The Archive is a physical media retail store that opened in Bridgeport, Connecticut in June 2017…read more It was founded by friends and business partners Brandon Upson, James Neurath, Ryan Emerson and Ralph Stevens. The shop is the brick & mortar division of Vinegar Syndrome: a film restoration and distribution company that specializes in protecting and preserving genre films (mainly produced between the 1960s and 1980s). The company was founded in 2012 by Emerson and business partner Joe Rubin and named for the acidic smell of deteriorating film. It is considered a boutique Blu-ray label and to date has released well over 800 titles on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD. The Archive is dedicated to selling movies and music in a wide variety of physical media formats. Consumers will find all sorts of new and used titles available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, VHS, Betamax, Laserdisc, Vinyl, CD, and Cassette tape. A second location opened in Aurora (CO) in October 2022 and a third (named 'Vinegar Syndrome') opened in Toronto (ON) in October 2023. I've been doing business with the Archive for a number of years now. I'm a huge fan of collecting physical media. Although streaming media seems to be the way to go now, streaming services are only as good as your internet connection, the quality is too compressed and titles are disappearing all the time. I like having an actual vinyl record or 4K disc in my hands. Physical formats are also usually loaded with all sorts of liner notes, posters and bonus features that you won't get with streaming services. I try to stop at the shop every few months or so. While I sometimes leave empty handed, other times I leave with some great finds. They often carry great film releases from labels like Arrow Video, Blue Underground, The Criterion Collection, Severin Films, Shout! Factory, and of course Vinegar Syndrome. At times, the shop will even get a limited amount of new releases weeks before they are available on Amazon. If you're a fan of physical media then you need to get to the Archive right away!

Massive selection and great service. I got some anime and picked out a few of my favorite movies…read more Great place!

Small shop, with a decent variety. Seemed to have far more CDs than vinyl which surprised me. Most…read moreof the vinyl seemed like it was added in where ever it could fit, most of the bins were so tightly packed you could hardly flip through. I think a bit of organization would go a long way to make an easier shopping experience. Glad I finally stopped in and certainly could have left with more than I did.

Really nice shop. Stuff old, stuff new. The lady running the shop was happy to let me fumble…read morearound until I found stuff I didn't know I was looking for. Organized-ish, but I did like that I had to get into the stacks and hunt. Was rewarded for my efforts, and priced reasonably so.

I had been to this record store several years ago, but decided to go back and check it out…read more Unfortunately, their hours are limited. Even during the holiday they're open Wednesday and Thursday 10 AM to 3 PM. Friday and Saturday only till 5 PM. I got there just around 4:25 PM on a Saturday night. Merle was there with another staff member. The owner Merle was very friendly. They have a very nice large section of compact discs in the middle of the store. Lots of records as well there's a section for used cassette VHS tapes 8 track tapes. As well as real to real tapes. It's very impressive their section of used audio equipment. I saw amplifiers cassette tape decks. A few open reel decks as well. Some nice tube table radios of course several turntables even a couple of 8 track players They do repairs on audio equipment. I asked Merle if they would work on a boom box as I'm looking at one from 1983 from the original owner, that looks in great shape. But after 41 years, I'm sure I will need belts. Merle told me that there's a $40 diagnostic fee just to make sure it is the belt and not something else as well Some people have complained about the prices here. I went to the used cassettes which are usually in other record stores somewhere between $.99 and $3.99. Here they used tapes were $5.99. Just a couple dollars more than Other stores I've been to. The sealed cassettes are $8.99. Which is pretty reasonable these days as it's hard to find cassettes that are sealed. I went to the couple of bins where there were $3.99 and $4.99 Records. I got a nice Cheech and Chong record with a cool fold out cover I was pleased to see a few Judy Collins records. Even though I own a bunch of them. I forgot to take one from when I left home and didn't want to drive 60 minutes back as I'm going to see Judy Collins in Connecticut on Sunday night and want to see if she will sign it. I Purchased, a Dolly Parton, cassette, and a cassette from the band Saxon as well as threeRecords Merle has been in business for 62 years. I chatted with him briefly. Things were a lot different back when he opened 45 RPMs were very popular and actual LPs didn't sell as well as 45 rpm Records. There were no cassettes back then. No. 8 track tapes either. no open real tapes until about 1963 or 1964. Cassette tapes came around in 1966. I didn't have as much of a chance to look through everything as it was closing time pretty soon after I got there. They were a lot more things I wanted to look through. Next time in the area, I'll get there earlier. Definitely wanna bring that boom box back if the belts need replacement which I'm sure they will I hope they had longer hours though. Merle said it was a staffing problem. I hope they could get enough help so they could be open till at least 6 PM or 7 PM on a Friday or Saturday. But I definitely recommend checking this place out. Especially if you wanna get some used audio equipment he has the biggest selection of used audio equipment. I've seen in a record store. So I definitely recommend coming here.

