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Upstate New York: Buffalo to Albany
Follow the Thruway from Buffalo's trio through Rochester's Monroe Avenue, Syracuse, the Utica area and on to Troy and Albany.
Route: Buffalo → Rochester → East Syracuse → New Hartford → Troy · 11 record stores across 5 stops
Stop by stop
Stop 1: Buffalo Delaware, Elmwood and West Side
Out There Records
Small curated shop on Delaware Avenue stocking hardcore, metal and punk, new and used, with jazz and special orders on request.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; open until 8 PM the rest of the week.
625 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Revolver Records Inc
Elmwood Village shop with retro toys and vintage ephemera alongside a deep vinyl selection across two floors.
Tip: Staff know the local scene well — ask for other Buffalo shop recommendations too.
810 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Black Dots
Record shop and bar combo that also hosts small local shows.
Tip: Check their calendar for intimate in-store concerts.
368 Grant St, Buffalo, NY 14213, USA
Hours
Monday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 - 7:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM Friday 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM Saturday 12:00 - 8:00 PM Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 PM
Stop 2: Rochester Monroe Avenue and Park Ave
Needle Drop Records
Monroe Avenue shop in Brighton with used records at low prices, new vinyl and a sizeable punk and alternative bin.
Tip: Closed Monday and Wednesday; it is about half a mile from Bop Shop Records.
1780 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY 14618, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM 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 - 5:00 PM Bop Shop Records
Rochester shop prized for clean vintage vinyl in VG+ and NM condition across genres, with a listening table for testing records.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Use the listening table with a turntable and CD player before you buy.
1460 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY 14618, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 12:00 - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 PM Record Archive
Large Rochester shop with new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes and VHS, plus a bar and a back room for free live music.
Tip: Wednesday hours run to 9 PM, and live shows are often free.
33 1/3 Rockwood St, Rochester, NY 14610, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Stop 3: East Syracuse
Syracuse Vintage Vinyl
East Syracuse used shop with lots of one-dollar albums and a general stock of vinyl, CDs, cassettes and concert DVDs.
Tip: Opens at 2 PM most days; the dollar bins are on the left as you enter.
205 W Manlius St, East Syracuse, NY 13057, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM Saturday 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Stop 4: New Hartford
Reimagine Records
Spacious Utica-area shop with a good run of vintage and new vinyl and CDs, with owners who special-order.
Tip: Open Wednesday to Sunday only.
4520 Commercial Dr, New Hartford, NY 13413, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Stop 5: Albany and Troy
River Street Beat Shop
Longtime downtown Troy shop with a classic-leaning mix across disco, pop, jazz, metal and more, and prices described by regulars as fair.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday only, with shorter Saturday hours.
197 River St, Troy, NY 12180, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM Wednesday 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM Thursday 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM Friday 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sunday Closed Sound House Records
Troy shop with new and used records, an eclectic, slightly alternative selection and tidy displays.
Tip: Open late (to 7 PM) Thursday only; closed Monday and Sunday. A short walk from River Street Beat Shop.
52 King St, Troy, NY 12180, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed Last Vestige Music Shop
Albany used-record shop with sections for punk and local music, easy listening, classic rock, funk and Motown, country and bluegrass, soundtracks and a big box of 45s.
Tip: Bargain bins are around three dollars an album; the shop has a resident cat.
173 Quail St, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 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.