Great records and collectibles and it's not very expensive. Staff is awesome too, really helpful!

Nice place first time visit got Adele last release in Cd and a couple of other things held off on a couple of thing keep up the good work!

I stopped in TGE for the first time in years recently and thought I'd offer an updated review. Looking at my old review from 8 years ago, much of my analysis remains the same. Still a 3--but for what it's worth a heavier 3 (closer to a 3.5 if Yelp allowed such things). I think the staff here are super friendly and helpful and I love that many of my favorite things are under the same roof-- vinyl records, CDs, comics, books, DVDs/Blurays, and other collectibles. The biggest change facing this place since the last time I reviewed them is their hours. I feel like they're hardly ever open--their expansive, customer-friendly morning to night schedule went away during COVID (understandably) but then...it just never came back. I suppose they had to trim it to stay economical, so better they do so and stay open than expand hours and close. But there were so many times I wanted to stop in when driving by only to find them closed that I just completely got out of the habit. Now, even though I pass by this location 1-2x a week, I instead drive 15-20 minutes out of my way for records (Grimey's; The Vinyl Tap) and comics (Rick's Comics City) all of which also have a better overall vibe and atmosphere. I dislike the flea market/pawn shop feel of this place--but okay, it still has cool stuff. Your best bargains here are in back issue comics which are discounted, used graphic novels, and DVDs (Blu Rays coming back into fashion are creeping up cost wise). Records-- the only place more overpriced on used records in Nashville is McKay's. However, you never know what people are going to trade in, and as such I snagged two long sought after LPs in my recent stop that I've never seen in a physical store (in over 20 years of collecting). Both were about $2 shy of Dicogs average prices, but at least I didn't have to wait on shipping. Another pleasant development since my last review-- they DO sell new vinyl now, most of which is in price range of all other local options. So--glad they're still open, miss their classic old location (still), find their hours a bit inconvenient. Will stop in at least quarterly but likely will never make them my go to location for my ongoing new purchases. read more

Living in the Birmingham area, we aren't quite as blessed as Nashville when it comes to spots to go for music, movies and comics. While we were visiting I wanted to fit in a visit to one of the local shops to see what they had to offer. If you're into any of those things (music/movies/comics/collectibles) this please is a nerds paradise! They have a large selection of all of those items and have it sectioned out really well. If you look around at the walls you will see the higher collectible items proudly on display. Prices range from pretty good to a little high, but these are collectibles and they do have to pay the rent. They had a large section of newly arrived vinyl (some new/some used) and a huge section of random vinyl cataloged by music type. Comic area was large as well with new releases on the wall displayed well and back issues located in boxes. Also, behind the counter, they kept some of the more collectible (higher $$) comics that you have to request to look at. Staff was friendly and helpful and I was able to find a couple things to add to my collection. Glad we stopped in here. I'd recommend and return if we are in the area again. read more

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Not bad. I usually shop at the M'Boro location, but wanted to venture out. I took my son to find out what they had. It was a little disappointing. The shopping area was run down, but if you get hungry, there is a Burger chain and a Chinese buffet close by. Once inside they have their stations. There's the music (CDs, vinyl, etc), then video media (VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray), video games ( all major brands Nintendo, PS, and Xbox), and lastly comics. I perused the aisles to see what bargains. There were a few. The prices were decent. Why did I rate this so high? It's because of the variety and the selection. Clearly there are still other stuff than what I've mentioned. You'll just have to make a trip. read more

My secret top spot for music. Best selection of quality artists on earth. Also - GREAT selection of Sun Records memorabilia. I stop here every time I'm in Nashville - highly recommended - 10/10 read more

I brought in my comic book collection plus a large group of sealed toys from the 90's. I figured it was a low ball price they offered me. I had no idea how bad it was till I saw some of my items for sale. I'm aware they have to make money and run a business but sheesh, at least buy me dinner first. If I had the oppertunity to go back and keep my stuff I certainly would. They will be making a killing off my stupidity for a while. If you want a decent price for items or trades go somewhere else, as they manipulate beyond what a normal sales person would. 2 stars for a Cool store though. read more

