Excellent vibe, friendly service and a great record store nestled in the heart of a community. Well worth your visit.

I mean there was a rock band playing when I walked in so I tried to start a mosh pit as usual but not enough people were there. There was also a cheapo bin, 79 cents lol. As soon as I saw a Ray Coniff record I KNEW it was TRASH lol and nothing was there nor in the whole place. But I'm sure if you dug very thoroughly you'd find something eventually read more

As a new human who wanted to enjoy records I went ahead and purchased a record player online and for the life of me, I couldn't get it to project any sound through my amplifier. I stopped by Vals and told them about the problem and they told me to bring it in so they could take a look at it after a few wire moves and needle adjustments it started making beautiful sounds. You never get service like this today and as an older person it's refreshing -- Thank you for being you and helping out this novice. Also picked up some vinyl to spin on my new favorite toy. They have a lot to choose from pretty much covering every flavor of music. I know that I will be spending lots of time and money feeding my new addiction and what a great place to do so. read more

Val's Halla Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Place never fails to make me waste my money on stuff I don't need. These people will always compliment what you pick up. If this place ever closes down I will be the one to save it. read more

#NoVinylSnobbery Stopped in for a Black Friday sale and live music during the day (in celebration of the owner, Val, who recently passed away). I love record stores, and it's nice to know there are a few remaining shops in the Chicagoland area. This place is a total blast from the past. The shop is decent in size, with an area set aside for live music--very cool. Apparently they have bands come in and play all the time. What a great way to support the local music scene. As far as vinyl, the collection is huge and covers all genres of music. They also have a wall of CDs and a few posters and knick knacks for purchase. Prices are very reasonable, and the biz is located in a super funky and hip area of Oak Park. It's in the Oak Park Arts District, and the area is going under a revitalization. So worth your time checking out the other stores in the area while you're at it. BTW, I hear vinyl is making a comeback, so now you can add this shop to your list. read more

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Stopped in today for my first time but my husband and teen have been coming for years. There's a lot of love here for sure and the live music during today's Black Friday event was great, bands playing every 30-40 minutes from open to close. read more

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Your average record store. Lots of new reissues, and used vinyl that is priced a bit high. I walked away with nothing, employees were friendly and the store is organized neatly. I most likely will not be returning. To sum it all up, there wasn't anything necessarily wrong with this store, but there wasn't anything really good about it either. read more

My favorite shop. Always some gems, new or used. Can't count the number of classic original pressings I've found here, but they include Dark Side of the Moon, the White Album, and Exile on Main Street... all at super reasonable prices. You won't find a shop with more character, history, or institutional knowledge. These guys are the tops. read more

Val's is one of the last remaining gems of a retail industry moved mainly online. Val herself is one of a kind. I love that I can bring my dog here, and I love even more that I can sing a song to Val and she can tell me what it is. I appreciate the kitsch, but am sad that things have changed since they had to move. They don't have the best selection of new releases, but I like to think of this as an antique or thrift store, or one that caters to that special nitch crowd of true music lovers. If you're looking for vinyl, indie, or that hard to find used item, check here. If you're not quite sure what you're looking for, Val will happily help you figure it out. read more

I was raised in a used bookstore, in an area where such a place can no longer possibly remain in business, so my love stems partly from that nostalgia. I nearly never find what I desperately want, but there's always something cool to be found at a steal. The Elvis bathroom is kitchy, but worth a chuckle. I like Val and the other people who work there - proof that you don't have to be an asshole to work in a music store. read more

Val's Halla suffers from having a average / mediocre collection of used records. While most record stores compensate by providing an extensive collection of newly pressed records, Val's doesn't really have that either. After thoroughly looking through their collection I came out empty handed. To add insult to injury, I was treated with condescension or perhaps passive aggressive attitudes because I spent so much time there and found nothing that I actually wanted. I'm sorry that most of your records are overpriced and mostly rejects from the 70s and 80s. I'm sorry that the records I might have wanted, I already have. I'm sorry that I had a Groupon. My bad. Or is it yours? Unfortunately, I have to go back. Hopefully the experience will be better. read more

Val is amazing. She's super knowledgeable, and it's all spawned by her obsessive love of music. That, and she's just plain cool. Their folk selection is particularly deep, and the prices are very reasonable. The average price for used vinyl is probably $4-5. The shop has a stage and is incredibly supportive of the local music scene. Even if you hate music, come to meet Val. read more

