Used CD shops in Seattle/Vancouver?

Can anyone recommend good used CD shops in Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC? I'll be there for the holidays. Thanks in advance!

 

Here's one that I would definitely recommend stopping at:

Cellophane Square
130 Broadway E Seattle, WA 98102-5712
http://www.cellophanesquare.com/

 

Kym,

For used CD stores in Vancouver check out Granville St. in the downtown core (between Dunsmuir St. & Davie St.) for the most variety of used CD shops. Then while you are down there check out Davie St. between Granville St. and Denman St.(near the ocean) for more small used CD shops. For those in-print Canadian flat-transfer Alice Cooper albums and those SH mastered Who albums check out A&B Sound on Seymour St. (between Pender St. & Dunsmuir St. two short blocks East of Granville St.).

Start with A&B Sound and then everything I've mentioned is West and South of there. Don't worry it will be a lot easier to see with a street map.

 

Cellophane Square on the Ave used to be a wet dream but Tower is doing it's damdest to run it out of business, having moved a couple storefronts down and now offering a farely decent used selection (I picked up the 1-2-3-4 Punk box for $30 at Tower).

There are also three other places worth checking out on the Ave; Bedazzled, Nanoo's and Second Time Around Records, but their selection is hit and miss. (You might also check out Half Priced Books on Roosevelt, you never know what you'll find there).

On Broadway (on Capitol Hill) there is another Cellophane Square, a Wherehouse Records, and a place next to Dick's Drive-In that used to be Disc Go Round but now I think it's called Hit and Run. Whatever it's called, they usually have good imports and occasionally "grey area stuff".

In Wallingford check out Golden Oldies and J.A.M. (this is an undiscovered jem as they sometimes have cheap "grey area stuff", ie. CD-Rs for $15.)

If you're into Jazz there is a place in Pioneer Square called Bud's that is pretty good.

 

Seattle-wise, the easiest thing is just to start at the intersection of 50th and University Way (near the University of Washington) and head south. You will pass Cellophane Square, Bedazzled Discs, Nanoo's, Tower, Second Time Around and I think one or two more (haven't been over there in awhile). The University district has the largest concentration of used CD stores. If you are into vinyl, walk one block over to Brooklyn and check out Earth River (located in the basement below the Neptune Theater). Ask if you can go look in the back room... huge selection back there.

If you feel like driving, I really recommend Easy Street Records in West Seattle, on California. Excellent selection of new and used, intelligent staff.

And Bop Street Records in Ballard is a must-see also. Most gigantic collection of vinyl I've ever seen. Truly astounding in size, though very poorly-organized. Again, you have to ask permission to go into the basement to see most of the stock.

 

Thanks, guys - I really appreciate it.

I was in Seattle about five years ago and there were a couple of shops in the Bellevue area. I think there was one in Bellevue Square (the big mall, if that's what it's called) and a couple of others near it.

Is the Sub Pop store still there? I've never been. Is it worth a visit?

 

The store that used to be in Bellevue Square was a branch of the Cellphane Square franchise. That particular store is no longer inside the mall, it's moved to a location across the street and one or two blocks down. Probably not worth a specific trip over there just for that one store... the Cellophane Square in the University District (mentioned above by me and others) is bigger and tends to have a better selection. There used to also be a store called Rubato Records near that mall. They have moved all the way over to West Seattle on California, just a block from Easy Street Records which I mentioned above.

You know, I'm not sure if Sub Pop is still there or not. I last visited about four years ago. It wasn't really worth a special trip or anything, but if you are going to do the tourist thing anyway it was right down there at the Pike Place Market.

 

The best record shop in Vancouver is "For The Record". It is located at the Vancouver Flea Market near Main and Terminal. Guy's name is Ty. Most upstanding record dealer I have ever dealt with. PM me and I will give you his phone number. He also sells from his house. Trust me!!

 

syd,

Agreed for vinyl but wasn't Kym asking about CD's?

 

Perhaps he was - sorry, wanted to plug Ty.
Worked for him for about 6 years. Good man.

 

No problem, Mr. Crazy Diamond. I appreciate your vinyl advice too!

 

Yeah, 2nd Time Around along The Ave (University Way) is good, but probably better for vinyl than for CD's. They've got quite a hefty selection of rock, classical, jazz, blues, etc. and a multitude of Indie 45's to boot. Not to mention cassettes, video games, DVD's and VHS. But vinyl is still the bulk of their stock, although you could probably find some good stuff in the CD's if you look hard enough. I guess it just depends on what you're looking for.

And yeah, the Tower Records along The Ave, too, is superb. They've usually got quite a bit of top notch material in their bargain bins. Hell, I picked up a sealed, brand new copy of Molly Hatchet's Greatest Hits (remastered version) for only $5.99 (not including tax), not a scratch on it. And, I picked up Dream Police by Cheap Trick for only $3.99 brand new. It too was in the bargain bin, and hadn't even been opened. Go figure

And, if you like the occasional cigar, University Smoke is less than a block north from Tower--excellent cigar prices, but if you're goin' to Canada, hell, just get some Cubans instead. And if you don't smoke cigars, we'll talk business later!