Came here to check it out. First impression was wow this place is huge. Sorted through the bins and bins of comics for hours. I loved it got lost in the books. Then I noticed an employee watching me and kept coming to check on me. I brushed it off as nothing. Got my things and went to pay. That's when things got weird. Dude rings me up and tells me my total after his "discount" which was a $35 up charge of the cost of the items. Got the real price after some debate and went on my way. There was some sense of rudeness and attitude with me the whole time. Why would you be rude to someone who dropped $200 in one transaction. Nashville I hope you change its 2019. No need to be racist. read more

If I could give this place 1,994 stars, I would. Why? That's the year the film Forrest Gump was released to the world. For those who have seen this film, you know its power and perfection. For those who haven't (you know who you are), I don't want to give away too much, but I'll spot you some tea. The story opens innocently, drawing you in with the introduction of a hometown Alabama boy of below-average intelligence who has an immeasurable love for his mama. Little does this boy know what life has planned for him, and little do you know how much emotional baggage and Kleenexes you're about to pick up because of this boy. Before long, you're thrown headfirst into the life and times of Forrest Gump, or as people like to call him, Forrest Gump. Forget everything you thought you knew about anything ever. By the time the credits roll, you'll be left with a changed existence, an itch to play ping pong, and a craving for shrimp (or ice cream, or both) all because Tom Hanks agreed to slap on a sweet Southern drawl and carry a box of chocolates to his character's lover. And that's all I have to say about that. Nashville is home to a great many record stores, and as we're all aware, vinyl has had a resurgence in the last several years. That's all well and good. What is grossly overlooked, though, is the Video Home System, more commonly called a VHS tape. In 1994, VHS tapes were a popular form of home entertainment. If you were going to watch a movie at home, there was a good chance it would be on a VHS tape. Fast forward (pun intended) to 2019. Netflix. Having said that, there are still decent-minded folk, such as myself, who believe true art should be experienced to its fullest potential. If I'm going to watch a masterpiece from 1994, I'm going to watch it LIKE it's 1994. The hunt began for a coveted VHS copy of Forrest Gump. McKay's failed, but did have a copy of Evil Dead II, and I mean, it's McKay's. 5/5 stars for McKay's Phonoluxe failed, but def check out their record selection. 4/5 stars for Phonoluxe Grimey's failed, but not before passing on a tip that led to this treasure of a business. 5/5 stars for Grimey's It was time for THE GREAT ESCAPE. Hope remained. Tucked away in the recesses of an endless landscape of CDs, 8-tracks, records, and video games rested what could only be described as little more than a cemetery. On a set of shelves sat a plethora of VHS tapes shaking in the cold, wishing they could trade in their dusty covers for more warmth. It was likely that many of these tapes would never know a loving home again. Sentimentality could come later. The scouring began. Eyes peered keenly for just one of these tapes, and thanks to the alphabetization of this cemetery, the peering was short-lived. There it sat. Not knowing that today would be the day it met salvation, and soon, resurrection, Forrest Gump was plucked from the grips of death, ready to be brought back to life and reign where it rightfully belonged: in the warm embrace of a videocassette recorder. The End P.S. this place has a funky smell, but you get used to it. read more

Okay, I kind of geeked out on my first visit to The Great Escape yesterday. Why have I not been before? Likely because once you step in, you just want to meander around, dig through their goods, and pretend that you're a kid again. Quite frankly, I just don't have the time for that very often but wow did I have a good time! I loved the kitschy books, toys, comic books, records, DVDs, posters, and paraphernalia neatly stocked throughout this large store. The staff was friendly and purchased some of my DVD collection that I was ridding of due to a move. You can choose store credit or cash. Prices are more than fair and you can find some unique gift ideas here. Know anyone who wants a cutout of Princess Leia in her edgy gold bikini? You. Got. It. I can't wait until my next visit... read more

