Kelly from Australia at the help desk is a GEM, kindly taking the time to educate me on the…read moresweetest vinyl buying lesson. I've barely begun to dip my toe into deep appreciation of physical music mediums, and accompanied my wife here on her birthday search for a few specific vinyls and CDs. My search was narrow, hoping for a Odesza vinyl. I found two vinyls from the A Moment Apart album I was in search for with one being a used copy in a deep sea foam color while the other was a clear vinyl. Because I knew nothing about vinyls, I went to the front desk where Kelly took the time to show me how; 1) properly remove vinyls from their sleeve, 2) the direction to clean vinyls using a microfiber cloth, 3) check downs to go through when inspecting a used vinyl, and 4) in why's behind inspecting vinyls the way she recommended. In taking the time to show me how to check 3 separate clearance vinyls, I felt even more stoked about my Odesza used vinyl find as it was fun colored vinyl not yet in our collection and in beautiful condition. Kelly - thank you for not being a gatekeeper. You rock!

So this is the newer Amoeba in Hollywood. They moved from the original location off Sunset Blvd,…read morethink awhile back. But, this location is pretty nice. It's located right across the street from the Metro B Line, so take the transit for super convenience! Walking in, there is security staff that's there that will do a bag check. They also do this when you're leaving the store. The store itself is a nice warehouse of everything you're looking for: music, movies, and merchandise like t-shirts, buttons, even some CD players (not top of the line, but they have them!). Everything is organized at this location - with lots of staff on the floor, restocking and organizing the racks. They have a good selection of everything, but also they don't have everything. I didn't find what I was looking for at my last visit, but it was still nice to browse through the store. They also seem to carry a lot of brand new CDs here. Amoeba's a cool shop if you've never been to one before. It's one of the remaining larger physical music shops left that have tons of music CDs, records, and other awesomeness.

A video store for all of us intellectual movie nerds!…read more Videotheque sells some new and used DVDs and Blu-Rays, but their main purpose of being is as a video rental store and it's like no other video store I've been too. Their videos are organized by how a cinema fan's mind works. By category, by country, by director. John Woo movies in the Hong Kong director's section. Hou Hsiao-Hsien in Taiwan. There's classic porn from the 70s, 80s and 90s. There are Criterion discs. There are John Huston movies, Godard movies, Wim Wenders and David Lynch. Dario Argento horror movies. Sci-fi. Pre Sci-fi. Post Sci-fi. Brazilian. African. Silent films... I could go on and on. If you are looking for an obscure out of print classic film that's not on streaming, there's an 80% chance that you can find it here to rent. There is street parking nearby. The problem? I live in OC and this place is in Mount Washington/Montecito Heights. So if I move down there, I'll be renting some unheard of movies, that's for sure!

This is a movie rental place. I know hard to find now days. They do sell some stuff. It is really…read morefun to look through all the movies they have. Most everything is dvd, but they have blu-ray and 4k too. I liked talking to the staff about their stock. They had some stuff that I'm been looking for rent. They said the they move all the shelves around so they can have a movie night where they bring out a projector. I recommend this place if you got the time. They do seem to have most every that I asked for.

Supervinyl is a one-of-a-kind exclusive vinyl shop in this great area. You can tell it's run by…read moresmart people that are also fun. This place has great energy and if you are very articulate, they can also order items for me it was a specific 1994 Bedtime Stories Album with the image right side up. ( many were issued with an upside down front cover image back then ). They fully understood my obsession with this too and thats really cool. Some vinyl stores there is such a hierarchy of snobbery that I avoid them. Not Super Vinyl. They cool. Collaborate with both Gracie and/or Emily to get you exactly what you want for your vinyl collection.

Supervinyl is a modern vinyl shop with a welcoming setup. To get here, there is tons of street…read moreparking all around the area. Inside, their records are organized nicely by artists and genres. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Their records are priced fairly and they have a good selection to pick through. I did not end up getting anything today, but will definitely be back next time I am in the area to check them out again.

PUNK RECORDS ONLY. I happened to stop by here looking for some used LPs. My bad for not reading the…read moredescription but I didn't know they only carried punk vinyl. They had a few records I knew like The Clash but most were deep cuts from the punk scene. They carry a lot of apparel and posters too. The worker was real friendly and helped me find another store that might have what I was looking for. Also for the pandemic curious they were taking steps to reduce risk.

One of my go to spots for vinyl shopping. Great selection of punk, goth, post punk, psychobilly…read more Prices are reasonable considering their location right in the heart of Melrose. Street metered parking close by. If vinyls are not your thing (but they should be) , you can pick up some great band tees, books, leather jackets and chains. Now what sets this place apart from other stores is the exceptional quality of their merchandise and the owner is amazing. Top notch customer service! If you are in LA cruising Melrose, stop in and check them out.

Took my girlfriend's early-80s turntable in because the needle needed replacing, and this place…read moreabsolutely blew me away. It's tucked away, but once you step inside, you're surrounded by some of the most incredible sound systems and turntables--it honestly feels like a hidden gem for audio lovers. The staff couldn't have been nicer. They checked out the turntable and let me know the needle was just dirty, then cleaned it for free. No upselling, just genuine help. They did recommend upgrading the turntable down the line, which I'm definitely considering after my trip. If you're even remotely into stereo gear, this spot is a must-visit. It's basically the Amoeba Records of high-end audio. 10/10.

