Working at a small ma-and-pa video store for many years gave me an appreciation for smaller business. My modus operandi is to go and support them in the midst of all the market grabbing the big boys, in their respective consumer fields, try and gobble up. I love shacks posing as video stores, and ramshackled huts that double as record shops. Along with their sense of independence and indifference to the modern era, which seems to be bigger equals better, they have a charm about them. Finding one of these stores, is like going into a thrift shop and finding that perfect shirt, jean, jacket, or sweater. This store played the part of "indie record store" to a tee. You even have the pretentious-looking, presumably early 20s, clerks behind the counter. The one who rang me up was actually pretty nice, though. :) The music they blasted through the store speakers is quite refreshing to the music they play at, say, a Best Buy music department. When playing the right music, it ehances the music-shopping experience. (If you think about it, it's actually good for business.) One album they were playing sounded really good, and I wasn't familiar with the artist. If I wasn't rushing right before being rung up, I would've remembered to ask who they were. As far as I know, there are only 2 Rhino Records in existence. The one in Claremont opened up in 1976, by the Rhino label itself. But aside from being a few in number, they carry movies and music, used items of both, vinyl, and other memorabilia. One of my previous reviews extolled the virtues of Rockaway Records, in Silverlake. Rhino Records also gets 5 stars because it carries the same appeal, but is also bigger and more spread out inside. More fung to the shui, if you will. I spent about an hour in the location, but heaven knows I've could've been in the store for 2 times that, maybe longer. I should've checked to see if they had listening booths. Here's the bounty I scored: Here Space Holiday - Home is Where You Hang Yourself ($6.99) The Magic Numbers - s/t ($7.99) Newton Faulkner - Hand Built by Robots ($4.99) Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights ($8.99) The White Stripes - De Stijl ($9.99) All together, I spent $42.16. Not bad. It would've been more had I not put back the Mazarin, Jason Falkner, Cabaret Voltaire, Rentals, Josh Rouse, and who knows what other cd's back. But a brother's gotta go easy on the pocketbook from time-to-time, especially with all these Yelping intentions in mind. Thank you for existing Rhino Records. Claremont is looking like a nice place to visit from time-to-time. read more

You know those days when you really want some new music to listen to? You don't feel like downloading it off iTunes? So you're like, "TO THE MUSIC STORE WE GO!" And then you realize you don't feel like suffering your way through the DTLA interchange just to get to Sunset Blvd and the land of milk & honey (otherwise known as Amoeba). Well, hey, there's Rhino Records, and it's in Claremont. So all of us desert and Inland Empire types don't have to make the full two-hour-ish trek to Hollywood. Obviously, selection isn't quite the same as the massive bins at Amoeba, but you're still likely to find something you want here. Even if it is the latest from Taylor Swift. read more

I've decided to give up on it all. I'm going to move back to the 909, marry a fat beer drinking construction worker, and pop out a kid. This way, my mom will find fulfillment in a grandchild, and I can shop at the most amazing record store, every day, for the rest of my mediocre life. read more

my old review is really short..so i have to update it since I just got here a while ago... I love this place I go here and walk out having a couple of cd's in my hand... I'm such a sucker when it comes to cds... This place has a section for almost everything! They got used ones too which is sweet if you are looking for those old cd's that you can't seem to find anymore. I also love it when i find live concerts since i prefer it better but usually i end up having live and the album itself. In a random day when i just feel like grabbing an album i go to this place this is my candy land! I'm gonna browse through all the albums and randomly pick out which ever i feel like buying. My way of buying stuffs here can be expensive since i usually don't leave until i have something that i'm gonna buy. I just want to buy most of their cds! Note: *sometimes they have sale where the cd's ranges from 2 bucks and up! *they sell nice shirts too *they got some cool toys and bags *they got vinyl section *they play random good music! read more

I always come here to get CDs. Anthony is extremely helpful and really knowledgeable about music and bands. He's helped me find music that I was unable to find. All other places are getting rid of their CDs, so I Hope Rhino never closes. I always find what I'm looking for! read more

