Radio-Active Records is located in the Imperial Square shopping plaza in Ft. Lauderdale on Federal Highway. They moved here about a year ago from a location off of Sunrise Boulevard in Flagler Village. You can't see the store from the parking lot. You have to park by the mosaic staircase and clock and walk down the sidewalk on the right towards the library parking garage to reach it. My daughter was familiar with Radio-Active Records from seeing their labels at comic cons. They are an independently owned record store in business since 1995. You can buy records or sell them yours. They also offer music on tape, CD's, and even 8 tracks. They also sell music equipment, t-shirts, and books. They host meet and greets with musicians and artists which in the past have included John Densmore of The Doors and Lol Tolhurst of The Cure. The store is neat and organized. There are several rooms to browse based on genres like rock and pop, modern pop, new releases, staff picks, electronic, folk, country, and punk. True music lovers appreciate the nostalgic and unique sound vinyl records provide. There aren't too many record stores around so we can count ourselves lucky that we have Radio-Active keeping the vintage sound alive. read more

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Glad to have this be my first review of 2021!!! Radioactive records is honestly the only record store that I will go out of my way to go to, as well as basically the only one I do go to in fact. There is no front parking, however, there is a parking lot in the back that always has more than enough spaces for you to be able to park in while you shop. The layout of the record store is insanely easy to navigate and everything is perfectly labeled when it comes to the genres of music of the records you may be looking for. Everytime I am here I find a new band that piques my curiosity or an album that I have been on the hunt for by a band that I've listened to for years. The prices are reasonable inconsiderate, however they have gone up over the last couple years because of a Resurgence in vinyl. While I pay for it, some of the older records that I have found our little bit overpriced for what I think I am getting, when I can find it for a bit cheaper online from various stores that include shipping. The staff is always friendly and ready to help you if you have any questions. The staff also is always great when it comes to asking them for advice on new music, I have never been let down by one of their choices yet! read more

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Always something new!! I visit the store probably once a week to browse and expand my collection. I never leave empty handed. I have a pretty eclectic taste and I love that every time I go into the store they always have something different spinning on the deck while I browse! Maybe they'll drop the needle on one of the grails you've been searching for (happened to me) Mick, Nat, and Gunther are always so helpful and happy to chitchat about music, new and old. Cool people, cool place, great vibe read more

I figured to make a quick stop here as I haven't been here in like two years. I don't have my own record player but my boyfriend does and so I either buy him records as gifts or to use his record player for some of my music. The place is small but not too small where you can't walk around at all. It's organized and they have a great selection. It's fun to look around especially if you go in without a particular artist or album in mind. There's always a chance of finding a nice hidden gem here. The staff here are laid back and friendly. They leave you to browse around and are more than welcome to help you out if you have any questions. The atmosphere here is very calm and relaxing. The selection is set at great prices too. There's a small area for CDs too. It's refreshing to see because I know CDs have been dying out whereas records have been making a big comeback. It's a great place! read more

Very cool shop. Well laid out and they feature a wide variety of genres. I found several albums that I've had on my list. The people working the location where friendly and accommodating. Pricing was very fair and I can't complain. I will definitely make this a frequent stop when I am in town. read more

Pretty small business. But has good variety of records .. little older but it was good enough. Not much of records though read more

Stopped in driving from Miami to Melbourne. A few friends recommended it as a good shop for what I'm after (90s to current punk ie Fat Wreck Chords and Epitaph type stuff). They had a decent sized selection, albeit it had a ton of metal/hardcore mixed in. I didn't end up buying anything, but there were a handful of things that I was strongly considering. read more

Great selection of new and used vinyl at a good price. Good selection of used CDs and 45's as well!

Radio active is a great place to grab a classic or new vinyl. My daughter and I popped in here yesterday to expand our collection of tunes. We actually hadn't been to this joint to comb through records before, but had heard good things. I have been to a few great record stores and Radio was close. It's kept better than some for sure. The new albums are alphabetized and the semi random new and choice albums are displayed beautifully on the walls. If you haven't caught the retro wave of vinyl, we suggest you should. To listen to a classical, jazz, rockabilly, or electric 80's record on a record place is to feel music coming right from the recording studio. It can be a listening experience that will carry you through the whole weekend. And radio active can be a great start to it. read more

It was my first time in Radio Active recently and I really enjoyed this record store. Awesome vinyl variety, great prices, and a great lay out within the store. Staff was also really nice which is always a plus! Definitely will be back soon. read more