This place is nothing short of heaven. The gear is all next level, sure, but it's the friendliness…read moreof the staff and the way the place feels that has me coming around. From getting educated on different amp/speaker pairings to their listening sessions that raise money for LAUSD ... I just might need to move in.

Walking into The Last Bookstore feels less like entering a shop and more like stepping into a…read moredifferent world. Housed inside a former bank, the space already carries this grand, historic energy that sets the tone before you even start browsing. What makes this place unforgettable is how it's designed to be explored, not rushed. There are cozy spots scattered throughout where you can sit and get lost in a book, but the real magic is upstairs. It opens into a maze of rooms, each with its own personality, filled with carefully arranged books that feel more like art than inventory. At times, it genuinely feels like you've wandered into a dream. One of the highlights is the famous tunnel of books, which adds to that surreal, almost cinematic experience. Everywhere you turn, books are used as decor in the most creative ways, and it creates this quiet moment where everything else fades out. Upstairs also holds one of my favorite parts, a row of art studios featuring work from local artists. Every piece feels intentional, unique, and thoughtfully placed. Right nearby, there's a small coffee shop surrounded by beautiful artwork, making it an easy place to pause and take it all in. This isn't a quick stop kind of place. Plan to spend a few hours here, wandering, discovering, and just enjoying the atmosphere. It's one of the most iconic bookstores I've ever been to, and it absolutely lives up to the reputation.

If you like books this is the place for you. It is awesome to walk through and look at all the…read morebooks. There were so many amazing old books to look at. The book tunnel was an impressive construction

Nivessa is a vinyl shop on Pico with a solid curation of records. To get here, street parking will…read morebe your best bet and there is a good amount of it around the area. Inside, they have decent sized setup with fairly priced vinyls organized by artists and genres. All of the staff here are friendly and welcoming. Wifey and I found some pretty cool gems and ended up leaving with a Faye Webster vinyl we had been searching for. Definitely stop by for some crate digging and see what gems you can find!

Cool shop with a huge selection. Fast service. Pretty pricey for some records but expected for…read moreHollywood.

Always a pleasant experience, great prices, always good selection of genres enough to keep everyone…read morehappy. Never had a problem with the quality. And great professional guys working at the front desk, overall a great place to shop at.

High fidelity records is the best place on planet earth. It is also a place where music exists and…read moreyou can buy it, hence more reason for #1 on our planet. The people are nice too, so please look forward to that.

This is a great record shop located right off of the central Little Tokyo Shopping District…read moreCorridor. What they offer is vinyl. It's a simple as that. Plus, they have a lot of it. In terms of their actual offerings, they have a lot of used vinyl, some of it is very rare. So, if you're looking for that really special something, you may very well be able to find it at this shop. They also have a lot of new vinyl. Some of it is of the older variety, and some of it is very new releases. So, whatever you're looking for, you should be able to find something here. In terms of their pricing, it's all very reasonable. Even the rare vintage vinyl they offer is priced very competitively in correlation with the modern market. This is the same with their new vinyl, their prices are very competitive. They also offer a few other items like some cassette tape and things like that. Thus, it is your one stop shop for when you want to grab that special piece of music. The staff here are all really nice. So if you need any help, they'll be happy to help you out. Overall, this is one of those dying breeds of shops, one that offers a grand selection of vinyl. It's a great place to visit, whether you're looking for that special record, or you're just looking to look. Overall, it's a great shopping experience.

Going Underground Records is a nicely curated record shop packed with some good finds! This spot is…read morelocated in the Little Tokyo area. There is a nearby paid parking garage or street parking all around the area. Inside, they have a pretty spacious setup with lots of records to sort through. Some cool record finds I came across for my music taste were Pop Smoke, Big Sean, Tame Impala, Kehlani, and Thee Sacred Souls. The records here are fairly priced and the staff are friendly and welcoming. I ended up copping the 75th Anniversary Sailor Moon vinyl for wifey since it was a record she had been chasing and one we do not see in the wild often. Definitely come check them out if you are ever in the area!

The perfect place for all the K-Pop fanatics!!…read more Leading up to the Blackpink Deadline World Tour, here in LA, my sister did all of her research and had a list of merch she was planning to buy. I can't express the disappointment my sister faced when items were either sold out super early in the day and some items she was eagerly wanting wasn't available for sale in North America. Thankfully, Fandom K was all over our social medias. This little gem carries an abundance of items relating to the K-Pop genre but also specializes in items only found in Korea & Japan. This place was a dream come true for my sis and she was able to find a majority of her wants. Staff is kind and open to help if you are willing to speak up. 4 stars overall. Pricing is kind of high depending on what you are purchasing but I didn't expect anything less since the shop offers items that aren't normally available in the US. As a forewarning, parking is terrible if you are attempting to find something along the street. I suggest having someone wait in the car and swing back around to pick you up once you are finished shopping.

This place is loaded with original Kpop merch. I highly recommend giving this place a visit…read more I thought my grand daughter was going to pop out of her skin. (She loved the place too)