It's sad that, what was once a great store, has truly dipped in quality over the years. The store features a large tacky pornographic section near the front of the store while shoving the vinyl records to the back corner of the store. It leaves a real great impression for a record store. They're overpriced, and the staff will great you, but won't be bothered to ask if you need help finding anything. The only reason this store still gets 3/5 is simply due to the massive selection of CDs, but astonishing small record selection for a place that still claims they're a record shop. read more

I hate with a burning passion being stalked by the eyes of the anti- shoplifting army men but it's not the worst thing in the world. I totally want to steal those Pantera shirts that they wear ...NOT. This place is fine. I used to think it was cooler when they had more stuff that I wanted, when they had tons of odd old bootlegs. read more

I've been shopping at RS since 1982 or even before. They HAD a great selection of everything about entertainment. Great prices too. I've seen a few rock bands do in-store meet & greets here too. read more

What a blast from the past. Rolling Stones still rocks. I still love the decor. I remember coming here as a kid back when vinyl & cassettes were the craze. I was disappointed that there was a huge selection of porn. But I guess they know what they are doing since there doors are still open. To the security there. Hey I am totally fine with it. All I ask is to say hello to me And ask me if you can be of any help to me. It is a little thing like that that will turn you from a knucklehead that does not have a clue about profiling a thief into a very helpful employee. What I was seriously disappointed in was that they did not carry Les Miserables. It is currently playing in Chicago, You carry Phantom,,,, Why wouldn't you carry Les Mis. I would expect that from the sterile blue polo shirts at Best Buy. Yes you offered to order it. Which is reasonable on your end. But being my age, I just do not care about music enough to order an album any more. read more

Oh how I loved this place in the 80s when I was in high school. I recently visited and got a few CDs for a good price. They always have a couple petulant teens working the register but that is the stores vibe. read more

It's still a great place to buy music. But, who can forget the heyday in the 70s and 80s, when the drug paraphanalia was right there in the case and you could buy the drugs in the back. Im sad they got rid of the Christmas tree with bows they would put out every year for decorations. They were cheap and tacky, but it still meant it was the holidays. I also loved the cardboard cutouts of artists. I wanted the Mick Jagger one like no ones business. read more

I was a regular to Rolling Stone records for many years, as so many others. You never knew what you might find! And then one hot summer day, my motorcycle broke down on the ride over. Luckily I got it going, but by the time I finally made it, I was a sweaty mess, and asked to use their restroom so I could clean up and then enjoy a well-deserved browse through their wondrous stacks of vinyl and everything else. The guy in charge refused to let me use their washroom! "Go to Jimmy Johns down the street," he said. "But I'm not spending money at Jimmy Johns." He shrugged and turned away. I simply could not believe it. When I got home I penned a letter to the manager, but it was never answered. I tried once more, thinking maybe it had been tossed by someone inadvertently. I simply could not believe they were willing to let my business go without so much as a response. Needless to say, I never went back again. It bothered me for quite a long time. Bottom line: any shop that denies their customers the most basic human dignity of using their restroom does not deserve your business. If I could give zero stars I would. read more

I spent most of my money here as a pup. I'd say the place's forte is metal, which is why a lot of those type of bands do their signings here when they're in town. Seriously great selection, and not limited to rock...they've got blues, jazz, country, oldies, comedy...you name it! I love that it's not corporate-ified, and in fact blows the big box stores out of the water when it comes to selection. read more

real quickly, now. this place has cheap CDs ($9-12) up the wazoo. a good film selection too, even including a subsection for Criterion Collection DVDs. and if you're into it, they have a lot of adult films, as well. woo! i've been coming here for years and i pray to God that they don't get run out of business. this place is my source for cheap CDs both new and old. my main complaint is that the selection is not as broad as i'd like. but, hey, you're really here for cheap records so it's all good. read more

I have been shopping here since I was in high school and picked up my first records and cassettes. The place hasn't changed much at all. Still a great selection of import CDs you can't find any place else. The prices are decent on music but the dvd and blu rays are a bit expensive. Its cool to see they are starting to carry a wide variety of vinyl again. Over all I still find myself going back here to purchase all my music and try to keep the record stores in business in a time where downloads are the more popular thing. read more

Maybe the last primarily CD store that exists in Chicago? And they have a lot of cheap CDs. This is the place to go get those CDs you've always meant to pick up over the years. I buy a lot of stuff I have only on vinyl here because the aveage price is $7.99. Also a lot of rare music DVDs and cheap incense. They have a decent selection of rareish 60s and 70s rock too. If you're looking for new indie rock and punk rock and metal, this is not the place. They aren't really selling underground music here. But a cool place that I am glad there is still one of left in the world. read more

Here's the metal....plus vinyl and cult DVDs . This store brings life to the burbs. Not a huge selection but it works. I usually find something interesting when I'm here. Nice!! read more

I was in this store many times in 1973-74. Great place back then. Can't believe it's still around

I am near tears as I write this review. This is a store I have been going to my whole life. But today, my father and brother went to buy some CDs and the experience they had there broke my heart. My father has Alzheimer's Disease. His mind is all over the place, he doesn't remember a lot of the things he's supposed to do, and he forgets things you told him five minutes ago. But he did promise my brother some CDs, so he took him there. When it was time to ring up, he accidentally gave the employee my mothers debit card. The employee shouted at him that he doesn't look like (insert moms name here). My dad was so embarrassed. I guess he also signed the wrong receipt because the employee embarrassed him a second time by yelling that he was signing the wrong slip. My mom called to see if there were any problems with the transaction and was told that she doesn't need to come back to the store. She wasn't threatening. She was inquiring. My dad deals with a lot having Alzheimer's and I'm so hurt that this happened to him. read more

I love this store! I can find here everything what I want(rock, pop, heavy metal cd's, t-shirts, etc.)!