Every single time I go into Rhino, I'm always treated with the same great customer service. They always suggest good new music as well as remind you of the old stuff that you forget. Their vinyl selection is pretty good....and they always seem to surprise me with something that I never would have thought to even see. Thumbs up Rhino. read more

Customer service here was excellent. I asked one of the employees where to find something, and he did not just point me in the right direction. He actually walked me exactly over to what I was looking for. Even though it was record store day, I did not feel rushed. Great location. I look forward to returning and shopping at all the other cool stores too. read more

How did I get through my time in Claremont? Here. This was my zion. A perfect combination of timeless collectible vinyls, rare indies, zines, designer toys, and the best of the best in art minded magazines both foreign and stateside. If I had a few bucks I would stop by and look in the dollar bin for music most had never heard of or was forgotten. I'd grab a few new/old discs and be on my way... only once in the many times I'd gone to be disappointed with a disc. The staff is all very in the know. You can get flyers to numerous events and shows happening even outside of the 909. Pick up an application there and see just how intensive their hiring process is. They ask what your tastes are and examples of such in most every bracket from classic rock to world to noise. This indie record store is- from what I'm told by others not in the area- a place where people drive up in droves to experience. And let me tell you... this is worth it. read more

I have been at this store several times. However, it was in 2016, when I was a student at Cal Poly Pomona, and used to live in Claremont. This store has a good variety of vinyls, compact discs, and DVDs to choose from. Some of them are even in mint condition. Nevertheless, I did not purchase anything, since I had a very tight budget. Still, for people who are collectors, or enjoy old records, I would recommend a visit to this store. I might purchase some items, next time, when I visit the store. read more

Incredible music variety. Hands-down the best CD/vinyl store in greater LA. Which is saying something. Cons: The staff sometimes has a hipper-than-thou attitude. Which I find alternately amusing and annoying. read more

I genuinely adore this place. I been here a couple of times, to roam around and check out their neat things, but finally score a couple of small things last week. If you been to the Glass House Record store in Downtown Pomona, this is probably double that size. And get this: they carry books, clothing, vintage cassettes and CD's. How the record store is laid out is fairly simple: rows and alphabetical order of your favorite tunes by different genres. Towards the back of your store you have all your vinyls. Best section evar! There is a section where they have CD's for dirt cheap - $1.99 and it is because CDs are now the cassettes of our age and vinyls are making a huge comeback! The prices for old and new vinyls aren't too shabby either. I didn't see a NEW vinyl for over 20 bucks that is currently trending on the radio - so I take it that is a good thang (: The service was very nice and quiet. Of course, being a record store you'd play music! I love going through the aisles and then shazaaming their music they're playing. I love that they have apparel and pins available for customers, too - like for all the music enthusiasts one-stop-shop kind of deal. read more

i sold 4 criterion movies, some records and other dvds and only got 15$ store credit what a joke. i was so excited to go for months and finally got the chance but i sold it cause i needed the cash but damn lol. never have i wrote a yelp review but they suck read more

There are several reasons why Rhino is cool: 1. They're probably the biggest and best indie record shop east of Pasadena. They're probably the only one too, but who's keeping track? Just know that if you're into indie record shops and you haven't been here--shame, shame, shame! 2. Their parking lot makes a sweet skate spot. 3. Even when the Rhino isn't the main reason for your being in the Village, their parking lot always has a spot for you when on-street parking can't be found. read more

They have an alright selection as far as records and CD's, however I feel like most of it is pretty over-priced. On one wall they have all sorts of awesome toys/gift type things, also overpriced however I have found some neat things over there. Some of the employees come off as a bit snobby. I have bought many music posters at Rhino Records, they have a great selection and the posters are inexpensive. They have record players, and parts for record players and they are pretty knowledgeable. Overall I give them 3 stars, because they do have a good selection and the staff knows what they are doing, however they are sometimes snobby and Rhino overall is overpriced. read more

