Georgetown Records

Georgetown Records has been part of Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood since 2004, with used vinyl, weekly-changing stock, and a taste that runs well beyond standard rock bins. The shop also connects to the neighborhood through art, music events, and its relationship with Fantagraphics Books next door.

Interview with Georgetown Records

Georgetown Records has been part of the neighborhood since 2004. How has the shop's role changed over the years?

Since we opened in 2004 the neighborhood has changed dramatically. There are more restaurants, nightlife, foot traffic, and children today, it feels more like we are part of a community. The store has become a regular stop for many people living nearby, and with the added commerce and activity in the neighborhood it is being discovered by more people from outlying areas. Our role is as we always strived to be, a comfortable place to discover music, hang out, and enjoy occasional art and music events.

Your selection changes weekly. What drives that turnover, and how do regulars keep up with it?

Our turnover is highly dependent on people approaching us selling collections, trading records, and to a lesser extent ordering new pressings from distributors. Our stock of new records tends to be eclectic and niche oriented, we want to be a space where there's something to surprise even the most jaded collector.

What kinds of used vinyl are most useful for your bins right now?

We are always looking for classic rock, jazz, and soul, of course. But we really crave music from other cultures, nations, or traditions. African, Caribbean, Latin, Middle Eastern, Asian music of all era's are needed here.

When someone wants to sell a collection, what should they send over before showing up with boxes?

Usually with a phone call we can determine how to handle collections. Sometimes a quick description is enough, if it's a box or two just bring it in, larger collections we can make house calls to evaluate. But the phone call will usually give us enough information to determine if the records are the right fit for our shop.

Are there genres or local/regional records you pay special attention to?

See #3, but also we pay special attention to garage and punk rock, Avant Garde music from the 20th and 21st centuries, and anything we love at the time.

What condition problems do sellers most often underestimate?

Sellers often overlook issues with the covers assuming the only thing that matters is the vinyl. Too frequently we see wonderful records with water damage or cat scratched spines, these all affect resale opportunities and value.

What's the most memorable collection that's come through your door?

During pandemic we received 3 collections within a short period of time. Each from very different people but with many overlapping titles. Heavy on European progressive and psychedelic records from the 70's, which seems to be a golden age of creative boundary erasing music. Each collection had another emphasis though, one had a ton of early Chicago house music, another had a lot of punk and post punk, and the 3rd was heavy with 60's underground records. Each collection had about 5000 records, and each one was seriously the best we'd ever seen, all within a single year!

What would you want a first-time visitor to Georgetown Records to know before they stop in?

A first time visitor to Georgetown Records should know that they can always ask about something they are not familiar with, we try to get music in we haven't heard before so we need to learn as well. If a record is open we will play it for you, always. Please ask so we can discover together!

FAQ

Does Georgetown Records buy used records?

Yes. A phone call is the best first step; small collections can often be brought in, while larger collections may lead to a house call.

What records does Georgetown Records want most?

Classic rock, jazz, soul, African, Caribbean, Latin, Middle Eastern, Asian music, garage, punk, and avant-garde records are especially useful for the shop.

What condition issues matter most?

Cover condition matters too. Water damage and scratched spines can affect resale value even when the vinyl itself is desirable.

Last updated: 2026-07-22