If you've ever wondered about the meaning of life, you may find a clue to the answer here. This is true even if you don't like records. It's because Val, the 4+ decade owner of this shop, carries the aura of someone who found meaning for herself. Four decades is a long time to be doing the same thing, but on my first visit here a couple months back Val made the time for a half hour conversation about lifetimes of musical discovery, the local music scene, and the life-work balancing act of musicians. On each of these topics she carried both the unbridled enthusiasm of a teenage newbie and the depth of wisdom of an ancient sage... without the bitterness and resignation of someone doing something too long. Also I once read a pseudo science article about how really smart people have wild hair because there's a lot of zinc in their hair... Val's Einstein-like shock of wild white hair would make this seem true. While this may not be the go-to place for new releases, the geographical and historical depth here is pretty staggering for such a small shop. When you're done digging through the 60s/70s/80s in the crates below, and jazz from the 20s and 30s, the classical selection is probably the biggest strength here and is where I may go when I'm ready to travel again. I wouldn't know where to start. But if I needed a time machine operator who could not only suggest where to go next but get me excited about the destination, I'd go with Val. read more

Never going back. Tried a few times. Was told that since I like jazz and classical she had everything. Every piece or artist I wanted might "be in back" or was sold last week. Nothing of interest. Asked if she knew where to get a copy of a rare Ray Charles/Count Basie recording I was told it didn't exist, yet found it the next day at the Jazz Record Mart. Asked if she had any Husker Du, and was told I had bad taste in rock, great sales tactic. Can't just go here to shop because between the terrible selection and nagging with fake stories, you can't focus. Maybe this is why the place is always in financial trouble. read more

First time and I didn't have a great (or even a good) experience, and I won't be back. Decent records, but the owner is arrogant, & rude. She got mad at me for asking to listen to a modest stack of records? ... Isn't that why you have a listening station? Told me that I needed to narrow down my choices ... Hey Val, Its sunday afternoon & the store is empty? ... Im at a record shop, I want to listen to some records ... Im trying to buy your records. Being rude to your customers isn't the smartest idea .. .and we were really excited to come & dig your store, and you totally ruined it by being rude & a know it all, and you didn't even know what I was talking about. Then some bratty kid comes in and is stepping on the records to reach VHS tapes ... But she says nothing!? ... WTF? ... I found some Lithuanian jazz funk, a few private press psych folk LP's, some gospel funk, and a sealed rare soundtrack ... For anybody that says they didn't find anything here, look harder. To Val ... Kiss my ass. You suck! ... read more

I love Val. She loves doggies! Super cool, very knowledgeable woman who loves music more than anything. The old place was great. I miss it. Sad to say though that the new place is just another record store. And not very well stocked and is severely lacking in character. It's just a big open square room filled with posters and displays of the glory days. sigh... another record store. If your looking for vinyl, she might have it, but CD's, DVD's or any other media format is pretty limited. They of course always inform you they can order anything for you, but again, this is like anything else in the world, I can do the same from the comfort of my own home. It's the thrill of the hunt that makes shopping fun. read more

Much love to my home town record shop. I'll admit that I'm a bit biasIed cause one of my closest friends is the manager here. But here are some reasons why I still love Val's. -I bought my first indie rock cds here. -They had a cranky cat and still have a friendly dog. -Val loves pets and I could bring my crazy ass dog there for visits. -If you special ordered something, it would arrive in a day or two. They were forced to move to a different location and I don't think that they get the same business as they used to. A lot of people think that independent record shops have gone the way of the dinosaur but many of them are still surviving, flourishing even. Please don't let Val's die. read more

Haven't been here in years, but always had fun looking through records and it was always interesting talking to Val. I liked testing her from time to time going there, just to see how up on her stuff she was. I believe we ended up talking about Merzbow the last time I was there, and I probably had a "wtf" look stapled on my face the entire time. Great vinyl selection here. I hope to get back there sometime soon. read more

Val's is unique. Their CD selection is not that great, and it's a little annoying to look at her selection through the locked case with arm holes. I've never found anything good in the used CD selection. The LP's, for the most part, feel pretty picked over. However, I still love browsing in this place. I almost always find something there, which lately is a 45 single or a cassette tape (yes, I'm one of the few people that still buy music on tape). Val is quite the character, and she and her staff are very knowledgeable of things I have no knowledge about. They are very helpful and friendly. Also, I actually like this new location. Only went to the old one a couple of times and yes, it did have more personality to it, but the new place seems more spacious and is in the heart of the Harrison Arts District. Once your done at Val's, take a stroll down to the Brown Elephant for some resale, and then to the Buzz Cafe for a coffee. read more