After much hemming and hawing, I eventually got down to RR. The years came flooding back and it was like I had my old record shop back. Like Penny Lane, like Music + of old the vinyl was in the racks and I loved it. A pretty good used cd offering and there were awesome band stickers in the check out cabinet. I chose a Specials sticker for my skateboard - I couldn't find something like that anywhere. I loitered for about a half hour perusing the shelves. They had books! Naughty naughty books that the squares don't want you to have like the Naked Lunch by Bill Burroughs and On the Road by Saint Jack K! There were strange novelty toys and rock t-shirts! There were rock t-shirts for god sake. In the rear of the shop there was an actual listening area to just listen. Listen to the records as they spin and pop and hiss. It was a bit of nirvana with Nirvana and some headphones. In the midst of the Claremont sun this village gem sits. My great sources in Westwood of my UCLA years are gone: no more Penny Lane (although it still lives in Pasadena) and the old Rhino of the west side - gone. But here in the far off land of Claremont they have preserved a great thing. I found a rare Japanese pressing of a Squeeze cd. Couldn't find it for less than $50 bucks on Amazon and I had it for the sweet price of $1.99. $1.99 bought me a lot of joy on the way home in my car. I can't download an EP for $1.99! Fanzines, real rock, an actual punk rock section that doesn't blow, a dedicated rap section that doesn't include stupid so-called hip hop - a shop run by purists. If the fictional boys of Champion Records made a visit they would deem this a good place to find awesome music. Before you download another track - come here and spend a half hour passing your fingers across the cd boxes and over the covers of vinyl records. You can tell your kids about it some day. You can tell them how much it rocked. read more

I enjoy spending some time flipping through records and CDs, so Rhino is a great place to find some hidden gems. I've found a lot of great items at some very reasonable prices. For being one of the last real record stores in the area, the stuff that they have can't be beat. I haven't taken up on the offer yet, but the "buy a CD get a concert ticket" deal is totally awesome. The only thing that keeps this place from getting a perfect score is some of the staff. A few of them are kind of rude when asked questions. I understand that most people have their musical tastes, but that doesn't give anyone the right to bash what others like. Saying, "oh we had boxes of those, but tossed them out because they weren't selling" isn't something to say to a customer. Regardless of them, come to Rhino for some good stuff. read more

What a decent record store in Meth Valley a.k.a Mulletville a.k.a Valley of the Dirt People.... Rhino Records along time ago allow a little boy to complete his Iron Maiden Picture Disk Collection. Pretty much anything and everything for a music lover. The best thing about Rhino is that it is located in the Claremont Village, which provides a nice chill environment read more

As soon as I walked in here, I was reminded of Tower Records a bit. If you're a real record shop hound, it's kinda like Zia in Las Vegas. Basically, they don't sell just CDs and vinyl, but books, novelties, posters, etc. The only category they don't offer is movies. Vinyl is the hot item at the moment, and they've got a nice varied selection here. Lots of categories break down every imaginable artist into an appropriate category. I was very happy to see they had a Progressive Rock section. The Metal selection could have been a bit stronger, but this store is mainly focused on Classic Rock, if anything. The pricing was all reasonable, including the rare & signed records that line the walls. CDs are unpopular now and, frankly, I can hardly see the appeal in buying them anymore. Most bands (or, more likely, their labels) put little effort into releasing packages worth your money. Still, they sell, and there's an impressive selection here. I came across a boatload of Goblin albums on CD, something I would have jumped all over just a few years ago. This place draws a serious crowd, too. I came in here on a Saturday night with a buddy and it was jam-packed. I know Saturday is a hot night and all, but you don't often see record stores that crowded unless they're called Amoeba. read more

The coolest record store I've ever been to. Came here for the first time three years ago and bought my first record player. Every time I've gone since then has been a pleasant experience. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and they have a great haul of stuff ranging from records, CD's, to board games. They also allow dogs and I've taken mine each time. Can't wait to go back when I can! read more