If you go to the store, look up the prices he gives you before you purchase! This another store…read morewhere nothing is priced. The owner will price everything at the counter. I looked up each record i wanted to buy on discogs. Records he was quoting me as $80 were selling on Discogs and Ebay for $20. Ones that were selling on Discogs and Ebay for 10 bucks he was quoting me at $75. The guy is a crook avoid this place at all costs. Do not waste your time or your money here. There are far better stores within the area. Redscroll, Gerosa, Retro Shop, the Archive, etc.

Just browsed today, seems like a cool spot. They had a very nice selection, all different genres,…read morevinyl as well as CDs. Also a small selection of turntables and different brand merch and retro patches. It's an interesting store, give them a look.

Visit Date: March 26, 2025…read more On my way back to the southshore of LI after visiting a friend with my two other friends for lunch in Ridge my friend asked if we could go to Record Stop. I'm familiar with Record Stop, I go to a vinyl night every two weeks with members of a facebook group called 8 o'clock shot and the guy who spins records Tom sort of represents record stop. I had been here once in the summer but didn't really get a chance to properly look around. I love records but I only have one. I'm trying my hardest to not collect much because currently I live in a small space and when my son and I can move out of my father's house we'll still be living in a small space. It was still nice to browse the records for sale. They also have other music related merchandise besides records. Tons of musical action figures, a small selection of books, T-shirts, patches. I bought my boyfriend a Kiss Flask for his birthday. His birthday isn't until August but sometimes you see something early and you just need to grab it. I'll also be buying him more than just a flask but for now it's a good start on a birthday that's still a few months away. And I was happy to purchase something to give record stop some business. The flask was also a pretty decent price giving me more budget room to buy other things. If you're around Patchogue and you're a music lover or a vinyl lover record stop is the place to go!

I've been coming to redscroll for years with my husband (even to their old store!) and love how big…read moreand organized the new store is. They have fun events including listening parties for new albums and do a great job with record store day. Their record store days throughout the years have been fun. They usually have several copies of popular releases and a very large inventory of used cds, records, and dvds. You can definitely spend some time here and find a gem. You've just got to be patient and look for it!

Absolutely the best. Best prices best service. All the records are in very good condition. No…read morebanged up garbage here. Everything you purchased. Here is also backed by their guarantee so you don't have to worry about returns or refunds or anything. This place is the best.

One of the best shops in the area. I always find something I am beyond stoked to find. If you like…read morePunk, Prog, psych, Jazz, they have it all. Owners are great too. You'll definitely have a great dig here.

Small store with a ton of records. Little jumbled and disorganized but eventually I figured it…read moreout. Prices are strange though. A lot of records I find elsewhere for $3.00-5.00 he has for $15.00+. Others that go everywhere for $10 he has for $3. So there are bargains to be found, you will have to dig though. Overall I added about a dozen LPs to my collection.

I collect a lot of vinyl and this is one of the best places around to get near- mint-condition used…read morevinyl for great prices. I'm into a lot of 80s New Wave, so I came out with a few albums in that category (some for under $10 each), one from Springsteen that was $10, and then even a couple of classical composers for $4 each. And guess what? Not a scratch on any of them! (Here's the catch: A couple records skipped in more than one place in the same song, though I realize skips are par for the course with used records. Not that I don't trust the grades given to the records on the price tags, but there should be a way to test out the records before you pay for them.) The owner is very kind and helpful. It's a small store packed with a lot of records that are alphabetized (which helps if you're looking for something specific) in their respective categories. The place can seem a little claustrophobic and could use a clearing out of the boxes and crates of records on the floor that can make maneuvering difficult and browsing a bit uncomfortable. Yes, the owner generously cleared one area so I could have a better look at a particular genre, but he shouldn't have to do that. The boxes and crates on the floor plus the skipping on some of the albums are the only reasons I'm giving four stars instead of five. Overall, Replay offers better quality and prices than some other used vinyl shops I've visited in both New Haven and Fairfield Counties. It's worth conquering your claustrophobia, I promise, and you're bound to find something you're searching for as well as something you didn't even know existed.

I got into record collecting around 2011, shortly before Cutler's in New Haven closed. Options were…read morelooking pretty scarce, until I came upon Replay Records and I have to say a good portion of my collection is now from there. Even after an 8 year excursion to NYC, I'd still prefer to go to Replay, as it's small but unpretentious. Pairs quite nicely with a trip to Glennwood for a burger and a dog.

It's the kind of used bookstore you can get lost in. If I were a local, it would be part of my…read moredaily routine. The shelves are thoughtfully labeled, and the place has an energy that feels. You can tell when an owner genuinely loves the books and records they carry. The Bruised Apple is one of those stores. Worth stopping in if you want to get lost for a few hours.

What a lovely bookstore! We came across this hidden gem that has been here for more than 30 years…read more We parked our car right outside and saw the inviting window and warm lights of this cozy bookstore. The instrumental music was playing, the owner was very kind and welcoming. The customers were browsing and it was the most relaxing environment with so many wonderful resources. We will certainly be back! Thank you and Happy New Year!