Great variety of used and new vinyls! I went the day after RSD and was shocked at how many vinyls they had in stock as well as how organized the place was. Vinyls priced very well and cheap compared to other stores I've been to. The guy working there was super helpful as well as friendly and helped me find everything I wanted. read more

Staff is super knowledgeable about all genres of music. Gunther is one of the most solid dudes and can help you and find the record you want very fast. Fair prices, great vibe, RARE RECORDS. Radioactive has been best record store in ftlauderdale for years read more

Great record store. They have a really solid balance of modern music, classics, and a wide variety of genres. Huge selection of 7" and cassettes as well. Staff is always friendly and helpful. Also tough to beat 4 branded guitar picks for $1 haha. read more

A little secret about me is that I LOVE MUSIC!! All kinds of music too! I could talk for hours endlessly about bands, records and lyrics. I have been collecting Vinyl Records for years!! I love the unique sound and the whole process of setting up the record to play. Radio Active Records is one of my favorite places in Ft. Lauderdale to shop. The place is small and in a strip of shops, parking can sometimes be a pain but it is totally worth it. The vibe is cool and laid back. They have a great selection of records and the staff has always been super friendly. They always do something fun and unique for special events like RSD - Record Store Day each year, like Live Bands, food, giveaway's etc. I went to a really cool record release party that they had for Netflix's Stranger Things Soundtrack. It was so much fun!! Several People even went all out and dressed up. They had the soundtrack playing. To top it all off they provided FREE Waffles and even drinks!! If you just like to just check out cool stores or buy records like me this is a must stop. read more

Record stores can be few and far between. Digital music is the main source of music these days and nearly all new records come with a digital download. (Which I'm not complaining about.) Radio Active Records is a great spot in Ft. Lauderdale to pick up all your new and used vinyl needs in this modern world. They have a great selection of rock/punk/metal which is where i primarily browse. There is also a large rap/hip-hop section and then your general rock section where you can find everything from Leonard Cohen to Lynyrd Skynyrd. In addition to the records, there is also a CD section and a cassette tape wall with a decent variety. You can find obscure and limited editions as well but you have to get there quick! And if there is something you are looking for and it's not in store, they will search discogs.com for you and order it. You can easily spend hours in here and I have. The staff is always friendly and every time I've been in, I've been greeted. read more

Radio-Active Records was so cool! They had a huge selection of records and many different genres. When I was there, I got a mint condition copy of Reckoning, and I love it! I would recommend any music lover to go here! read more

I always have this romantic idea that I'm going to start a record collection. I don't have a record player. Heck, I don't have a single vynly...but it think it would look dope in my living room - and I love the warmer sound of records. But I also love the convinence of Spotify. #Firstworldproblems. Anyways....this place made me REALLY want to start a record collection. Walking in you are immediately overcome by the nostalgic feel of walking into a record store. If you are under 25 you probably never had that feeling. I remember getting cassette singles of my favorite songs. I remember getting my first CD (Fugees) and I vividly remember unwrapping CDs (eff that little strip of tape that was impossible to take off, so you'd just tear open the case to rip it). Opening up the case...reading the lyrics...reading the thank you's. Ah...not to get too "back in my day"...but I feel we appreciated music so much more back then. Ok...enough of my old man shit. Here we go.... I stopped in for a gift. My friend has a huge record collection so I figured I'd get her a gift card for here so she could expand her collection. The shop itself isn't massive, but it makes use of the space very well. There are rows of records organized by genre. They even had a CD area (granted, much smaller than the record area). Some used. Some new. You can find some really good deals - and rare finds. Great overall selection. The cashier could care less about being nice/talking/doing anything above press buttons on a register. That's fine I guess. I asked about gift cards and he kind of looked at me like I was an idiot cause I didn't see where they were. Eh. It was a simple enough transaction.... The highlight for me....they had Coconuts bins. If you were raised in South Florida you remember Coconuts. It was the premier record store for some time. I actually went to a Trick Daddy release party at a Coconuts in North Miami Beach back in the 90s. I got his autograph. The 90s were so dope. read more

This store is 1 mile away from me but I found it on yelp!! It's a big store, very nicely laid out. Nice workers! I sold a few oldies.