Oh Val Val's has been around for about 7000 years. I believe when Noah (of Ark fame) did his record with the T-rex (Sorry baby you missed the boat and my love); Val's had the single. It is old, musty, dusty (even in the new location), and sort of dis-jointed. The music is always loud, and often eclectic just to be eclectic and odd. The collection is strange, wacky, and they have more than one laser disc. The staff is fussy, socially awkward, and self involved. AND I LOVE IT. Unlike many record stores I am not inclined to jump over the counter and kick the shit out of the assclown behind it. The staff has a massive knowledge of music. Val worked in the record industry for years, so she knows the business, not just a record store snob. Val owns a business, and has for years, not just some kid with an attitude working at a record store, while living in a crap apartment with four other wasted fucksticks touching themselves over Kim Gordon posters. Shane seems to have actually evolved from the store itself, like he is a living, breathing part of the store. They also like people, children, and dogs. They will have insanely long conversations about music with people who obviously have no fucking idea what they are talking about. They educate the young, ignorant, and the plain stupid. Their prices are good, and the quality is very good. When it comes to used records, you do not have to worry if your getting something good, you are. They do not have a great deal of new releases on hand, but if you want, all you have to do is walk your immediate gratification ass up to the counter and order it. Then you have to use something called patience, and wait. Soon thru the wonder of the U. S. postal system, and the telephone your purchase will arrive. I have ordered many things (wax or CD) and gotten them with 7 days, and they will hold it as long as you like, because you pay for it up front. They also seem to have some secret stash in the darkest regions of the world, because they can find stuff, stuff I have looked for on the interweb, and came up blank. The other wonderful part is the surprises, if you look you can find some really amazing things, not all the time, just some of the time. If your a record store junkie you know that is part of the fun. Once I was in there, looked about, did not see anything that caught my eye. I was about to walk out, Shane (the employee with curly hair) looked up from something self absorbing and said "you better turn around and walk over to that folk section", then went back to his activity (most likely the crossword). What followed as a time period filled with many "holyshit", "are you kidding me", and various other expressions of joy. This is only one of the many times i have been guided by the staff here to some wonders hidden in the stacks of records. 40 years people, that is something to be admired, cherished, and shopped at. read more

This is a classic old-school record shop that's been around for over 30 years. The CD selection is spotty at best, but its strength lies in the buried treasures (or perhaps staring down at you from the wall) in vinyl selections, and the exhuberant owner who will bend your ear about the shop's history. read more

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My first visit to Val's today. Wonderful, artsy neighborhood but with limited street parking. Owner (Val) stays open late on the 3rd Friday of the month so she was very nice and accommodating when I arrived 30 minutes past the scheduled closing time. This is the problem with record shops that have been in business forever -- they get a core stock that doesn't sell and gets fingerfucked by customers year after year to the point where the covers are bent/creased/worn/split and the vinyl's full of fingerprints. There's a few of the new 180g classic rock reissues on hand. The used selection was merely fair. I did find a couple 1980s Joe Cocker albums for $4.50 in superb condition... plus a great mid 70s Ted Nugent album for $5.50 which I later determined to be a 80s reissue (my fault) but still plays great... plus a Dion DiMucci album in superb condition for $2.50. I saw a couple other interesting pieces but the covers were trashed with good records or vice versa. I was a little timid to inquire if the prices were negotiable, so those didn't come home with me. 8-tracks? Yep. Cassettes? Yep. Not too sure why they're still there, but they are. 45rpms, too, but the filing system for them is chaotic and didn't appear worthy of a scavenger hunt. Val is helpful. The door barely closed behind me when I entered before she asked me what I was looking for. The disadvantage to the store is it's 35 miles away, and requires travel on I-88/I-290 from my home which are FRICKIN' PARKING LOTS during the late afternoon. I'm talking road-rage bumper-to-bumper bullshit traffic. I merely mention this for those who read this and are required to travel. Also including the cost of those bastard tolls (round trip was over $6), and buying off eBay is not that bad of an option. read more

A day trippin to find Doris Day cd's also brought me in this direction but by the time I was near enough to visit, they were closed. A conversation by phone revealed that if I'd had more time to wait for the cd.s, Val's could have the cd or tracks I wanted in about 3-5 business days, but within the week for sure. (Just wanted to note that.) Here and at Chicago Digital, both stores have an ability to get Doris Day, for ya. read more

Believe me, I want to shop local. I prefer to patronize independent store. But this store lacks sufficient stock of new releases. They didn't have ANY of the 5 records I was looking for. Was Val (the owner) friendly? Very much so. She offered to special order my records but sorry, I can do that on my own via amazon. The place did have a decent selection of used vinyl / everything from country to jazz. The saving grace is that this place is clean. Everything is organized and laid out in a sane manner. Especially nice is what's missing - that nasty "old record store" smell that usually follows an inventory of mostly 80s and early-90s vinyl (which this place stocks almost exclusively). Sadly for me, I left this place empty handed. I enjoyed the reviews of others and walked in with high hopes - especially considering the record store void that is the Chicago suburbs. read more

