What a great local record store in the Capitol Hill Neighborhood, even if browsing is a little bit tight with the limited space. They have a great selection of vinyl, CDs, and cassettes. They also have t-shirts, patches, and books. The CDs are a bit hard to browse based on the way they're filed but ask them if you're looking for something specific. They had all sorts of genres from jazz to reggae to metal to hip hop to punk to a (fabulous!!) holiday/Christmas section... and others, as well. The guy working so was really nice and helping everyone out; he even helped us find a record we couldn't locate on our own. It's in such a cute little part of town with other shops and restaurants/bars. Highly recommend stopping and a picking up a record, or two, or ten read more

This record store was such a great find during our vacation to WA! The selection he has was awesome, and there were so many vinyls to browse through. We spent over two hours looking around and enjoyed every minute of it. A really cool spot with a great vibe. I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area. read more

Zion's Gate Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great selection with surprisingly wide variety of genres. Staff knew about my random 80s punk interests and were very helpful too.

A great selection of records, graphic tees, and rock memorabilia. They even had some foreign vinyls. But the prices seemed quite high. I cannot even imagine how expensive the rent must be though. read more

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Service: This is more self-serve or look for the vynal of your choice Selection: Lots and lots to choose from from Bjork to the Z's Value: Depends on what your looking for Super cool vynal record shop, it's like going back in time. I loved it! read more

Zion's Gate Records - Front of store - Vinyl Records Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The owner is an outstanding person and really knows his musical knowledge!!!!!! Their inventory for underground music is outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

If you've ever eaten lunch at the airport, you know how much they jack the prices up, and that's because they've cornered the market on food. Where else are you going to go? I recently paid $60 for two hamburgers and two milkshakes at the SeaTac Airport. I couldn't believe it, but I had no alternative. This isn't the case with record shops here in Seattle. Here, there are so many great places to find music that I've overlooked Zion's Gate for years, never visiting. (It being somewhat out of the way for me doesn't help matters.) Zion's Gate has a good selection of metal. I was there for more rock-goth-prog-postpunk-oriented stuff and was pretty happy to see their selection of King Crimson, Bauhaus, Hawkwind, Dead Can Dance, Slowdive, Dinosaur Jr, Harry Nilsson, The Cure, and David Bowie. But their prices... At Zion's Gate, I saw albums that sell for $9.99 in other local shops going for $19.99. Example: the s/t Velvet Underground CD from 1969. Why on earth is this CD $19.99? I asked the owner why his prices were so steep. He replied: "It's because they're imports." But the Velvet Underground album isn't an import, and neither is his inventory on The Flenser (a San Francisco-based label). But he sells the latest Chat Pile CD (from Flenser) for $19.99, just like "Deathconsciousness" by Have a Nice Life (Flenser). Sonic Boom sells those same albums for $14.99. Why does Zion's Gate sell David Bowie's "Heroes" for $19.99? Zion's copy was a Japanese import, yes, but it was in a jewel case. I just bought several Bowie CDs (in vinyl-replica gatefold sleeves) for $11.99 each at Sonic Boom. Zion's Gate's used CDs were similarly overpriced. Why would they sell a used copy of King Crimson's "USA" for $11.99 when I can buy a brand-new (sealed) copy for $16? Because that's what Zion's Gate thinks I'll spend. (Yesterday, I saw a pristine used copy of the remastered "USA" at Jive Time Recs for $6.99.) And what's the point of my review? The owner of this record shop thinks he's the only game in town. (He must not get out much.) In his shop, I found two CDs by the Cure and almost bought them immediately. Then I looked around and saw his other prices, and I realized that by giving him my money, I was telling him it's okay to price-gouge his customers. So, I put them back. And I walked out. I'll probably order those Cure CDs from Discogs (they're a little hard to find, but I've seen them both for a lot less there). And I'll continue shopping at the other *GREAT* record shops in Seattle: Easy Street, Golden Oldies, Jive Time, Light in the Attic, Royal Records, Singles Going Steady, Sonic Boom, and Spin Cycle. See what I mean? This city's full of record shops. (I didn't even list them all, just the ones I frequent.) Why would I bother with Zion's Gate? I'm not stuck in an airport with an empty stomach. VERDICT: Avoid this shop. You'll find whatever you're looking for cheaper elsewhere. (I didn't bother with their vinyl or their shirts, though they're probably overpriced too.) Zion's Gate gets an 'A' for selection and an 'F' for prices. PS: Their Yelp profile claims that they've got the city's "largest collection of underground and obscure music." NOT TRUE. You'll find more obscure stuff at Jive Time, Royal Records, or Singles Going Steady. (It'll be 50% cheaper at those shops too.) Zion's Gate also claims that their records are "competitively priced...resulting in a wide range of price points." ALSO NOT TRUE. Their price range is only wide if you've never been to a record shop before. Then, seeing a Taylor Swift CD for $19.99 might make sense to you. I'm not a Swiftie, but if I was, I'd laugh in the owner's face. read more