This place is great. I went in looking for something in particular and they didn't have it on hand. Gunther who seemed to be the owner or manager offered to order it for me. Took a few days and he called me as soon as he received it. He also called me the exact day he predicted it would arrive. Super cool place - they have a lot of great stuff and the guys who assist you are super cool and kind. Definitely going back. Thanks Gunther. read more

Located just a few minutes from the beach and downtown, Radio Active Record is the best record store in Fort Lauderdale catering to fans of both new and used vinyl with a great selection of rock, punk, metal, hip-hop and jazz. First off, you have to park in the back and walk to the front because the shop is situated on a highway with no front parking. I walked in the front doors and was quickly greeted by the shop manager who asked if I needed anything in particular, but didn't bother me when I told him I was just browsing. All records were meticulously alphabetized, with most artists receiving their own section within individual genres. I stumbled a little looking for Rollins Band, as it could have fit into punk, metal or alternative, but the guy behind the register blew my mind when he told me there was a whole section titled "classic alternative." It consisted mostly of Lollapalooza-era bands like Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Nirvana, and the like. I started doing the math and most of those bands are at least twenty years removed from their hit records, definitely making both them and me "classic." It hurt to see that label, but I got over it quickly when I found a legit psychobilly section with unopened copies of early Mad Sin records. I put those to the side and coasted through the hip-hop section -- the Wu Tang section in particular -- looking (and failing) to find old Gravediggaz LPs. Alas, they had none, but I was blown away by the amount of Wu solo records and singles available. Radio Active records also offers plenty of new records and well-kept used copies, so those with OCD don't need to spend days sifting through bins. After an hour in the shop, I grabbed Mad Sin's "Distorted Dimensions" and paid at the front desk, as the young cashier admitted that he didn't know what we were listening to was Bjork. I laughed because no one else in the world sounds like Bjork. The shop manager laughed and I headed out into the humid Florida sun. Radio Active records is definitely worth a visit next time you are in the Fort Lauderdale area, just don't feel bad if your favorite music is now considered classic. read more

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I saw advertised somewhere on social media that they were having an acoustic Merchandise show. NOWHERE in sight did I see ANY acoustic Merchandise, except for an acoustic drum kit that some guy was playing in a band there, and it wasn't for sale. And all the guys in the band were playing guitars plugged into electricity. NOT ACOUSTIC HELLOOOO. This is what us Ad guys like to call "false advertising." Although I did see the singer pull out a tambourine at some point. I also saw advertised that they would have the standard black version of a vinyl album available. "STANDARD" black vinyl??? What it's not as good as the WHITE vinyl? What is this the 1930's?? C'mon guys get with the times. I bet they also have a "colored" vinyl section here. Disgusting. I think the BLACK vinyls sound wayyy better anyways! I'm leaving the 5 stars though because they DID have a copy of this rare Drunks With Guns 7" and Mickey, the owner, hooked it up with the price! But c'mon guys.. gotta work on your public image or u will have a limited audience;) read more

Been a regular customer for a few years, now. Gunther, Nat and Sean always treat me as a friend when I walk in. Great selection of used vinyl always coming in, it's worth watching their social media! Couldn't recommend more highly! read more

I've been shopping at Radioactive for years, and I'm so grateful that they're still around! Great selection of LPs, 45s, cassettes, and CDs. Staff is always happy to help with any questions or chat about a particular band. read more

Very cool place, lots of variety! Came with my boyfriend just to look around and it jumpstarted my record collection! Staff was great at enforcing masks and hand sanitizer as well, which was appreciated - especially in a place where customers are constantly flipping through records. Overall had a great time, and will be coming back for some more records! read more

Very disappointed. And n several levels. Had a giant stack... most left behind.... Because one that I really wanted... was WAY overpriced.... Employee just didn't care. So I took a couple... left most. So indifferent. Also disorganized and not helpful staff. read more

I love the old book smell that this store has! Really impressed with their collection, very organized collection and Pete was super friendly and knows his music from his music! The vinyls are organized by genre, extensive rock, jazz and soul collections. International variety could be better. Collections are mostly from the 60's to the 80's. I couldn't find some specific vinyls I was looking for Pete offered to call me after checking his warehouse. I loved the used collections upfront, I could spend hours in this store. I wish they had an actual LP record player to try out the used records before purchase. Variety of collections, friendly staff, very well organized, tidy store and they keep adding more every week! I would go back for sure! read more

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Big fans of the Radio Active Records crew. It doesn't matter who they have working behind the desk that day, as they are always down to talk music or to turn you on to some new music. Their selection is forever on point (always end up spending more than I planned when I walk in). They are big supporters of the local music scene, which is important for a local record shop. If you ever find yourself in the Fort Lauderdale area, go to Radio Active! Do it! read more