Nice place great selection of cds and great staff this place rocks

Was once great. Once had real music. It had all the obscure rock and indie one could imagine. Now it is a mainstream filth hole. The security is super close at all times. For 35 min a guy followed me like i didnt know he was security. I have stopped going here. It is an institution in chicago music. But the shit they play in there now sucks and its all mainstream read more

I used to love stopping in at Rolling Stones; the ambiance was great with all the cd's hanging from the ceiling and what not. But on a recent, as I was simply browsing with my girlfriend, one of the employees told us that we couldn't just stand around in one spot. The dude was a total d-bag and wouldn't get off our case even when were clearly stopped to look at particular cd's. i'll never go back...such a shame that one person can totally ruin the reputation of an entire store. read more

I don't know why I keep walking into this place expecting to see vinyl. With the current vinyl resurgence, why haven't they gone back to carrying vinyl? no one's buying cd's anymore. get with the times. read more

This store has always been a pretty uncomfortable place to be. When I was a teenager I could understand the employees staring me down and not being too friendly or helpful, thinking I probably didn't have any money and might steal something anyway. I went back there last night thinking that since I am a lot older now they might treat me a little differently. I was clearly a fool. I walked in and everyone at the counter turned and stared, so I smiled and said "Hi how are you?" very cheerfully. Their response? Absolutely nothing. Are you kidding me? Okay whatever, I will just go look for the album I am trying to find. I was clearly having a hard time figuring out where to find what I was looking for, and the employee that is stationed in the middle of the store as surveillance is just standing there staring at me. While you are being paid to stand there and do nothing all day, at least ask the customers if they need help. And if you are supposed to be undercover or something, you are doing a horrible job. No customer is just going to lean up against the shelves and stare at people. I never found what I was looking for, which shows that they do not carry any decent music anymore. But how can you expect to get any business when you treat every customer like a criminal and can't even bother to return their greetings? I have many memories here, but I will never return. Who wants to go into a store where all the employees just act like they hate you? read more

Horrible return policy. I purchased a Vinyl that was sealed. I took it home and when I played it only had one track on it. It was supposed to be the entire album. I took it back to Rolling Stone's and they didn't have anymore in stock so they said they had to order another one because they wouldn't even exchange it for another record for equal value. It had to be the same exact thing which is unheard of. anyways not only is this bullshit but they wont even mail it to me or I have to pay for shipping. None of all the inconveniences were my fault and I definately will never ever shop here again and spreading the word. read more

I wish they had more obscure stuff. But its better than any of the chains and the staff is very knowledgeable!

So I called earlier and got a 14.99 price on a dvd. When I arrived at the store and presented the dvd with that price tag to the clerk , she told me it was 19.99 and went to the counter and pulled another out at that price. When I complained to the manager he said the person who prices them screws up all the time. I asked why they still work there and he says he asks himself the same question. I asked what the owner has to say and he tells me he doesn't care. I bring up the threat of reporting them to the BBB and they tell me they don't care if I do. I will never, ever shop there again. I have never been treated this way in a store. I hope they go out of business. read more

Grew up at this place. It is sacred, it's the best. I pray it stays open forever! They have hard to find music and a huge selection.

I've been going here forever but lately keep walking out empty handed. I saw a Die Antwoord release on their website and came in 3 days after the release. They were out of stock and were not going to order more unless I did a special order. I waited weeks for this and was actually exited to go to their store but they didn't have it and weren't going to get it. I went to Portland Ore and bought in there and the store had the last few albums as well. The selection sucks. I purchased a Mushroomhead CD there and loved it, I came back to buy an earlier release and they didn't have ANYTHING anyhere from the band, even the CD I just bought. Record stores will live on for albums and those of us who want a Hard copy of our favorite recordings (I also use a Mac for the unimportant music). This place is not so great anymore. Oh yeah, the next time one of the bust out teen "Security Guards" looks at me weird he will get a stare down and maybe a slap. If I really wanted to steal from you punk you would be knocked the F out. Please be cool again. read more

Another country heard from...well, actually, a different part of Chicago. I've never lived or worked anywhere near the Harlem-Irving RS (although I sometimes shop at the big mall), but when I worked downtown in the 80's there was a Rolling Stones (actually I think it was actually called Rolling Stone) records store at Washington and Wells. The store carried a great array of all kinds of music and actually saw its busiest traffic on Thursday afternoon and all day Friday - READER TIME! So of course if you were picking up the paper you sort of felt compelled to at least look at the merchandise, and maybe even buy something you saw or order something you didn't. For reasons unknown to me the store changed its name to "Rock Records" although it kept its logo similar to the H-I Rolling Stones and still has those cool pictures of 70s and 80s era stars in the window. It's probably still the "go-to" music store for Loop workers. read more