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What better way to spend a cold Saturday than to go to Great Escape. Great escape has always held a special place in my heart, I grew up coming to all the TN locations. Staff at this location aren't as friendly as the Madison location but this one has more records and they usually have more sales so that's an upside. They have a little bit of everything for everyone and prices are pretty good. They also offer trade credit which I frequently use. I definitely think you should come check them and the Madison location out. read more

The Great Escape - Today is a $.25 sale - Comic Books Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

This place is a collector's staple in Middle TN. I hit this store at LEAST once a week to see what has come in. Prices and selection vary from day to day as new stock comes in and different buyers are working. Don't trust a review from someone who has only made one visit. If you collect vinyl, comic books, action figures, video games, or any music memorabilia and are in the Nashville area, you definitely want to take the time to check this place out. Give the Madison store a try if you can as well! read more

I have been in and out of The Great Escape for 40 years or so - since they were back on Division, I think it was. Now that I get my hair cut in the same strip center, it's easy for me to wander in. I always enjoy the old magazines and some books. I am not a comic book, vinyl, or CD collector, but I enjoy browsing and picking up the occasional CD. The place is under new ownership, I am told, and it looks a LOT better. The floors are buffed and the windows have a display and look inviting instead of those posters that used to cover the plate glass. read more

Let me just brag on this place for a bit.. I'm new to vinyl and my collection is growing rapidly thanks to this place. Every single time I come here I don't leave with less than $30 and with a ton of stuff. They are so reasonably priced that I take full advantage. They have all the classics. I've bought Elvis, Cash, Jerry Lee and Dolly and were all in excellent condition. Even the stuff marked check condition has been perfect. I really can't say a bad thing about this place. The staff is awesome and very helpful. I love this place so much!!! You can't beat the prices and selection seriously. Check them out. You'll thank me! read more

The Great Escape - Selections ive gotten recently - Comic Books Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The vinyl selection here far outweighs the selection at the Gallatin location. And you can tell by the set up. However, the setup is somewhat confusing. I did a lot of walking around confused before I was able to catch on. I actually came here looking for a DVD and came up short. However, to my advantage there was one copy of it in the "new" dvd area. Make sure to always look in the new bins, they tend to keep the best stuff there. After finding it I was sold until I saw the price, $8.99. I was expecting maybe 5 and didn't really care to spend the extra on a dvd I'll watch maybe once a year. Oh well, here's to waiting for it to stream somewhere. The traffic situation is such a mess with the area, which is why I rarely make it over here. Seriously. Sucks. But, I was happy I went in and scoped the selection. Most classic rock vinyl you might be looking to add to your collection they will likely have! However the condition and/or the price may deter you from purchasing. After browsing I found Jefferson Airplanes 'Surrealistic Pillow' album for $5, and in good condition! They even had another copy, but not so great condition. A steal in my book and will make the trip out this way again to look. The staff was okay, nice enough. The phone was ringing as I left and it seemed no one wanted to answer. Come on guys it's not hard. read more

This is a decent store for comics and dvds. Selection varies I'm sure depending on what they have brought in from trades and purchases. Horrible trades though. Brought in a literal pickup truck full of toys and action figures. What I was offered was laughable at best considering the volume of items. Regardless, it did get the items out of my house but I was really expecting more. YMMV. read more

