Lakewood is home to more than its fair share of places to buy music, and it’s safe to guess that the city has more record stores than any other Cleveland suburb.

While places like The Exchange are well-known hangouts, some of Lakewood’s other stores are overlooked by all but the most serious record collectors and music lovers.

The Exchange, located at 15100 Detroit Avenue in downtown Lakewood, is one in a national chain of 29 locations.  Formerly “The Record Exchange,” this store is the place to go for mainstream music.  They also have a large selection of used CDs and vinyl.  The Exchange can probably boast more foot traffic than any other record store in Lakewood, but the selection is mostly limited to new pop, rock, and hip-hop.

A local independent favorite (until its recent closing) was Chris’ Warped Records at 13383 Madison Ave.  The store’s namesake was its original owner Chris Andrews, a local entrepreneur and musician known as the man behind much of the development in the Madison Village (aka Bird Town) area, in the last 15 to 20 years.

Andrews was also the founder of the futuristic bar-restaurant Capsule, which shared a similar fate.  Within the last year, after numerous ownership changes, both businesses shut their doors.

Even with the recent closing of Chris’ Warped Records, Madison Ave. still boasts three other and different stores for music.

My Mind’s Eye Records (13727 Madison), which opened in 1999, recently expanded into the storefront formerly occupied by The Mud House/Jitterz coffee shop.  My Mind’s Eye (mymindseyerecords.com) is now the largest independent record store in Lakewood.  Their inventory is heavy on underground metal and punk, but maintains a mind-boggling diversity, especially in the used LP section.  This store is the first place to stop for albums you won’t find at mainstream retailers.

HoDad’s Music & Collectibles (13413 Madison) is a recent arrival to the Madison Village area… it opened in the summer of 2004.  HoDad's specializes in traditional and modern surf instrumental music, and they also carry a large selection of used vinyl.

Mindwave (13318 Madison) is now Lakewood's longest-lived independent record dealer, having been at it since 1995.  Mindwave’s inventory focuses almost exclusively on goth, industrial, and experimental electronica.

Back north, Grand Poo-bah’s Record Shoppe (11823 Detroit) might be better described as a supply store for DJs, rather than a record store.  The selection here consists mostly of recent dance music on vinyl, along with some DJ-themed merchandise, like record bags and t-shirts.

Nearby, and just across the Lakewood-Cleveland border, is Bent Crayon.  Although at the corner of West 116th and Detroit, it’s worth a mention in this list of Lakewood stores.  In business since 1995, Bent Crayon (bentcrayon.com) specializes primarily in electronic and independent music, with a large selection of vinyl.  

Of course, you’re going to need something to play all these records on, and that’s where Lakewood's Play it Again Sam (12611 Madison) comes in.  It has a huge (and, frankly, intimidating) selection of new and used audio equipment, primarily of the “vintage” variety… amps, receivers, tape players and record turntables abound.  Play It Again Sam (playitagainsam.com) also has a few used LP records in stock. 

So why not do what I did and check them all out... if you come across some other cool, local vinyl music stuff, tell other Buzzers all about it by clicking the forum text-link below.
  

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