Brand new location in North Lauderdale area. The old location was a bit smaller and less easy to navigate, but it was more centrally located for Fort Lauderdale residents. The new shop is tucked away literally in a blind corner of a strip plaza, hidden well behind a clock tower. Unlike the old location, there is zero street visibility. I'm a bit worried for them due to the poor location, but they really are one of the best record stores in town. The new space was obviously something far different previously, and the rooms are broken up, almost like offices or an apartment. It would have been nice if they had knocked down some of the walls and spent a few dollars making it more open and airy. Still, it's very well organized, and they have a solid selection of vinyl to search through. The staff is super knowledgeable and hip-yet-friendly. While it's not the perfect location, it's certainly a fun place to look for your favorite music while listening to obscure songs playing on the turntable. read more

I had passed this place many times without going in, but today I decided to finally pay a visit. When I came in, I found the atmosphere very pleasant; the labels on the genres were hand-drawn, which I felt was a nice touch. The music is extremely well-organized, and it was easy to search for specific artists or albums if I knew what genre they were. In addition, everything seemed to be in its place; if I couldn't find an artist under a label, I didn't feel the need to search every other place for a misplaced CD or vinyl. I couldn't find any misplacements here. The music selection seems to veer towards newer music rather than older music, but it still feels balanced. I found some specialization in rock music, and it was sorted into several subcategories: punk, alternative, indie rock, rock/pop, etc. I found some albums I didn't expect to find here. When I went to check out, the staff was friendly and polite. I will return hoping for more finds. read more

Really nice record shop. They have a big selection of used stuff across alot of genres and plenty of new releases as well. The records are well organized by letter and (sometimes) band, so it's relatively easy to quickly and thoroughly go through the racks. I found the pricing to be a bit on the high end, but they're the only game in town if you want an LP on the spot, so it is what it is. Four stars, worth a visit if you're into vinyl. read more

If you collect LPs, this place is absolutely essential. Definitely worth going out of your way to visit. Large selection of new vinyl LPs, quite a few oddball and off-the-wall titles in addition to the usual (yawn) classic rock stuff you can find anywhere. Healthy-sized bin of New Arrivals greets you as you enter. Nice touch, that, and I found something I wanted in there within 5 minutes of flipping through the titles. Score!!! Used LPs seemed pretty picked-over. Forgivable as this seems to be a near-universal phenomenon in 2017. Decent selection of used jazz and used 'regular' rock LPs. Some good Latin stuff as well. Soul / funk / R&B not so much, unless you collect 12" singles. Prices here are very fair. This place will not bankrupt you and generally there's little need to surreptitiously check Discogs or Popsike on your smartphone for a price check. Young guys on staff seemed easygoing. Not sure how knowledgeable they were. They were playing lame electronic dance music the whole time I was in there, though. Very low key atmosphere. A great place to spend an hour or two looking at albums... if you can put up with whatever it is they're playing on the sound system. read more

best record store in florida, period!!!! run and get your records there! very nice and educated salespersons!

In the age of the streaming services great record stores are hard to find. It is a privilege to have Radio Active Records in Fort Lauderdale. They are more than just retail, they are a vital part of the South Florida music community and the thriving FAT Village scene. If you haven't been to a record store in 10 years, you would be surprised by how much things have changed. But if you haven't been in 30 years, you would be surprised by how little things have changed. The CD format that was so popular for the last couple of decades is on the decline and it is being replaced by the resurgent LP format. Radio Active has a small section for CDs and and even cassettes but the store is focused on vinyl. They carry records for everyone with countless genres represented from your standard Rock and Pop to esoteric genres like horror movie soundtracks. They carry the oldest Jazz records to the newest EDM artists. The LPs are both new and used which provides a wide variety of options and pricing. The pricing is fair with most of the used LPs being sold at less than $10 unless they are rare collectibles. New "audiophile" LPs are surprisingly expensive (often more than $30) but those prices are unfortunately consistent across all record stores and are a result of the prices that Radioactive has to pay for new LPs. Radio Active also has a lot of free events like listening parties and in-store performances and signings so be sure to check their Instagram for the latest news. In April and November they participate in Record Store Day and feature tons of exclusive offering prizes bands and other fun. Like all great record stores they have a very knowledgable staff that is friendly too, unlike all those High Fidelity cliches. In addition to selling records and CDs they are always looking to buy more inventory and they pay well and will even come to you if you have a large enough collection. read more