What's that I smell? It's 50 years of music industry pretentiousness. I've given Val's Halla a shot now on several occasions and I can honestly say that I have no reason to ever return again. As a vinyl enthusiast with very specific tastes, I recognize that crate digging is more or less a crap shoot for me. Leaving empty handed has never disappointed me. Half of the fun is the chase and element of surprise the Chicago area record stores offer. That being said, the fact that I've never found anything at Val's that has peaked my interested is only a small reason I'm writing this review today. Yes, the selection as many have mentioned here is old, dated, and doesn't seem to rotate much. Over the 2 year span that I've visited this store, I'd say 80% of the vinyl remains the same. Like the collection, the store could use some sprucing up itself. It's sparsely decorated with a few falling posters and faded window displays. If the stock was more exciting, I'd have focused less on the ambiance. I guess I got bored. For a comparison, take a look at nearby Oak Park Records. I can't recall a thing on the walls and it's probably been years since someone took a bottle of Windex to the place but I'm always impressed at what that store has hidden away amongst it's bins. And instead of bragging about the inventory you bring in daily (as I've heard Val do on several occasions), they actually show it by having a regularly revolving selection. And this brings me to the shop owner herself, Val. It's clear that Val has years of experience in the music industry ... She can't stop talking about it to every person she strikes up a conversation with. And instead of being drawn in by her wealth of knowledge, it comes off as extremely condescending and pretentious. She constanty disagrees with you and corrects you as though she's some "grande dame" of music theology. She is very forward and approaches everyone to either 1.) Ask if you are searching for something, 2.). Talk up her store of 30,000 albums and how things are not organized as they might be at other stores and 3.) She'll probably slip in that she worked for Capitol years ago as a validation for her vast musical knowledge. If you're lucky, she'll cover all of the above and if you don't engage her or provide her with a taste of what you're looking for, she'll be back 15 minutes later when you haven't found anything yet. It becomes more than a little uncomfortable. During my last visit I was scolded for looking through the overstock below because everything below could be found above. I hate to tell ya, Val, but that wasn't the case on quite a few albums in the short time I looked. I also overheard her criticize a customer checking out because he couldn't find more that what he was purchasing in a store of over 30,000 albums. Perhaps he could have in a store with better selection. There was a recent article written about Val's Halla and how it's been struggling financially. The community was coming together for a fundraiser to save this store and help Val pay her bills. I had little sympathy for the financial woes expressed in the article. The article spoke to the number of improvements the store needed to make to stay competitive with other used record stores in an already difficult industry. I agreed with all of them; increasing online presence, shipping more titles, and expanding the use of the small performance space in the store. She'd like to turn the place into a destination; a hot spot for cultural discussions. In theory, a good business owner would have put these elementry plans in motion years before debt was so high that it became a struggle to pay the electric bill. The Chicago-area music community is amazing, however, and I understand the cause here; saving an Oak Park legacy from the pits of financial ruin. That said, little has changed since the fundraiser took place. And while things can't change over night, over a month later and the store looks and feels just as it has for years. Perhaps a move to its new location (coming soon according to the poster on the entrance) will turn this place around. Unfortunately, it will take more than a new location to bring me back to Val's Halla. read more

When I brought in CDs to possibly sell, she looked through them and then with a majorly snotty attitude said "I don't need any of these." OK, well, I don't need your store or your attitude either. First and last visit! read more

Well, what can you say about Val's that could possibly be appreciated by anyone that doesn't know her...it's tough, but here goes. I think the best way to describe Val's in response to some of the negative reviews regarding her personality is " if you can't take the heat then get out of the kitchen!" Val has been in the music business longer than most of her customers have been alive. You have to love the fact that when she was forcibly moved from her old and great location because of a building renovation, that instead of packing it in and opening up an Ebay business, she chose the monumental task of moving thousands of records and cd's to a new location - taking on a new lease in a very uncertain economy and even more uncertain business. I truly believe that Val is a music first person and business 2nd. She has given her constant support to local bands and even has in-store events with live musicians. As far as the comments from the e-morons out there about how you can order things yourself from Amazon instead of letting Val do it for you, well congratulations on doing your part to destroy the music business in Chicago. Of course you can order on-line, and you should if that is what you like to do, but don't stop going to Val's just because you can get somehting cheaper on--line. The Val's experience is about browsing her large and very comprehensive stock of used LP's and maybe even finding a cd or two that you would never have come across while your eyes were bulging from shopping on-line. Shop smart, but also shop local. Val's IS Americana. read more

Wonderful service, oodles of personality, and a mecca for those who still think of music as more than just a digital file.

