica selection was lackluster, to say the least. ....but then again, maybe I'm just a spoiled bratty SF music snob? Yeah, that's probably it. =) read more

Richmond has a thriving music scene, so it only makes sense to have several record stores in the area. Though not my favorite, Plan 9 has been part of the Richmond scene for over 33 years. Like the characters from High Fidelity, these employees are also the kind of elitist music snobs that certain people hate. Being one myself, I can't really complain so I try to ignore them unless I'm buying something. The prices are a bit higher than the other stores in the area, but they have the most varied selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, movies and magazines. It's probably the largest record store in the area, too. Check it out if you're really into crate digging or dad rock. If you're like me and into more obscure music, I'd suggest Vinyl Conflict or Steady Sounds. 8/10. read more

Plan 9 Music is awesome! I found my favorites - Blues!! It is a great place to get records and CD's. I was amazed at the selection and the prices. I put a few photos on this site. I'll be back. read more

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I did a once-through of this gem last St. Patrick's Day weekend visiting my brother. He was nice enough to stop by as I wanted to ask about an event I attended in Richmond in 2000 called Planet Rock. It was absolutely one of the best music events I'd ever been to and Plan 9 was one of the ticket vendors mentioned on the flier. The clerks knew of the event but not of its recurrence which is still cool given that was 8 years ago. Since I was there I did a quick tour to get a feel for what it had to offer. And it had damn near everything to offer. Used music. Top notch selection rivaling the defunct Tower Records. Memorabilia. Knowledgeable staff. And vinyl. Lots of vinyl. Which is to some considered a lost art. DJs would camp out here. And for the turntable challenged, they even sell the portable USB turntables for laptops. Can't be beat. Oh and they have fantastic posters. Just a great place. Overall if I was to ever move to Richmond, Plan 9 is one reason that I would feel more at home. In the DC area we have so much culture in arts and music, it'd be hard to leave. But at Plan 9 and the new concert venue thats opened up, Richmond is sure to be a great place to hear the latest and greatest music and be cherished by all who step through their doors. read more

This is my go-to record store in Richmond. Friendly and knowledgable staff. Excellent collection of used and new records. They always have a great selection for RSD and Black Friday. They have been nice enough to put records on order or hold for me when I can't make it in. Browsing their DVD section has become a hobby as well. I'll find an old gem for $3 or an entire season for $12. It's awesome. Highly recommend stopping in. read more

I have found a lot of decent quality R&B and disco vinyl here and at exceptional prices. They have a turn table where you can listen to the vinyl before purchasing. All genres are carefully labeled. Always a pleasant browsing and buying experience.. read more

I've been to Plan 9 twice. Both times I walked out with a nice stack of records....some of which I have rarely come across anywhere else. I always based my record shop reviews on what I walk out with! THE GOOD... -eclectic used selection of rock, pop, jazz, soul, some hip hop, reggae and everything else in between -organized by genre -good amount of reissues and new vinyl -for the most part, the records are VG to VG+..at least the ones priced over $5 -listening station with decent cartridge/stylus and comfortable headphones -prices are reasonable -lots of budget bins and discount bins if that's your thing -new arrivals section -they carry other stuff too...t-shirts, posters, CDs, Blu-Rays, DVDs and some audio gear THE BAD... -the first time I had a hard time finding parking...second time about a block away...only street parking and a busy area Overall, I really dig Plan 9 Records. I have picked up some really good stuff here. Out of all of the record shops in the general downtown Richmond area Plan 9 is the one I walk out with the most records. read more

The one and only flagship store in the Plan 9 empire. This place has a great vibe to it. They always have great music playing that greets me when I enter. The upstairs portion has the new rock and jazz and other genres. They have a wide variety of both rock and jazz artists. The first time I went here I had an almost legendary pile of CD's that I had to pare down. The used rock is also upstairs. Its a mixed bag as far as used rock. They have a pretty decent selection for the most part. Downstairs was my favorite place. There they have the used jazz CD's and LP's. As well they have a wide variety of rock LP's and weirdly enough, a second section of used rock CD's. They have a great selection of used Jazz CD's. I made some major good finds here. I also scooped up some good jazz LP deals as well, particularly during their 2 for 1 sales. In addition to being a great place to find music, this Plan 9 also has live bands/artists that play here. Everyone from local acts like Lamb of God to guys like Pete Yorn. Pretty damn cool. Oh yeah they also have a pretty big used DVD section if you are into that. Man now I need to go back. If only gas was cheaper. read more

I've found some really crazy but good stuff here, like classic Parliament albums to old indie 7"s, and my friend got a vinyl copy of one of my favorite electronic bands one time for $5 and I was insanely jealous. Their vinyl collection downstairs is hit or miss, if only because you get what's put in. New vinyl prices are a bit steep, but their CD prices are reasonable, especially for used items. Quality record store, one of the two I really like in Richmond. read more

I'm very selective when I write reviews. Plan 9 is a great place. I bough a used Technics player for a reasonable price. A few weeks into it, I noticed some trouble with the output not knowing if it was my turntable or receiver. They insisted that I bring back the player for testing. Tried different records and receivers and it played just fine. They recommended that I get a new reliable receiver and it just so happens they had the in store used receiver for sale. Ended up buying it, setting up at home and voila! Problem solved! To add, they did tell me if neither worked that I could return it for full price. It just goes to show the willingness to help out and make things right. This place is awesome. Oh, and not to mention the best vinyl selections that Richmond has to offer. read more