This place has been dubbed the Amoeba Records of the IE. I can agree with that statement on some fronts, but of course, on a much, much (much) smaller scale. Rhino is your typical record store, but how many local record stores can you name in the area? Keep independent music alive, people. They have everything from CDs to 12" records to 45s, to posters & memorabilia. They've also got convenient listening stations, which is always a plus. I enjoy digging through their clearance bins. It's a bit on the smaller side, but I've found a few gems. I got my J Dilla Diamonds & Ice 12" here, which was sold out at a lot of other places. I also copped a few instrumental Hip-Hop albums (although their Hip-Hop section isn't the largest). It's not always the cheapest, but it's also not too expensive. Sometimes they have tickets to Glasshouse shows for the live music enthusiasts. If you find yourself strolling down this little stretch of Yale Ave, get your fingers dusty, and definitely stop by. read more

LETS TALK VINYL: Yes son it does sound alot better than a cd. Yes it does have better clarity and depth compared to MP3s. Yes even the worst turntable offers more of a complete sound wave than any CD player. OK now I am done preaching, lets talk Rhino Records in Claremont: I was 16 first time I went to Rhino, It was a few doors over from where they are located now, back then that was the SPOT (for Vinyl). All sorts of music from Punk, to reggae, to International. Every vinyl title being pressed was there! Hot chicks working there, cats that actually knew the music you were looking for. Fast forward 16 years: 32 now. Roll up there now they have DORKs working, the selection has gone from great to WTF!!! Oh look they are charging $42 for a vinyl record that is selling for $12 at Poo-bah Record (Pasadena) or $15 at Vinyl Fetish (LA) Come on now. Keep the vinyl, hire some cats that know music and charge a fair price for records man. Peace. (oh long live vinyl) oh oh Poo-bah is now off of Colorado near Sierra Madre! read more

I visited near weekly when I was going to Pitzer. I liked that they usually gave you swag with your purchase. Also, an undersized albino hemophiliac with an "I Survived Jurassic Park the Ride" T-shirt tried to pick me up here once while I was at the magazine rack. I destroyed a young man's heart that day, but it makes for a 5-star story. read more

Cool spot lots of used CDs and stuff, random gifts and other non music stuff. Rare to come across these kind of cool record stores these days. Music DVDs and all kinds of stuff I've gotten several gifts for people from here. read more

This is my favorite vinyl place near me, that I have visited so far. They have a good mixture of new releases and old vinyl, and it's pretty well organized! I've definitely seen worse. I always find myself wanting to stop by whenever I'm in the area. I really appreciate the separate section they have for metal vinyl, although small, it exists. As a heavy vinyl collector, this makes browsing much easier. Parking is also really convenient since they have their own lot. It's in a really cute downtown area that has interesting stores to browse and places to eat. Lastly, the prices of the vinyl is reasonable compared to what I find online. This is my happy place. read more

Like bookstores, music stores are now hard to find. So glad Rhino Records has survived all the modern technology and online shopping. I think it has a lot to do with their unique selection of music (new and used), the ability to get your hands on it before you buy, the fun environment, and lots of other quirky merchandise. And as stated in their name, they actually do carry records, e.g. Vinyl! I've come here in the past to buy that most wanted Partridge Family album for a white elephant gift exchange. I also learned about Boo, the cutest dog in the world, when they were selling his newly released autobiographical book. On this visit, I was in search of tunes from 1985 to give my cousins for their 30th wedding anniversary. Found them! Prince, Madonna, and Tears for Fears--so much more good stuff from that era, but these were my favs! Then of course, I had to visit the gag gift area for a little laugh therapy! read more

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Wow what a discovery! Just what we were looking for! Old records of non traditional artists like Doris Day and Frank Sinatra! Found Records and CDs. Great prices and good quality! Will return soon! read more

