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Chicago West: DuPage, DeKalb and Rockford to Madison
Chicago's western suburbs, DeKalb, Rockford and Beloit on the way into Madison.
Route: Wheaton → DeKalb → Rockford → Beloit → Madison · 10 record stores across 5 stops
Stop by stop
Stop 1: DuPage and Fox Valley Drive
Mile Long Records
Downtown Wheaton shop weighted toward new releases and reissues, with an owner who offers turntable advice.
Tip: Open late on Friday and Saturday evenings.
128 W Liberty Dr, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Blue Village Vinyl Records
Used-leaning DuPage County shop with a big stack of singles and 45s alongside LPs, CDs and posters.
Tip: Good first stop on a western-suburbs drive; the Westmont Metra station is nearby.
29 E Chicago Ave Ste B, Westmont, IL 60559, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed Windy City Records
Cozy downtown shop with an even split of used and new records, filed alphabetically across genres.
Tip: Records are shelved alphabetically rather than by genre, so browse by artist.
5228 Main St, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Purple Dog Records
Small downtown Naperville shop tucked off Washington Street, with staff who will special-order records.
Tip: Look for the entrance in the gangway off Washington Street; hours are afternoon to evening.
231 S Washington St #105, Naperville, IL 60540, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Stop 2: DeKalb
Green Tangerine Records
Record shop in DeKalb.
Tip: Open afternoons Wednesday to Sunday; the shop is new, so confirm hours.
838 W Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Stop 3: Rockford
Toad Hall Books and Records
Rockford institution on Broadway with a very large stock of vinyl alongside books, comics and equipment.
Tip: Allow plenty of time; the stock is deep and mixed.
2106 Broadway, Rockford, IL 61104, USA
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Stop 4: Beloit
Tin Dog Records
Beloit shop with new and used LPs, a good punk section and DVDs, now off the street-facing storefront.
Tip: Open seven days; the unit is off the main storefront, so look for the State Street entrance.
312 State St Ste b, Beloit, WI 53511, USA
Hours
Monday Closed 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 - 5:00 PM
Stop 5: 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.