Well, of course I recommend them. I've gone twice and each time the owners were lovely. I came in looking for Sade's Love Deluxe album. Truthfully, I do think I'm just going to order it online because it has been so hard to just find it in stock in store. I've held off because I just want to buy it in store, and no not at an Urban Outfitters or some other large chain of stores. I enjoy the feeling of finding something and feeling like I scored, so, let's keep shopping in person alive as much as we can... please?? currently, I'm still holding off on this album and waiting for the day. Anyway, I ended up buying Diamond Life and People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. They didn't have a collection of Maxwell at that moment if I remember correctly, but that got me to looking through The Beatles section and each member's solo albums. Sad to say, I couldn't find a record with the single Silly Love Songs by Paul McCartney, though, I did go in blindly looking for it. So, I asked the owners about it while buying my records. They had it in the back and, not sure of the quality they tossed it in for free. It was very nice. They have a scratch free record guarantee, which I applaud, but the complimentary add in was very much appreciated. I've come again and brought a friend and we've both bought a couple to a few records. The last time I went there was an Anderson Paak collection. I wish they had Malibu, but they did have Ventura. I strongly contemplated, but ended up getting Childish Gambino's "Because the Internet." Prices - they're not even bad. Trust me. They have tapes and cds too. I like to dig, and this store satisfies that. Conveniently located near Rockridge BART, there's a second hand thrift store in the area, plenty of eateries, Trader Joe's a couple blocks up, and other mini shops along the way. It's worth stopping in and checking out especially if planning a day in this area. read more

I was disappointed with my visit. The pricing felt significantly inflated and didn't align with the quality provided. Beyond the cost, the overall experience was underwhelming, so I wouldn't recommend stopping by. read more

We got our coffees , then we walked up the street to this awesome record store. They have all of the music I want. The owner was sitting in back , my wife had a nice talk with him about the English Beat, they have all of their records here. Can't wait to come back and talk music. read more

Chanced upon this little piece of music heaven on our way to the market. My son is in love with old music and he was happy! The place is filled with different genres from different music eras. The person who helped us was so kind and we promised when we are in the area, it will be added to our list of musts. read more

See all

We were strolling down College Avenue looking in the windows of different shops. We felt invited into Open Mind Music with it's colorful rainbow rug, and Dutch door open at the top. There were large paintings and posters thoughtfully placed on the walls. Jazz was softly playing on the record player on the left side of the store. It felt so comfortable being their space. We were greeted by Monica who was dressed in gently faded denim bell bottoms with a matching shirt. She looked like she had stepped out of the early 70s while organizing LPs in the oak bins. Everything looked orderly and clean. Some of the LPs were brand new, and others looked like they were barely used. Looking for vintage or new release LPs? Open Mind Music is a great place to check out. read more

See all

Made a special trip back to Rockridge to check this shop out. Was a bit disappointed by overfull bins, impossible to easily brows records as you could only see the top couple inches. Prices seemed a bit high and the organization didn't make sense to me. For these reasons I didn't get anything. read more

This place is awesome. As a newer vinyl listener, I love heading out to explore Bay Area record shops. Open Mind Music really impressed me with their selection and organization. The entire store is well laid out by genre, artist, etc. and the workers were very friendly as well. Prices are comparable to other shops. Can't wait to head back here and scoop some more LPs...I'm sure I'll be spending money here fairly regularly. read more

Very nice spot for records. The jazz collection of reissues is pretty good as well as some early reissues not mixed in the jazz section as brought to my attention by the shop curator(owner?). I found some nice records but I'm only buying first pressings these days but definitely worth a visit. Nice spot to visit. The curator showed me how they clean records too. That's all folks. read more

This place had such a great variety of music and a variety of media. I was able to find quite a few different CD's I've been interested in and for a decent price. The staff was friendly and happy to answer any questions customers had about locating genres. read more