I used to shop at this record store when I lived in Seattle about 10 years ago. I remember buying a Kraftwerk - Computer World LP there at one point. It turns out that this was an unofficial release that they were selling. Discogs has since made this version of the LP unsellable because of this. The record plays OK, but is effectively worthless at this point. If I ever wanted to sell it to someone else, I'd basically have to be dishonest about it. Maybe I could've done more due diligence on my part before purchasing it, but I also feel like they could be more transparent about what they are selling. Maybe things have changed since I last shopped there, but I would be very careful about shopping at this store. Especially since their prices seemed to be a little higher than I remember their competitors being (Sonic Boom, Easy Street). I also had some good experiences where I bought some records there that were totally legit, and the clerk seemed like a nice guy. The Kraftwerk purchase left a bad taste in my mouth though. Record buyers be careful. read more

This place is packed with almost 100% new vinyl. And by packed - it's hard to navigate the bins. And the alphabetical selections continue under the bins! This is not a complaint but just so ya know. There's also a unique selection of posters and Seattle music memorabilia. Great customer service. Prices are a but high but once again an amazing selection! read more

refreshing to find this shop. newcomer but grateful for the service and find. I was able to find an album I actually could not find. yes re release but not easy to even find this album so thank you read more

I personally haven't had a bad interaction with the people behind the counter, but I'm planning on going back soon so we'll see. I have been scouring the Seattle area for good punk record stores- I've just moved here from SoCal and dearly miss my favorite, Kaos records. This was a super exciting find! They had shirts and a few posters and patches, which I haven't been able to find at any other record store here (except Singles Going Steady near Pike Place!!). A lot of them were definitely more expensive than Amazon, but are worth paying for if you think about the risk of a vinyl getting damaged in the mail. CDs were further marked up so I'd probably go somewhere else for those. This shop has a particularly large selection of metal but a decent amount of punk and some good rap/hip hop. Five stars relative to the other ones I've visited thus far :-) read more

Zion's Gate Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I will forever be loyal to Zions gate. My favorite record store and they always have such a fantastic selection, with new arrivals pretty much daily. Plus the people that work here are super awesome read more

Found this shop while out for dinner in the area. Great service and selection. Tons of vinyl and music related merch. I scored a soundtrack I'd been looking for :) If you collect vinyl this is a great shop. read more

Zion's Gate Records - Akira Soundtrack - Vinyl Records Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Seller has Bowie's Blackstar vinyl listed on eBay, specifically the RTI pressing, for $39.99 plus $5.99 shipping. I inquired if they were sure it was this pressing, said they were confident but not 100% sure. I said I would order but return if it wasn't (listing says free returns within 30 days), so I ordered and paid. Seller said they don't do returns would rather cancel, that now they're not sure it's the RTI pressing, then relisted the item on eBay for $49.99 plus $6.99 shipping, with the comment "exact version unknown, I think it's RTI but I can't be sure". Super shady and dishonest. Avoid. read more

Zion's Gate Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This record store is 75% Metal and it's so awesome!!! I travel to Seattle every other month or so and I never miss an opportunity to spend at least an hour here (sometimes longer). It is an absolute destination for me. Greatest metal selection I have ever seen, period. They have a lot of other music too. Prices are $30-40 per album across the board. So budget accordingly and don't expect cheap vinyl here. (Thrift store is down the street.) Zions mostly traffics in new, in the wrapper, vinyl. I really enjoy coming here. Great, cool neighborhood. Thousands of titles. Always bumping something good and heavy over the speakers in the store. If you're into vinyl, and in Seattle, you need to get you A$$ to Zions Gate! read more

Zion's Gate Records - Amazing records from Zions Gate, Seattle - Vinyl Records Near Me - Seattle, Washington

+Great selection (especially of metal). +Great location -Owner has always been a bit of a douche and bad at interacting with people -Prices are high read more

Incredible selection of punk and metal records. Glad we happened across this place on our recent visit from Denver

They package old records and try to sell them as new. I opened a 'new' overpriced record and it was covered in scratches. Be careful buying stuff from here. read more

Used Records inventory is a laugh... Most of the records are in very poor condition and way overpriced.... It's very compact and cramped for a quality shopping experience.. I'm sure people will ague my review but I've been to quality used records store all over the country and this does not measure up to them. read more

Great assortment of vinyl and the staff is extremely friendly and offer recommendations for music within the genre you enjoy so that you can branch out and listen to new artists. Don't miss this hidden gem on Capitol Hill. read more

Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff. Great environment. The metal/punk selection is bonkers and the prices are fair.