Alright, so I have to confess I was writing reviews earlier and spied the review for this place. I was amazed that the Great Escape had opened up a new shop on Charlotte so close to me, and I didn't even know it! Of course, I had to go out tonight and see what it was all about. For all the people who seemed germaphobic about the flagship store on Broadway, try this shop out. It's very big and clean and well-lit. It is like the outlet store on Broadway, but not everything is for the cheap. Don't get me wrong, there are bins and bins of $1.00 CDs and comic books and LPs, but some of the CDs go up to $9.00 or so. The horror! Just wanted to let you know. Oh, and the R.E.M. album everyone bought and got rid of is definitely _Monster_ and not _Automatic_. I would almost give this store five stars because I was able to find a copy of Meryn Cadell's _Angel Food for Thought_ which I used to have on cassette but never replaced on CD. It was a dollar. Do you remember that weird song "The Sweater" from way back when? That's on this CD. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up. It's hilarious. (It's on iTunes, I just checked for you.) There's this whole ginormous free section of the store in the back. You can get a freebie! They just gave me one of the CDs I was going to buy for free. Sweet. Plus if you sign up for their e-mail list, there's a $1 off coupon on a $5 purchase. Seriously, they are really trying to give this stuff away. Thanks, Great Escape for opening up down the street from me! I'm going to try to stay away so I don't give you all of my money, though. Oh, and unlike the other "outlet location" it looked like this store is open every day. Just an update: The main location on Broadway is still open, but the Outlet down the street across from Mojo Grill has closed. So now we West Siders get this one! Yeah! read more

The Great Escape - Comic Books Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I'd like to remind the sales associates at the Great Escape on Charlotte that there a way too many record stores in Nashville for them to have ZERO customer skills. After 2 visits and the only thing the cashier said to me both times as I checked out was, "Do you want a bag?" Fool me once-shame on you. Fool me twice--shame on me. I'll take my business elsewhere. (I.e. McKay's and Alyson's--both right up the road, and possessing customer skills and personality to boot). read more

It's true! They are trying to get rid of this stuff, but there are still good bargains to be found, especially in the $1 vinyl records bin. We went on opening day, so we got a free item and the cashier also threw in a couple of other $1 items. I expected the usual comics and toys and old cassettes, but I was surprised by their extensive selection of old 78 records, even including ones by Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles, in relatively good condition. While the mega-geek I went with was scouring every inch of the store, I checked out their collection of old magazines. I considered buying some old copies of Life and Look for interesting bathroom reading. The other locations of Great Escape are very densely packed with stuff, and at least for now, this location has plenty of breathing room, so it's easier to find those good deals. read more

The Great Escape - Comic Books Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Ach! The poor wee bairn... this hurts. The preceding bastardized Wolfsbane quote has dual purpose. One, it reveals me to be a comic nerd (The New Mutants rool!!1!!!) and it signifies my utter disappointment in this location of The Great Escape. I've been patronizing the Bardstown Road location in Louisville since I was in elementary school. Without re-hashing that review, that store is a very special place for me. When I moved to Nashville (the first time), a friend told me that there was a Nashville location of my favorite comic store... and for three years, I was a faithful patron of the large, well-organized, bright, sunny, fun place. I moved away and didn't think about the Nashville Great Escape until years later when I was poised to move back. Only... what's this? A restaurant? Where's my comic shop? It turns out that where there was one, there were now two. Much like a comic character splitting in to two separate entities, I was forced to choose between the Nashville location and the out of city locale. I chose to stay in the city. I drove out to the western edge of Nashvegas to find... a strip mall? Vas is? Oh. There it is. I was saddened by the dingy, forgotten exterior but I was sure to find my old standby in good shape. Right? ... right...? Wrong. Wow. Depressing. The lighting was bad. The inside was filthy and the comics were an afterthought. Rather than being front & center, this The Great Escape is a used (emphasis) record store with a sprinkling of comics toward the back wall. What? What? No. This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife. My God. What have I done? The comic selection was raggedy and picked over. I came on a Saturday and the week's new releases were long gone. Turns out, comics aren't the focus at this store and the inventory bears that out. The back issues stacks... pitiful. As I overheard from the clientele, even the movie stock was not up to date. I asked three different employees about the situation and the responses ranged from clueless to disinterested to rude. I left with nothing but frustration and more than a little sadness. This is my childhood, you jerks. This is comics. It should be fun. This The Great Escape location is joyless, gray and barren. It's the comic store version of The Walking Dead.* I dunno. Maybe you can't go home again. *That's a Möbius strip/meta mindscrew. I need to sit down. read more