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Very cool owner. Lots of great finds at reasonable prices. Dropped $61 and grabbed a bunch of hard-to-find vinyl. Will definitely be back next time I'm in South Florida. read more

I can understand why every review is 5 stars. It really is impossible to be negative towards any record store like this. It's amazing a place like this even exists today but more importantly, it's not just a record store, its a real throwback record store. An array of music ranging from Thelonious Monk to Radiohead to R.E.M. to Jefferson Airplane to Dead Kennedys to Dr. John. They have a large variety of 45s as well and I must say the prices are very reasonable. Their hip-hop section is rather small, but I was able to pull a few golden era obscure pieces from Brand Nubian, Lord Finesse or Hobo Junction. The have a pretty big section of $1 bins that you could literally spend hours sifting through but more than likely you'll find it was worth it. I was able to pull about 3-4 rare pieces of it that section as well. Be careful about new vinyl though, it's extremely pricey and not because of the store, but because with limited distribution as well as quantities made, it has practically tripled the price of them. I'd focus on the used vinyl because there's plenty here. I'm glad a store like this is here for diggers like myself and I'll continue to support it. If you're a vinyl junkie, I'd have to believe this is your best option, might be your only one too. If you check-in via Yelp you can save 10% so don't forget that. Today marked the first time I've been here but it certainly won't be the last. Keep vinyl alive! read more

Keeping this short, all the posted positive reviews are spot on. One mention of an improvement would be for the staff to not put sticky price tags on the album front. I don't need to spend 10 minutes carefully removing that thing when I get home. Had a blast coming here on Record Store Day, and will be returning. read more

Went to Radioactive a few weeks ago on a day when I had nothing to do and my girlfriend had class all day. The reason I did this is that I like to go through absolutely every record they have to look. That's the nature of the record collecting hobby. Radioactive is hit or miss and I mean that in absolutely the best way possible. I go sometimes and they have nothing at all that I'm interested in. And sometimes I go and have to spend way more than I can afford because you can't pass up a good quality used record that you need in your collection. Who knows when you'll see it pop up again? Maybe never! This is all part of the fun of record hunting and allows me to have some regulation of my spending on vinyl, because obviously I don't have the self control to regulate it myself. This visit I left with a major haul. I ended up leaving with 3 Beatles, Cat Stevens, Japandroids. 40 bucks. But here's the kicker - after noticing that I was going through every single record, the girl at the register asked me if I wanted to see their brand new records that they hadn't priced yet. I didn't even have to ask - SHE OFFERED! When does that happen nowadays? NEVER. In the pile of new records is where I found 3 of the 5 records I ended up buying. I just pulled out the ones I liked and she grabbed the manager from the back who priced them for me right then and there. Whether or not you hit pay-dirt, you're going to have a great time at radioactive. Great selection, great quality, great staff, good prices. Oh and here's a tip - parking isn't great so I just park in the Sears parking lot next door and walk over. It is always almost completely empty. read more

I have two things to say about this shop. 1) I drive two hours round-trip to just shop here 2) My most recent purchase was a CD by The Meatmen for $5 This place is rules. read more

In my initial review I mentioned I had only been to Radio-Active once while I was in town and didn't find a whole lot. I was back in town visiting friends and family so I had a bit more time to dig through more of the shop... THE GOOD... -easy to park -prices were fair -pretty well organized -listening station (just need to ask for headshell) -practically all genres of music -carries lots of new vinyl and reissues (if that's your thing) -has customer restroom THE BAD... -way too much bottom-shelf records taking up space on the top shelf -12" singles mixed in with LPs Overall, I walked out this visit with more records than my initial trip. Two of the 4 I found I've never come across before in any other shops. Biggest downside is the boatload of filler and overstock that should be in separate budget bins or underneath the top self records. Radio-Active is a cool shop though worth checking out. read more

Reasons to visit Radio-Active Records (RAR): + Organized to the T. + LOTZ of vinyl (new / used / reissues / imports). + Variety. + Lime green walls. + The perfect pit stop before or after a drink at Kim's Alley Bar, a movie at Gateway Cinema, or catching some rays or grub on A1A & Sunrise Blvd. + Super friendly and knowledgeable staff who always greet you at the door & offer their assistance. + Listening to whatever the staff has spinning on the record player while you are rummaging through the vinyl stacks and realizing "holy crap, i need to know what is playing... now!" (then of course, having to buy it). + Most importantly: buying from RAR helps support the local scene which boosts the local economy (Fort Lauderdale for life!). read more