Decent selection, archived nicely, bins are borderline overstuffed but manageable. Have pulled many…read morediscs from this place over time. Being a booth in antique store, no ownership presence is accessible.Prices are retail or retail plus, conditions vary from fair to NM. While there is some trash in here most of the stuff is pretty good. Definitely worth a visit...

One of my go to gold mines! Great selection, condition and prices! Always well organized and well…read morestocked.

Some of the best places aren't hidden on purpose they simply let the people who are looking for…read morethem find them. That was exactly my experience with Sorry State Records. It was my first visit, and after spending time there, I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of its name. I was the one who felt sorry: sorry that it had taken me so many years to discover one of Raleigh's most beloved independent record stores. Tucked into downtown, Sorry State Records is easy to miss if you don't know it's there. But step inside, and the pace immediately shifts. The shop is bright, thoughtfully organized, and refreshingly unpretentious. Shelves of carefully curated vinyl invite slow browsing rather than hurried shopping, making it the kind of place where time slips away unnoticed. I brought my brother-in-law, an avid record collector visiting from St. Louis, and watching him explore the collection was almost as enjoyable as browsing myself. While I'm far from a vinyl expert, he immediately commented on how well organized the inventory was; a detail seasoned collectors genuinely appreciate. His visit was made even better when he unearthed a copy of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the kind of unexpected find that makes digging through record bins so rewarding. Beyond vinyl, the shop also stocks cassette tapes, music publications, and a carefully selected mix of merchandise that reflects the store's deep roots in independent music culture. It's less of a retail space and more of a gathering place for people who genuinely love music. The staff struck the perfect balance between being available and giving customers room to browse. Although they were helping others when we arrived, we immediately felt welcome, and the relaxed atmosphere made it easy to settle in and explore at our own pace. Parking is convenient, with both a surface lot nearby and a parking deck just a short walk away, making a visit surprisingly easy despite its downtown location. Sorry State Records is the kind of independent shop every city hopes to have but few can sustain. Authentic, thoughtfully curated, and deeply connected to Raleigh's creative community, it's a destination worth seeking out: even if, like me, you're a little late to discovering it.

Visiting Pour House and Sorry State in the same hour let me really compare the two and finally…read moreleave an informed review of each. Sorry State is purely here to buy and sell records, nothing else. So you get a great variety to look through, well maintained, plenty of quality originals. The downside? Not a great visual ambiance. But if I'm looking for a good record or three, I'd be starting here.

Escaping the Durham heat led us straight into the wonderfully chill vibes at Hunky Dory, and…read morehonestly, it was exactly the kind of Sunday reset we needed. The $5 Sunday beer selection made settling in dangerously easy. I ended up having three cups of Tangie Dream from Incendiary Brewing Company -- a crisp, citrusy witbier that absolutely hit the spot at 5.2% ABV. Super refreshing and wildly drinkable. Even though I don't own a record player, I could've spent forever flipping through the vinyl collection just soaking in the nostalgia. There's something deeply comforting about browsing old records with a cold beer in hand while hiding from the North Carolina humidity. Hunky Dory feels like the kind of neighborhood spot you wish every city had.

The stuff of many an audiophile-beer geek's dreams: A record store that's also a beer bar! My…read morehusband is a huge fan of both music on vinyl and craft beer, so obviously it was one of our first stops upon moving to Durham. It feels like a real community space with folks of all ages and walks of life gathering to talk, share a drink, play a game, or just spend time together. Mimi, the beertender, was very friendly and this place also allows visitors of the canine sort. The beer selection looked to be good, with a number of styles and breweries represented. It's especially nice to see NA options on tap as well as regular beer! The vinyl selection similarly did not disappoint, and we did make a few great purchases.

There's truly something for everyone here. They have a huge selection of both new and used items,…read moreand everything is very well organized with clearly labeled sections, making it easy to shop. Ample seating too if you want to chill and have a beer.

After having dinner at Ponysaurus my husband strolled the Iron Works District and came across this…read morecute record store. Full of old vinyl and beer on tap, say less! We sat for a few hours talking with friends while we enjoyed the beer and vibes. Oh yea, did I mention the bartender was also the DJ! This is a very cool place and we will certainly be back. If you are looking for a low key place to have some drinks and chat with friends this is the place to be!

I have been looking for a record star for quite some time in the area and I finally stumbled upon…read moreCarolina Soul. This place had hundreds of selections and some very classics records at deals you cannot beat. The service was great and the quality of records was impressive. Surely to be my go to spot for all my record needs in the future.

Great operation. I wish I had you in my hometown! Helpful staff. Large selection of rare vinyl…read more Good condition standards.

Decided to stop and look around while in Durham - very cool store…read more Definitely a lot of music selection, free posters, free punk magazines and fanzines. Store has the musty, crunchy vibe you'd expect and it really suits the store. Employee that rang us up was very friendly and thanked us for stopping in. If you're looking for obscure albums, they might have it! Almost an overwhelming selection, very unusual bands, too. Worth stopping in. I believe they buy your used music items as well and offer cash/value towards purchases. Bummer we missed the store dog, though!

Awesome selection of vinyls with a friendly and efficient customer service!…read more There is a comfortable sofa if you would like to rest. The staff greeted customers kindly and make them feel their business was appreciated. We bought two records. The 2019 Spring sampler of Merge records was offered graciously. It was easy to park on the shopping center parking lot. This famous store is located near the Quickly Tea House and the Rumors hair studio.

I don't always have the best luck at vintage stores, but I had great luck here! They had a wide…read morevariety of good quality, vintage clothes as well as other items like furniture, decorations, and art. The employees were very friendly and eager to help and I am already looking forward to coming back!

I really like this place. I was welcomed as I walked through the entrance door. I was looking for…read morevinyl records and they have a very good selection. Many of the records I already have , hard to find vinyl, but they have them. As I was thumbing through I was talking to Mary who runs the store. I told her the selection is very good in vinyl. She exclaimed that her husband is a record collector and always trying to find vinyl records. As I see they have a number of hard to find vinyl. The store is filled with cool vintage clothes , furniture, nic nacks, sun glasses. Just a plethora of cool stuff. If you are in Pittsboro, you have to make this a stop for you. What a cool place . Stop in and say hi to Mary. She has some great stories.

This is a great little record shop. The owners are amazing humans and the store is very well…read morestocked and everyone is always very friendly and accommodating. They hold events that support local music and it just has a really dope vibe. They sell awesome swag and stuff from local vendors as well. Definitely check them out!

I am new to whole record shopping business. I am normally the tag along. I am here for the ride…read more But then I got use to listening to records on Saturday mornings while enjoying a home made scramble and coffee. Schoolkids Records is cool when it comes to record shops because if combines my old favorite, a bar with my new favorite, records. It was so nice to flip through vinyl, check out band merch and then pop a squat for a cold one. I love the embrace of nerd culture, action figures cover the bar. And CDs are used as artsy decoration. Oh how times have changed since, I was a kid. I also love that they have a stage. I don't live in the area but it would be a great spot for in store shows. Definitely worth popping in for some new tunes and a beer! And the employees conversations reminded me of a scene from "High Fidelity"! Too good to pass up!