Very nice record store! Definitely enjoyed talking to Henry and Monica. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but was curious on what Dave Brubeck vinyl they had. They had a beautiful Time Out Vinyl! Super excited and Henry tested it and it plays super well. They also have hand sanitizer at the front so everyone stays nice and clean. You'll see me again soon! read more

Open Mind Music - Great vinyl, Great people - Music & DVDs Near Me - Oakland, California

The vibe at Open Mind Music feels like you are walking into a good friend's house on a Friday night after a long week of work: warm lighting greets you; cool vinyl spinning transforms your mood; and co-owners Henry and Monica are either engaging guests/customers in lively discussions about music around the store or relaxing on the inviting couches tucked away in the back corner (often presided over by Roxanne - a mini-longhaired dachshund). My taste in music runs a wide gamut - from John Coltrane to Public Enemy; from Billie Holiday to Lauryn Hill; from Sergio Mendez to Jerry Garcia Band; from White Stripes to Vampire Weekend - and Henry is always prepared to share his vast knowledge and make an excellent recommendation. I have even received a text from Henry about a new record release he thought I might like based on a conversation we had months before (that's way better and more personal than some algorithm suggesting a single song I might "like"!). I can't say enough about this joint - and owners Henry and Monica - it's a must visit for Bay Area music lovers! read more

Open Mind Music - Open Mind Music's Roxanne! - Music & DVDs Near Me - Oakland, California

Nice neighborhood store but jazz selection was limited and pricey. Some good music was pumping through the speaker which helped maintain interest. Liked that they had a seating area for patrons that maybe waiting while their acquaintances are shopping. read more

Music selection is small but very good. You can tell a lot of thought went into what kinds of music they carry. The woman who owns it is super friendly and helpful. Totally recommend coming here. Prices are on the lower end compared to a lot of vinyl. Still expensive, of course, but I don't mind because it's a small business and the worker there is just so nice. read more

Impressively dense selection. My musical taste for vinyl purchases is niche but I found plenty of interesting 70's era jazz. I think if rock was your thing, you'd find plenty. If you are looking for something, don't be shy to ask. They have a lot of stock that has not been priced yet. read more

I have a horrible habit of using CD's as mirrors. It's tragic I know...but they're so accessible, I have so many, and I love that handy hole in the middle of each, which allows for easy mirror grip. Needless to say, as much as I've tried to avoid using my favorite CD's for quick makeup-checks, - in a mad rush - Marvin Gaye and Etta James have had to endure a knock or too, for my vanity....eugh......this habit has gone too far! Anyways, a couple of weeks ago, I was craving some soul and many of my foundation and eye-pencil smeared CDs weren't cooperating - so I decided to go on a hunt for some new ones..... and that's when I discovered Open Mind Music Open Mind is a great place to not only find used records, but unwind to them too, with the handy listening area. I mean come-on where else can you buy a late 80's soundrack for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders- complete with a handbook outlining all of their choreographed moves? Yup....that's what I thought....not many places. Like a breath of fresh record dust....you don't have the hectic aisles of Amoeba and are able to take your time browsing through the great collections. I was one of two customers in the store....so definitely lots of space and time to browse. My parents used to be avid collectors of old records and had amassed a beautiful variety of records, ranging from Tom Jones, Francoise Hardy, some great Motown classics, and many more. With all of our moves, we lost alot of these great records, selling them for nothing and donating them. This store allows me to revisit the nights I used to spend in our basement, marvelling at the music that raised my parents. Open Mind - is just that - open mindeded about all genres of music. I didn't leave with any records that day, but I did manage to pick up two relatively cheap Ettta James CDs, which I can proudly say have not seen my face once! Step one to recovery. read more

I contacted the owner, Henry, over email to ask about their "pick pack" option. Henry replied to my email with his phone number and asked me to text him the next day when the shop was open. I texted him the next day with a robust amount of questions/requests. He was super friendly and responsive over text and pulled some records I asked for as well as suggesting some ones I hadn't heard of that he thought I'd enjoy. Really dig this place and I'm excited to shop in person whenever SIP is lifted. read more