Good place to buy, terrible place to sell. Took a very large collection of toys and rare movie related things in to sell. Dropped it off for them to look through. The next day they called with an offer. Literally a small fraction of what it's worth. As someone who's been collecting, buying and selling for 20 years, I understand they have to make money on it when they resell it. That being said, had I have known the offer would be an insult I wouldn't have bothered loading and hauling it up there. I refused their offer and told them I was coming to get my stuff. I could tell when they brought it out to me that it wasn't very carefully packed up. When I arrived home with it and started unboxing it, it didn't take long to notice what I was afraid of. Most of it was just thrown in the boxes, some of it was actually damaged (most of this was carded action figures). I am very disappointed, in both their buying practices and in their professionalism. I'm not a music snob, and they don't have enough toys and comics in this location to interest me. With that said, I really have no reason to go back in there for anything again. It's a great place to buy, but now you know why. Anyone they acquire anything from is basically being ripped off (knowingly or unknowingly) when they sell to them. read more

Used to be one of my favorite places to buy used music. Used to be cause some genius decided to take off electronic music section and blend it in with the rest in a whole store. I bought a lot of CDs there and all of them are only under electronic category and it's impossible to find them in thousands of other CDs, especially that usually You just dig through stuff to find some gems. They said they needed more space for other stuff. This was a tiny 3 rows sections. So whoever decided to do that is a total music ignorant read more

Its a cool place to stop in and look for old CDs, Records, comics or other trinkets, but in my experience the one on Broadway has more staff and a bigger selection, especially in the comics. Having said that though, there is certainly nothing wrong with this one. Parking is certainly easier and the staff is always friendly. Also, it has reopened since having to close after the flood. read more

Updated review now that it's at the new location... don't like it, not one bit... I fear and hate change... ARRRR. Actually I only wandered into the place. It's huge now, it feels a little less like the Great Escape and more like a warehouse, but I think that will change as they start filling it with wonders of print and toys. I will say, for how many parking spaces are out there I had more trouble parking than I ever had at Great Escape on Broadway. I ended up parking next to the street due to a ton of people who could not park to save their lives. I went on free stuff day #1, which involved a trip into the half price store (same entrance, different side). I've been in comic stores my entire life and managed to miss Smelly Guy, until this time. I think that bodes well for TGE somehow. As I grabbed an LP and headed out they had a hand-painted Soul Coughing poster up for sale. I knew at that point this store would have a hold on me, it may take a few months for it to get its hooks in me like TGE:Bway did, but I can feel it taking hold. read more

Comic booking never did stick with me. And perhaps that's a good thing. I didn't glance anything Betty and Veronica or Sabrina so the younger me would have been disappointed. I was 12, shut it. I pawed around in the music room the longest, trying to make sense out of their organization. Ultimately, if just frustrated me, and I went to the Cd's. There was a Ben Folds section but no Ben Folds in sight. It's Nashville, how can you let your stash get so low. For shame. Parking is strange and limited, but the place does give you room to move about, so that's a star right there for me. The one thing I came in for was not there though: Where do they hide the freaking Nash-Vegas stickers??? read more

I bought a VHS copy of Sweet Sweet Back's Baaaad Assssssss Song here for $2 and a bunch of crazy old funk and rock records for another $5. I guess if I was an anal pristine record collector type I'd balk at the condition, but I'm not. I like cheap, dirty records and movies that have moments of brilliance. It would seem the people here feel the same. Good looking out, Great Escape. read more

We love the Great Escape and make it a point to stop in often. It's a great place to find really random old comics, toys, games and videos. I've purchased a lot of things for myself here and also gifts for friends. I like the atmosphere and the layout. I do kind of love the old playboys in the bins in the back. Once in a while I'm also brave enough to paw through the "loose action figures" bins in the back of the toy section. I only wish they had more current items, but if they did, it might not feel as unique and interesting. It could feel a bit more curated, in my opinion. Sometimes I feel like there's not much method to how things are displayed. read more