I generally love record stores. I really do. I could not get onboard with this store. First - it seemed that I was a real bother to the guy working. I would like to point out that outside from saying hi, I generally want to search the aisles, I don't need a whole lot of attention. It also gave me a bit of a touristy vibe because I was immediately confronted by Nirvana's Nevermind upon walking in. I spend a lot of time in place like Reckless and Dusty Groove in Chicago and Amoeba in San Fran - I just didn't get a good feel for this place. Plus the prices were 5-6 dollars more than what I would typically spend. read more

Decent collection. Stopped here when I was visiting town recently. I got a couple Steely Dan albums! Loved this store.

Definitely my favorite record shop in Seattle. I go here once a week and give or take and the guy with the blonde hair (sorry I didn't catch your name) recommends a new record every time. It's always something really good. I've gotten more new music here than I have ever gotten anywhere else. If you have some time, check it out. read more

Zion's Gate Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Really good selection and decent prices. Will go again. This said I had to do 85 characters.

Pretty good, had all sorts of albums, ranging from Kanye to Radiohead. But a LOT of metal, as you could probably tell from the other reviews. I picked up Amnesiac and The King of Limbs (both Radiohead albums), there were artists like Echo and the Bunnymen and Depeche Mode and more metal and more Rock and more Kanye. Also I saw a vinyl of Foster the People. Store was a little cramped though, but in the end there was Radiohead and also my friend picked up some Led Zepplin. My final thoughts are: Wide variety of genres and artists within those genres, store was a little cramped, had Kanye, had Radiohead, had Led Zepplin. Pretty cool read more

Metalheads rejoice! There is a place for you in the world and it's on Capitol Hill. It's hard to leave a review for a music store because you just have to check it out. This place has a good selection of most different genres of metal. It's on the main drag of Cap Hill so it's easily accessible. You enter from the side door so While the store itself is not very big, the selection covers a good range of the different types of metal. A whole ton of new vinyl records from old and new bands alike. Some rarer than others, but price wise you won't go bankrupt here. Unless you decide to buy too many albums. Sadly that is a thing. They also have some merch for sale. Not a whole lot but you can find shirts in normal sizes. The wall by the register has posters for events and concerts coming up. They do have an online listing at Discogs so you can browse there before hand to get an idea of what they have in shop. read more

One of the worst record stores in Seattle. I've been probably 5 times and will not be returning. Mostly new vinyl, mostly metal/punk. I've watched the owner offend multiple customers and employees. Very arrogant and dismissive. Also poorly labelled used vinyl not identifying bootleg/unofficial pressings and reissues. Prices are high. Just not worth the effort with so many great options available in our city. Ratings (0-5, from crap to that's how you do it) Collection: 2 Price: 2 Location: 5 Vibe: 2 Staff: 1 read more

My favorite shop in all of Seattle! The dudes working there, Nate and Stephen are knowledgeable and friendly. I've seen previous reviews knocking their customer service, but honestly these dudes are cataloging, filing, selling, and bookkeeping simultaneously - so if they don't drop everything for me when I'm in there I don't mind. But you know what? The minute I have a question they have an answer. You won't find a more knowledgeable group of shop workers. Also, before you judge them based on their prices. Ask yourself if you know what it costs to run an independent record store that stocks hard to find LPs from across the planet. read more

I came to this record store and they sold me a defective vinyl and told me they didn't take returns. The owner said it in a very rude tone as well. read more

Smaller record shop, but packed wall-to-wall with music and merch. Rating down a bit because it's pretty overpriced on a lot of stuff. I struggled to find any CDs for less than $16, even the more common releases and popular artists. I fall towards the poppier side of rock, though, so I'm probably not the intended audience for this particular collection of records, based on other reviews. I did really like the amount of merch, with loads of t-shirts on the ceiling, and a fun selection of rock and metal patches. Finally found a Nirvana patch with Krist on it, not just Kurt! If you like record shops that feel like a magical dusty jungle where you might get crushed by falling vinyl, this is a place for you. I'll probably return at some point to discover artists I've never tried before. Cool spot. read more

Here's the link to their discogs shop: http://www.discogs.com/seller/zionsgate/profile Honestly, Zion's Gate has an AMAZING metal/punk/electronic collection. When I was in the store with my bf, the staff didnt pay attention to us at all. If you dont want to deal with the staff, I would suggest just coming in to check the conditions of their vinyls and then order them online in the future. The prices here may not be the cheapest, but a lot of records they have are only available internationally on discogs. After accounting for intl shipping, the prices here are mostly reasonable. read more

Zion's Gate Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Such a cool spot with a huge selection of vinyl & CD's. Some cool VHS & cassette tapes as well. The staff was great and friendly as well.