This is the best record shop.....hands down ive been coming here for at least 12 years now . They always have those hard to find movies, books and music . They have a 2 dollar cd rack . For the most part is alot of junk but if you go through the rack you will always find a few gems. The staff is top notch and are quick to help you find something . LOVE THIS STORE read more

this is a dime in the land of dying record stores. I come here when I don't want to drive all the way out to amoeba records in la and I'm never disappointed. I've found many treasures in their bargain vinyl bins and can spend all day digging. they carry a great selection and offer decent pricing. support your favorite artists and your local record store!!! read more

Rhino Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Montclair, California

The miniature Amoeba is what I call it. This little gem in the middle of Claremont, CA is a cool little cozy spot for underground and rarities. Sometimes They don't always have what I want, but it beats having to drive all the way to Amoeba in Hollywood. My kid loves the toy/miscellaneous section and their prices are adequate. Years ago, they had very mad looking and cold sales clerks...Maybe because I was an aspiring young metal-head and they were the veterans. LOL Now that I am older, It looks to me that the young ones are a lot more nicer to me. The new cashier's there now are younger but are very polite and professional. read more

They make it sound like their vinyl selection is amazing, but... I went to Rhino with a list of about 30 records that I wanted. I don't really consider my tastes that obscure. I mean, I like indie, but my list wasn't really overly obscure (I literally used to buy all these bands at Best Buy, how obscure can they be?). I was looking for indie, classic rock, jazz, and blues. I found 1 record that I wanted in the whole place. ONE. There were a couple things I wanted on cd, they were either sold out or the place just didn't carry those as well. I also noticed several records that were filed incorrectly (such as being filed under the artist's first name instead of last, though that was clearly not consistent with their filing system), so who knows, maybe they did have what I wanted but none of it was in the right place? I also took a bunch of older records with me to trade. They wouldn't buy any of them, which ended up being fine with me, since I couldn't find anything I wanted there anyways. Later on I happened to be in Riverside with my in-laws, and I checked out their sister store, The Mad Platter. I had the exact same experience; cash in hand, but not one single record or cd that I wanted could be found. Stuff was misfiled there too. Now let's contrast this experience with Amoeba Music in LA; I took the same old records to Amoeba and got $17 for them. I then walked around with my list and found about 25 of the records on my list. I ended up spending a fat pile of cash. And nothing was filed incorrectly. I realize that Amoeba is huge and it is very hard to compete with a store that awesome when you're buying peoples' old stuff, but come on guys, at least make an effort to keep your store organized and well-stocked. If you want to go to a better record store without having to trek out to LA, try downtown Pomona. There are a couple vinyl shops down there that actually have a great selection in ALL genres instead of just whatever the store owner is into. I don't know how they are about trade-ins, but at least you can find what you want. read more

I grew up going to Rhino, and let me say, I absolutely love the place. It is the BEST music store ever, hands down. Even Morrissey ventured his way to Claremont to shop at Rhino, which must tell you something!!! One day back in 1999 or 2000, the sales clerks that knew me told me that Moz had stopped by one day and did some shopping. How cool is that!?!?! Morrissey walking the same floors I did! Ahhhhhhhh...... .... but I digress. Rhino is a great store if you are looking for hard-to-find, indie, vintage, imports, and obscure music. Basically things you wouldn't or couldn't find in your local Best Buy or Target. They have a fabulous used CD section, a vinyl section, and sell cool stickers, posters, shirts, and other random cool stuff. read more

Ok, I'd probably give this 4-stars, but this place is nostalgia for me. I grew up going here when I was a high schooler and wanting to go to someplace "cool"---I went here when the store was located in a different location on the same block---I liked that space a little better. This is a great locally-owned music store with used CDs, new CDs, vinyl, DVDs, and all kinds of other trinkets. I ended up buying a Celia Cruz salsa CD, and a chill cd. read more