Total rip-off. Their website states that you can get store credit of at least 35% above cash value of what they chose to buy of your stuff. After spending 45 minutes waiting for them to tell me if buy any of my Pokemon cards I was told that they "no longer do credit." For the $5.25 they were offering I said screw it and left. I told them they MIGHT want to change that part on their website. read more

First, let me confess, I am not a comic book person. I read a couple of Archie comics as a child and so I have very little credibility here. My son, on the other hand, is really getting into comic books and it isn't as easy to pick these things up as it was 'back in the day' when you could grab comics at the supermarket (for a nickel! - just kidding). So I made the pilgrimage to the sketchiest part of Charlotte right next to the Goodwill store. I am just that cool of a mom. At this point, you are probably looking at that 5 star rating and thinking 'she loved it'! Well, not really. Walking in, I had no idea what to expect. It had the vibe of a well lit porn shop (not that I'd know anything about that) and comics DO come in all shapes and sizes so I was keeping my 8 and 10 YO kids on a tight leash. Also, the place is dirty - these comic book geeks need to invest in a Swifter and some bleach. What they lack in cleanliness they make up for in knowledge and helpfulness. The cashier directed us to the family friendly comics and had a great news stand filled with 'grab bags' for $1 or $2 with 6-12 out of date comics. Those were great for the kids who don't need to stay super current but want to read a bunch of Batman comics. Some parental sorting was required, but I was given the heads up by the staff. There is a crazy assortment of SciFi model stuff, vinyl and all manner of specialty items and they really do know scads of information. They also will move into 'cute geek' mode and lament the good old days of Starman comics which is adorable. In short, its dirty but the selection and staff more than make up for it. And lets face it, the independently owned store, service oriented little guys in a town that doesn't have anything like this deserve all 5 of my stars. read more

This place used to be awesome. Today was the last straw. I went in a few minutes before they closed and this short haired younger guy scoffed and rolled his eyes... then he shook his head and mumbled something under his breath and walked away. I went to buy something small and grabbed it in under a minute. I went to check out and the girl charges me more than double. When I told her she rolled her eyes and acted like it was my fault? Wtf. She changed the price correctly and was just so blah and rude. Not going back. read more

Great Escape is the shit. Not only do they have what seems like an unlimited amount of records, cds and videos- but they have a comic/action figure/Star Wars section- which for my son, is ACE! (Okay, it's ace for me too, because I can shop for jazz records in peace). The staff is friendly, never undermining- yknow how some record shop crew's can be. If you aren't familiar with the location it can be tricky to spot at times, so make sure you grab a local or google your ass off for directions. read more

Just checked out The Great Escape and dug through practically the entire store! This review is solely on the vinyl. The PROS -wide variety -listening station -friendly staff -easy to park -some hard-to-find gems -digging for hours selection The CONS -too many records labeled 'check condition' that were really banged up, yet priced fairly high...the covers weren't in great shape either -organization is not that good -not the cleanest, but certainly not that bad -quantity over quality I feel like this place is worth a few hours of digging to find some gems. Worth checking out! read more

If you are in the market for comic books, then this is probably the place for you. Maybe I am a comic purist, but I prefer the ones that were made years ago that looked like some time was put into the art and story line. But then again, I was ten years old, and I was probably easily impressed. Aside from comics, Great Escape also has a large selection of vinyl records, and VHS tapes. Don't go here if you are looking for recent releases of Play Station Games. That would just be a waste of your time. read more