I love making the trip down to Seattle every couple of months to go to Zion's Gate! Not only do they have an amazing cd collection out to see, but they have boxes and boxes that you can go through if you're feeling like taking a deep dive. The shop also has racks of amazing band shirts that you can't find in person anywhere besides a concert. This music store is a staple if you love any kind of Metal or Punk music in my opinion and the staff is really chill and are able to give great opinion on music. Definitely check it out if you're in the area! read more

The person working there (maybe the owner) is a total gaslighter! I brought in a brand new record that I had bought less than 24 hours before because it had really bad quality sound. The guy behind the counter completely denied that there was anything wrong with it even after listening to how bad it sounded. He straight up tried to convince me that there was nothing wrong and then started mansplaining what was wrong!! He implied several times that I was just a newbie to buying records when he doesn't know anything about me. Then he shifted gears, accepting that it was distorted and started explaining what "muddy" and "a bad press" was in a super condescending way. He apparently took one look at me and decided I don't know shit about records. He said he wouldn't take a return (even though I didn't even ask for that) and he wouldn't let me just take store credit and made me find something right then to exchange it. Long story short, the guy was a bully and a dick. read more

In January 2021, I bought Gojira's L'ENFANT SAUVAGE 2-LP from ZGR on eBay for $100, including shipping. What they left out is that this had just been repressed (2021) and available on the band's website for $25 (still is as of 3/29/21). They were happy to let me believe it was the super rare 2017 pressing and thus pay that pressing's price. When I contacted ZGR, this was its response: "ah, yes sorry you are correct. i looked into it. we charged that price as now the 2021 version is out of print and considered rare. we did not indicate anywhere in our listing on ebay that it was an early press. im sorry, i was mistaken in saying it was an earlier press." They lied, because the new pressing was neither rare then nor even today. I requested a $45 refund to account for shipping and they just blew me off. Bottom line, this company will rip you off if it can. Avoid. read more

Pretty expensive records, I came looking for used records but they are very very hidden. Pretty intimidating and the prices discouraged me.

Absolutely love this store and the staff is very knowledgeable. If you haven't checked them out, do it!!

This place is the UNHOLY LAND if you are a metalhead. I stopped in there for the first time today and I could not believe how awesome it was. I also can't believe that they have been open since 1999 and that I had never heard of it. The selection is amazing, they have a wide variety of hard-to-find items as well as some cheap-o stuff too (I got Iron Maiden's "Somewhere in Time" for 2.99 because it didn't have the artwork in the jewelcase and that suited me just fine because I was just trying to replace the cd that I accidentally broke). I was also impressed with the amount of hats, shirts, and other apparel they have. Obviously, the focus is on Vinyl, but they basically have something for everyone. I heard the owner talking to other customers about plenty of other genres of music as well, so it isn't just metal. As for some of the reviewers here who seem to think the guy is on the ruder side, I disagree completely. He's straight-forward and to the point. He asks if you need help as soon as you walk in the door, but he lets you look around. He's not going to hold your hand because it seems like he respects the customers enough to assume they want to browse, but if you need something he'll answer politely, he's just not gonna be fake-smiley like a fast food restaurant. I'm honestly surprised anyone in Seattle would have a problem with this. Support this store if you like metal and music in general! It's a real treasure on the hill. read more

Zion's Gate is one of my go-to record stores in Seattle. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the selection is pretty diverse. They manage to pack an impressively massive amount of records into such a small shop. Also, there are so many different types of music to choose from. I find the staff here to be knowledgable and informed about the music they carry, and tend to ask for recommendations from time to time. I now live in Portland, so I don't get to visit as much, but I always make sure to pay Zion's Gate a visit when I take trips to Seattle. This place is great. The only negative thing I can report is that the records are sometimes overpriced. I feel like I would purchase more records from here if the pricing was more fair. This one issue, however, does not keep me from leaving happy after every visit. read more