Val's Halla is a national treasure insofar as vinyl and rock music curios. Go now, I beg you!

The people that run this store are super nice and very helpful as other reviews have pointed out. However, the selection is pretty average, much of the stock appears not to "overturn" much, and for stuff I do want that they actually have, there are other stores in town (and next store in Forest Park--namely Oak Park Records and the Old School) that often have the same records along with a better overstock that does turn over more frequently. This makes Val's less of a "have to stop" location. Val's does have nice prices on the records and cds they do have on hand though, so this is a plus. read more

Finally decided to pop back in this place. Things are much better than the last visit.

Anyone giving this place 4-5 stars is comparing it to best buy; like comparing TGIFridays to mcdonalds.

Yes. Val's Halla is an awesome piece of Oak Park. A few weeks ago, my husband and I went wandering OP, taking in everything before the holidays. The store is organized, the staff is friendly and the selection is okay. Researching albums is something they are actually happy to do! The bathroom is something that should not be missed. Really. If you're in the area, enjoy records and shopping local, check it out. read more

This is a review for the new place, and, well, it's a jack-of-no-trades: 1. Selection = slightly below average 2. Prices = slightly above average 3. Location = minorly inconvenient I saw a Frank Stallone self-titled album on sale for $8. The price sticker was dated Sep '07. read more

Worth stopping in if you are in the area but is only so -so. Some things are ridiculously overpriced and some things are a steal. Shouldn't be too hard to find the gems b/c the used lp stock is pretty thin. No listening station = majorly lame. Fought me about letting me hear a record on the store system that I was curious about, even though I was the only person in the store :/ Sold me a double live lp that contained the same record twice w/o noting it on the price tag :( This place is very close to fail, imho. read more

I used to frequent Val's almost on a weekly basis when I was in school about 15 years ago. Oh the obscure treasures you could find at Val's - The Beat Farmers, The Flaming Groovies bootlegs, the no-name punk bands.... Amazingly, it's still practically the same place now and Val's still around!!! It's a blast just to come in to browse. read more

The level of service I have received at Val's goes way beyond service typically received, especially at a record/cd store. Val takes the time to know her customers on a personal level. She has been my go-to person whenever I need a gift for my husband, who has very unusual taste in music. All i do is stop by and ask what he'd like or what he has been looking at lately and she has lots of suggestions, all of which were a hit with him and things I never heard of. Shayne has also been as helpful when selecting a gift for my son. He knows what he has purchased and makes suggestions. read more

Fun selection of new, vintage and of course rarities. Val special ordered impossible to find Rammstein on vinyl for my daughter who just started collecting, which was super nice of Val to do. If you are going to camp out for record store day, this is where I would tell you to start! Anyone visiting Chicago should visit Val and keep the legend going. Very reasonable prices. read more

The BEST! Always...so sad about the passing of Val. I look forward to the new captain. If Val believes in him, I believe I can too. Coming in at just the right time, when vinyl is finding new fans among a younger generation who never knew music could sound SO GOOD! Looking forward to my next visit. read more

I traveled from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Chicago on business recently. When I'm traveling, I like to get a rental car and go hunting for vinyl records. I went to about 7 record stores in 3 days in the Chicago area. On my last day, on my way out, I stopped at Val's halla. I had to visit, if only because the name was so cool, and the reviews were good. Val's halla has a remarkably good collection of classical records - a source of particular interest to me. I came away with some very cool finds, including some Rameau harpsichord works performed by Scott Ross (whom I had never heard of previously), a great RCA Sibelius record with Pierre Monteaux and the London Symphony Orchestra, and some early music performed by Musica Antiqua Koln. I even found a 4-track Mercury recording on reel-to-reel tape. The prices were generally fair. Some items were priced more than I thought they were worth, but other items were priced well below what they could've asked, so it's a bit of a wash. Val introduced herself and showed me around the store, and described its 40+ year history in the Oak Park area. She is a character, and clearly does this as a labor of love. I picked up a postcard of a painting of the shop, which will be going on my refrigerator. Record stores like Val's are uncommon. You may find something great at Val's, or you may not - but that's kind of beside the point. Hunting for vinyl is about the hunt, not just the kill. There's some happy hunting to be had at Val's halla, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is visiting the Chicago area. read more