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Chicago to Madison via Milwaukee
Chicago clusters, then Milwaukee and Watertown on the way to Madison's east side.
Route: Chicago → Milwaukee → Watertown → Madison · 12 record stores across 4 stops
Stop by stop
Stop 1: Clark Street: Lincoln Park to Lakeview
Dave's Records
Long-running Clark Street shop in two narrow aisles with a strong new-vinyl section and used stock; a Record Store Day regular.
Tip: Google lists no hours, so call or check social media before going.
2604 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
Hours not listed. Call ahead before you go.
Gramaphone Records
A long-running Clark Street shop focused on house and DJ records, with listening stations on Technics turntables and a good used section.
Tip: Open Thursday to Sunday only, noon to 6pm. Check bags at the counter.
2843 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday Closed Thursday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Reckless Records Lakeview
The Belmont Avenue Reckless store, with new and used vinyl, CDs and posters, strong on punk, metal and indie.
Tip: Sunday hours finish earlier at 5:30pm. Bring trade-ins if you want to swap records for store credit.
929 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Stop 2: Milwaukee East Side and Bay View
We Buy Records
A small East Side shop with a $6 bin and a big stock listed on Discogs, run by a friendly owner who buys collections.
Tip: Opens noon to 4pm daily; call ahead for specific records.
904 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Lilliput Records
Longtime Milwaukee shop (formerly The Exclusive Company) with a strong new-and-used mix.
Tip: Budget bins under $3 are on the floor beneath the main shelves — worth kneeling for.
1669 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Irving Place Records
Friendly East Side shop (formerly Bullseye Records) with a well-rounded selection across genres.
Tip: Grab a coffee next door at Comet Cafe before or after your visit.
1627 E Irving Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Acme Records
A small Bay View shop run by an owner who keeps used records in clean condition, strong in jazz, with a shop dog.
Tip: Open Wednesday to Sunday only, a few blocks from Rushmor.
2341 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Rushmor Records
Milwaukee's longest-running record shop, in Bay View, alphabetised and strong on classic albums, indie and punk, with plenty of rarities.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Bay View is a good neighbourhood for a coffee or lunch.
2635 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Stop 3: Watertown
Paramount Record Shop
Watertown shop with a large selection of cleaned used records plus recent new releases; a stop between Milwaukee and Madison.
Tip: Open just Thursday to Saturday, so time the trip.
402 E Main St, Watertown, WI 53094, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday Closed Thursday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sunday Closed
Stop 4: Madison East Side and Monona Drive
JiggyJamz Records and CDs
An east-side Madison shop focused on electronic music with deep hip-hop, funk and soul, and turntables for listening before you buy.
Tip: Listen to records on the shop turntables. Hours are late on Thursday and Friday.
1734 Fordem Ave Ste A, Madison, WI 53704
Hours
Monday 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunday 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM MadCity Music
A locally owned Atwood Avenue shop with a wide range of new and used vinyl and CDs, special orders and occasional in-store performances.
Tip: They list on Discogs and can hold or order items.
2023 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM The Door
Madison shop for hardcore, punk, thrash, death and black metal on vinyl, CD and tape, plus vintage band shirts.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; Friday is the longest day.
4509 Monona Dr B, Madison, WI 53716, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Hours and details come from public listings and may have changed. Small shops often keep short or irregular hours, so check or call before a long trip. See something wrong? Use Still open? in the app and we will look into it.