I'm not a vinyl expert, but I love music. Sometimes, record store people have judgemental and pretentious vibes (think Jack Black in High Fidelity), which is a turn-off. I came into the shop Sunday and the owners were super chill and hands-off and let us peruse the shop while they did their thing. The selection was good, and it didn't smell like dust mites and black mold (always a plus in a record store, ha). read more

Open Mind is my go to spot for vinyl and such an integral part of the Rockridge Community. Expansive selection, great art adorning the walls and a sweet lounge area to stop and shoot the breeze. read more

Logging my vinyl in Discogs and saw a few from Open Mind music stickers and though, hey are they still around? Well, I'm glad I checked. I used to shop at the Divisadero location in my early DJ days and would come across lots of rare gems. I live in Seattle now but next time I go back home I will pay this shop a visit. read more

Best place to stumble upon and such lovely charm! The owners were nice enough to let me take photos in the store :)).

This place has prices that are $5-$10 over what you'd normally pay at other places. There is a lot of good stuff here, but it's expensive. I do like the semi odd way in which the store labels its records. Some of their organization takes the guess work out of it. I liked their stock, but the prices were too high compared to other stores. read more

What a week I've had! There was suspense, romance, action, excellent food, great friends, . . .and just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I walk into Open Mind Music. . .ah vinyl! I love records. I have such fond memories associated with vinyl. Clubs, friends, dinner parties, travel, DJ's. . .good times. I haven't spent much time in a record shop in a few years, so it felt especially good to be in Open Mind Music today. They have a huge collection of blues, hip hop, jazz, dance music, electronic, and rock. Great specials too! I think I got out fairly unscathed but only because I had to be some place within the hour, . otherwise, I think it could have turned into me sifting through records for hours. I found a copy of Sergio Mendes Brasil 66 for only $2.95, and it's in great condition! They were playing the new Dj Kicks Henrik Schwarz release which sounds awesome! Open mind has a great selection and they're nice people. Get your vinyl on! read more

Cluttered and cramped, Open Mind Music feels more like a work in progress than Amoeba or Aquarius, but less like a war zone than 101 Music. Once you get the layout, it's easy to navigate their bins. But even after you've memorized the trails of CD and vinyl, it still seems like everything's constantly being rearranged into new arrangements and patterns -- new stacks of seemingly-unsorted LPs jump up from the floor at random intervals, keeping you and your music-bargain-hunting instinct alert. For me, it's quite possibly the retail equivalent of one of those Zen meditation gardens: grains of sand replaced with albums, rake replaced with barcode scanner, monk replaced with music geek, the sound of trickling water replaced with the quick clicks of CDs and records being flipped through. Get there quick: Open Mind is moving to an as-yet-unfound location, and everything's discounted (up to 75 percent) so they can whittle down their inventory. read more

I LOOOOOOOOOOVED this place when it was on Divis. Now it is moving again! I saw the owner at Treasure Island on Saturday and he said they have been evicted, yet again.... and therefore will be having a GREAT sale throughout October. Call him to find out more and say that dorky guy with the lp shirt from TI sent you. He is an AWESOME guy and has been around for at least 15 years. I hate to see him go, but it doesn't sound like it is a going out of biz sale. So we shall see... but definitely hit this place up in October!!! read more

Just stopped in to get a record for my sister's boyfriend and the owners could not have been nicer! They even offered to go home and search for a record I was looking for and text me if they found it. Rockridge gained a sweet little music shop. read more

Just stopped in today and had a great interaction with both employees! They were happy to put on the records I showed interest in to make sure I was happy with the sound, and gave me a good deal on what I was looking for. I'd recommend this store to anyone into classic albums in beautiful condition! I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Open Mind Music is a great record shop that has a comfortable spaciousness ideal for bin flipping. A great selection of vinyl in excellent shape as well as a few bins of cheap records. I hear the owner, Henry, has just bought a big collection of pristine vinyl so check in soon. Great selection of local art for sale and for ambiance as well as a lounge area to chill while deciding which albums to pull the trigger on. Also hosts in-store performances. An awesome community record store with a very friendly and knowledgeable proprietor. read more