I've been a infrequent (from out-of-town) customer since the early 90s and the old location near the Vanderbilt campus, and consistently it has been my pick for best overall record store in Nashville. It's the closest to hitting the sweet spot in selection vs. price for used and collectible vinyl, and even though I'll hit multiple places, I always seem to buy the most here. I like the new location because it solves a lot of the old space problem while staying close to the scuzzy roots. For now at least, the section of Charlotte Ave. still preserves some of the old "dirty South" Nashville vibe that has been turfed out of other parts of town. For a store like this, that's important, as keeping prices reasonable requires: a) the will to do it, and b) keeping overhead low. Even if it's in a past-its-prime shopping center with other tenants that need the low rent...I consider it part of the atmosphere. Like any other place in town with reasonable prices, it can get over-fished, so anything really good is unlikely to make it past the sizable new-arrivals bin. They'll separate out Beatles, Elvis, Sinatra and a few others to special sections, but again, good (used) stuff is generally priced fairly enough that it doesn't last long. While the hunting for the most valuable "pinnacle" Beatles, Zep, Floyd and others' items isn't as good as at Phonoluxe, the pricing is much, much lower for what you do find. I walked out with a low-distribution Billy Preston Apple album in VG++ at $19.99 (my splurge), an old Ray Charles mono in VG at $4.99 and a Chuck Berry Chess release at $9.99, for example. On the newly inaugurated Rusty's Record Store Scale, where 1 is a museum with prices even visiting Japanese would not pay, and 10 is an almost thrift-store where anything good goes instantly, I would rate this place a 7. There is a much bigger selection of 45s than you usually see, and the alphabetized "stacks" include a big country section (as you might expect) and lots of stuff from lesser-known rock and pop acts. It's a good place to find non-valuable but scarce out-of-print items (found an old Leonard Nimoy album still in the shrink on a previous visit). You might even find some old stuff still sealed. A really unique and UNDERAPPRECIATED thing, though, is the selection of supplies, both for comics and records. Even bigger cities like Atlanta don't have something this extensive under one roof. You see not only the 100-packs but also the "loosies," which is especially helpful if, say, you have only 4 things that are Life Magazine size and you want to buy 4 bags AND backing boards to fit. Not too many places can do that. There are also lots of LP and comic cardboard boxes for sale and old carrying containers. Not to mention a big used-magazine selection and other odds and ends that not many stores have. You can spend hours looking, and prices are generally very reasonable. As I mentioned, it's very heavily fished, though a lot of volume moves in and out. So locals who check frequently (and I'm sure there are many) have an advantage. Every city the size of Nashville or larger needs a place like this, but only a few have it. read more

Before I begin this review, I have to come clean....I am a former employee of The Great Escape. There...I said it. I pretty much ran the new comic book department while I was there & I actually enjoyed my job. But after two years and not much pay to show for it, I opted to leave before I got a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't want my experience as an employee to ruin my love for that place. And I do love shopping there. It's been my refuge since I was 12 years old. No matter what else is going on in my life, all the worry & stress evaporates when I enter that store. I know I'm highly romanticizing my shopping experiences there, so I'll try to be a little more unbiased. If you're an avid collector of vinyl, I suggest Phonoluxe on Nolensville Rd. or Grimey's on 8th Ave. TGE's selection is pretty standard for your basic used record shop. I know from experience that really good stuff comes through there from time to time, but odds are as a customer, you'll never know because the employees get first dibs on everything (what better way to spend the paltry $5.15 an hour that they pay?). The bulk of TGE's profits come from CD & DVD sales, and for good reason. Every time I go in that place (weekly) there's a bunch of new stuff that wasn't there before. I spent quite a bit of money on movies when I worked there & I still do. Particularly DVD boxed sets. I never pay retail for boxed sets. If you're patient, it's only a matter of time before you can find a used copy of (insert TV show here) for much cheaper (Or you can get it on Amazon). But the big draw for me is the comics. I've been a collector for 20 years, and 95% of my collection came from TGE. No other comic book store in Nashville has a selection that even comes close to TGE (and I should know. I inventoried everything 3 years ago). Silver Age to current stuff, you can find it all there. rob p. made the comment that their underground comic selection is lacking, which is only partially true. Previews Magazine solicits 400+ pages of new comics every month & only one third of that stuff is mainstream. The rest is small press. If you sign up to have titles reserved, you get Previews free. You can order ANYTHING listed in that magazine. Even if you're the only person that wants to buy it, they'll order it for you. In regards to customer service, TGE has always fallen short. Most of the employees hate working there because the pay is so insulting, and that hatred is usually passed on to you...the customer. I empathize with them. I really do. But when I worked there, I NEVER took out my workplace angst on the customers. I liked helping people find stuff. I know what it feels like when you've been searching for something for what seems like forever, and then finally...BAM! There it is, in your hands. I liked playing some part in providing people with that feeling. That's one of the reasons I left. I never wanted to treat any of the customers in a dismissive way, and I felt myself getting to that point. Bottom line: if you hate working there...quit. Otherwise, put a smile on your face, make direct eye contact with the customers, and at least pretend to care about their needs. read more