This place is awesome. It was a place to hang as a teenager and it's a place to get some good tunes. When I'm not itunes-ing it I prefer to buy here just because of the selection. And if they don't have something they will try to find it for you. So all of you rare music lovers this is your place. And they have records! read more

This is where music and I first really fell in love. It was those used CD and vinyl bins that are super well organized and incredibly diverse. This is one of the most organized record stores you will ever go to and they have everything you could ever want. From a wide range of rockabilly to an incredible collection of jazz - they have everything and they have friendly and knowledgeable staff that will either be there to help you find every album or just let you spend hours going through every single album. Also, with used vinyl you can take a listen before purchasing and every now and then they have killer sales (99cent used vinyl!!!). I love Rhino - it is not nearly as overwhelming as ameoba and is clearly the resource for music in the inland empire (yes, I consider Claremont the inland empire - deal with it.) read more

Rhino Records is a very large and very "grungy" feeling building. The record store smell is ever present, obviously, but after a while it eats away at your nasal systems. Luckily for me, I was congested. I am very impressed with the selection of Rhino ranging from stands of movies, magazines, used CDS of all genre's for reasonable prices, huge areas of vinyl, and all of the crazy figurines such as Jesus pencil toppers. I was very excited to find the selection of Jazz vinyl :) Classics like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and so forth are not typically found in record stores that I have been in, so props to them for carrying that. However, don't get too focused on the selections but rather focus your attention on your safety. There are some seedy looking characters who creep their way into the store and as I here from the manager to be pretty out of control at times. So watch for good deals on all kinds of things and also watch to see that your personal bubble is not crowded up by a guy with bleeding gums who hasn't showered in days. read more

Free concerts, awesome selection, weird classic movies playing and a fake mounted rhino head?! A++ What more could you ask for?? read more

Classic record shop in all regards. Perfect location for shopping in Claremont. Surprised not to find more used vinyl - great new selection but left wanting more used. Guess that's a reason to come back more and more! Super friendly staff A++ read more

Rhino is a wonderful local record shop. I love this place because it is different. The people running it are different, the CDs and records they have are different, and there are tons of cool posters/toys/books/etc. Rhino caters to the DJ and punk rock crowd but almost anything can be found there, if you ask for a employee to help you... The organization of the CDs is TERRIBLE!!! I can almost NEVER find the CD I am looking for because there doesn't really seem to be much of a system for organizing CDs. Alphabetical would make the most sense but they don't really seem to do that very well... Everything here, for the most part, is more expensive than you would find online or at megastores like Barnes and Noble or Virgin or something but then again, those places are giant corporations which don't give half a sh*t about its customers anyways. So in the end I don't feel bad if I pay a few more dollars for an album. The best part about Rhino is its wall of goodies! The back wall has all sorts of odds and ends from awesome books to funny games and other collectibles. Rhino is the only store I have ever been into that has decals. Not stickers, decals. The difference is stickers are one block of adhesive. Decals are not one big rectangle but instead, you peel off the back, apply the decal, and then remove the front. You'll see what I mean if you check this place out. And it is definitely worth checking out! Rhino is a great independent record store that you MUST CHECK OUT if you are in the Claremont area! read more

I like seeing Neil Diamond's Jew-fro and Kenny Roger's oversized-lapel shirt and hairiest chest staring back at me from the cover of a discounted Record cover... I hate that Rhino Records is part of a dying breed: the record store. So, yes, this place has records and this place has CDs and books and shirts and stickers and a lot of other stuff--and, yes, you should go inside and wander around if you're in Claremont. It stinks of music in there and that's a stink I love with all my heart. read more

Thank you, Rhino Records, for feeding my inner hipster before I knew I even had one. The back section with all the vinyls was my haven! My record player would have been so lonely without my finds from Rhino. Do you have any idea how much fun stuff I found for $.99?! One man's trash is another hipster's treasure. Really, this place is a hub for music lovers, old and young. Fun fact: My dad totally dropped off some copies of me singing karaoke on a CD at this Rhino. It'll be worth something someday! haha read more