One of the few SF record stores with listening stations, and plenty of harder-to-find albums. The records here tend to be a little more expensive than Amoeba or Rasputin, but it's worth being sure of the quality. BTW, if you see the "Open Mind Music" sign above other storefronts, it's because they are a dealer at those stores (such as The Other Shop). But as far as I've seen, the best of its records are at this location. I'm making a note of this because it's very confusing when a dealer's sign rivals that of the store itself (such as at The Other Shop), and others have been fooled by this as well. read more

Popped in here for the first time today! The owner is sooo knowledgeable and very sweet. He's so passionate and gave me lots of tips about what to buy. Very excited to play the new tunes! read more

Great record store, wide variety of quality vinyl, I just found a soundtrack I've been looking for for 30 years! Great to have a legit purveyor of vinyl in the neighborhood. read more

So much vinyl...so much. Vinyl overload... If you want a vitnagee pressing of the Byrds, if you want to browse through hundreds of Grateful Dead albums, if you want anything old on vinyl, this is a good place to start. How many stores this size can claim both Black Sabbath and Ofra Hazza? Furthermore, they are also quite helpful if you need to repair that old broken turntable of yours. If you want a Cd, this might not be the best place. read more

Every serious vinyl collector that live's or has passed through San Francisco knows about this spot. I've bought some serious heat for hella cheap. Great deals Sad to see the doors closing at the end of October. Check the online store that should be up in 2009. read more

This place is AMAZING!!!!! Me and my homie were going to go to Amoeba until we realized we both didn't want to bother with both Berkeley or Amoeba...came across this gem, and well...found some GEMS!!!! Some DOOM, some Irish music, and the Sounds of Ancient Greece!!!!! Home girl and dude were beyond friendly and beyond helpful....Pay cash or Venmo when you go!!! No tax, I'll remember to do that the next dozen times I shop there!!!!!! read more

My favorite local record store!!! Great selection, knowledgeable and friendly folks (Henry and Monica) and they always remember my name and are super nice to my dog, Dewey!!!! read more

My favorite shop for used dance music this side of the Mississippi! Not only do they carry tons of used dance and hip hop but a lot of jazz, soul and funk as well. Friendly and knowledgeable staff is a big plus...I never leave here empty handed :) read more

Open Mind Music is the best of the smaller record stores in the Bay. It may not have the selection of Amoeba, but the listening stations more than make up for that. It's the torchbearer in a long line of shops with a hearty meat and potatoes selection of classics but enough of those spicy, "Oh Damn!"-type gems that keep you coming back. So, yeah, it's like comfort food, but with a little extra zest. I am so happy that they managed to re-open. These guys know their game and their love of music is obvious. read more

Seriously great selection, plus they are willing to help track things down, and they also have great used gear too. The owners and staff could not be more friendly and helpful! read more

Walking in here brought a smile to my face. Vinyl was still alive! They had many bins of different genres...rock, soul, hip-hop, house, jazz, reggae, etc. I just couldn't sift through it all...too much in a concentrated area. I didn't have the whole afternoon to browse. They don't seem to have that much new vinyl. I'm more of the mainstream type, so there was a lot of stuff that I didn't recognize. I'm sure there are gems, but I'd really have to dig. I did find a few pieces...but now I'm thinking I already have it. read more

Dope spot. Their selection in hip-hop vinyl is dope too. Sometimes I just wish i had more time to spend here. I just started spinnin and this spot has contributed to my vast collection of records. read more

Great place to hang out and take your time record shopping for used records. You can listen to them before you buy so that is very helpful. Daytime during the week is the best time time visit. Cool selection and decent prices. Sometimes you can find some real gems. read more