Wow! I came here looking for some vinyl, but ended up finding everything else! Toys, comics, graphic novels, movies, games, posters, etc. Just wow! Now their selection of new vinyl isn't great, but they do have tons of used. I kind of was overwhelmed by how much they had to offer. It was pretty much everything you remember from your childhood, along with new stuff for the child still in you. Everything was neatly sorted and displayed for your viewing pleasure. It felt like a museum of awesomeness! I was on a tight schedule so I didn't get to look around as much as I wanted, but I will assuredly be back again in the near future. I'm having a geek-gasm just thinking about all the stuff I saw there! read more

This place moved. I moved. And somehow, someway, i ended up living around the corner. Just buy records at this place. I love them so much. I want them to live forever. I want this place to be eternal. The new space is much more my speed than the old digs in that semi-period building on Broadway. This is a strip mall where Floridians feel at home. Come get your free comics on Free Comic Book Day and buy your toys and video games and movies and other nerdy things. They love you here. I love you here. The Goodwill is around the corner, and if you're savvy, you can buy something cheap there and cash it in at the Great Escape for store credit. Struggle against your impulses. Come here. It's next door to the CrossFit gym, which I love. It's near a Chinese Place, which is better. Just come here. Just please, come here. Don't tell them I sent you. read more

Nice folk. Messy vibe. But on comic books: average. I couldn't find anything I was looking for (recent saga and old Y the last man). Plus their truck hadn't come in yet. Plus their inventory isn't digital so no one was sure if they had what I wanted in stock. Which would've been fine, but I guess I caught them on a bad day. Not a terrible selection for comics at all, but if you're looking for a sure thing, hit up a comic book store in Donnelson or somewhere that specializes in just comics. Great Escape has a bit too much going on for my comic book taste; which is unfortunate because it looks like they're the biggest shop IN Nashville. read more

I have to tell you--I'm not a comic book guy. I dabbled a little bit as a child, but unlike my fascination with films and music, the comic thing didn't stick. That being said, hopefully you'll understand why Great Escape just isn't my cup of tea. The place seems to be stocked with more comic books than you'll be able to find elsewhere in the city. However, for the music shopper, Great Escape just isn't up to par with joints like Grimey's or even The Groove. Their selection of used vinyl and CDs seems extensive, but rarely will you be able to find something unique. The place just seems to be packed with moderately priced and moderately interesting movies and music. If you're a level four or higher nerd (I'm a level three), this is probably your joint. It has action figures and comics of every imaginable era and style. Unfortunately for us level two and three nerds, there just aren't enough rare films and albums to make this place worthy of the regular shopping stop list. read more

I like The Great Escape. It's a lot like a museum of awesome stuff that "real" museums (cultural snobs that they are) wouldn't have: "Oh, Buffy, no one wants to see a collection of superman figurines!" They've got the biggest selection of vinyl I've ever seen in one place, a nice collection of DVD collection of movies and TV shows, and a good share of used CDs. Nothing that would make you're jaw drop, but if you live on the west side of town, and you want some movie TODAY, this is the place that will fetch the best price if they have it. Think of it as an amazon if it were the real world (with a tiny selection). Unfortunately, I am not at all interested in several of their best stocked stuff, like vinyl, comic books, video games, or Magic the Gathering Cards, but I really don't want to let my tastes get in the way. Since the move of McKay's to Bellevue, this is the best selection of used stuff in the more central parts of town. Though I will say, I probably like the Madison location better. read more