THE MAP
Every vinyl destination inside the greater Vancouver footprint. Zoom in to see individual venues.
THE 41 RECORD SHOPS
Vancouver punches above its weight for a city its size.
Vancouver's scene sits between Seattle and Portland geographically and shares their crate-digging seriousness. Neptoon Records on Main Street is the anchor — one of Canada's oldest independent shops, second-hand at national-collection depth. Red Cat on Main handles the indie / new-release end; Zulu Records on 4th Ave carries the West Side. Beat Street Records covers the hip-hop, funk and 45s counter.
The Main Street corridor (Neptoon, Red Cat, Audiopile) is the essential walking day. The West End and Kitsilano add Zulu and Highlife (the world-music specialist). A listening-bar scene is beginning to form; the Georgia Straight has been calling out the wave. Small city, walkable shops, honest prices — Vancouver rewards a two-day visit and connects easily to the Portland / Seattle triangle.
THE FIVE ROOMS
3561 Main St. Canada's oldest independent — massive second-hand floor across rock, jazz, soul, world. The pilgrimage stop.
4332 Main St. Sharp new releases and curated second-hand — the current-day indie centre.
1972 W 4th Ave. The West Side heavyweight — long-running, resident-run, in-stores, and the local-band wall.
439 W Hastings St. Hip-hop, funk, soul, 45s — the DJ-supply counter that keeps the local turntable scene alive.
1317 Commercial Dr. World-music specialist — African, Latin, reggae, folk — one of the best of its kind in North America.