Guy working there with long hair was a real jerk when I politely waited for him to finish what he…read morewas doing on his phone to ask him if they had a book I was looking for. Without looking it up (he stayed on his phone throughout this) he just smiled like it was really funny to smugly say "we usually have it but we just ran out." And that was that. He didn't offer a solution just smiled and soaked in the self-pleasure of his snide answer. There was a painful pause as he waited for my reaction, wanting to relish in it, presumably, but I just said "ok then..?" And shrugged. And clearly disappointed I didn't leave right there he sighed and said "we could order one. Want to do that?" But he didn't offer any info about how much it would be, when it would be in, nothing. I had to pry that info from him. So forget it.

Hooray for independent booksellers. So & So is a small bookstore. It's not a used bookstore and…read moretheir titles are selective and probably not those you'll find (at least easily) at a mainstream shop. I like that. Sharing a space with an architectural firm, what you see when you first walk in, is what you get. There's not aisles and aisles of books, but that's what makes it easy to spend some time looking. The children and young adult section is a decent size, surprisingly, so it will give the kids something to do while you spend time looking. Mostly current authors, and a fair mix of biographical, non-fiction and informational, So & So does its job -- offering something different when time and boredom with the common stuff can make book shopping a chore. None of that is an issue here.

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

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

Every time I go the staff is nice and very helpful with any questions…read more The selection of comics is great as well as the figures and posters

So I'm a comic feen plus Wonder Woman fan since Under Roos days, . I'm blessed to say that all 5 of…read moremy kids have the love of comics, DC, Marvel, Manga, you name, flowing in their genes. We HAD to stop in here! The young lady at the front told us of their current special, B3G1. We couldn't pass up that deal. I was fan-girling a little too much to take pictures, lol. They had great comics, figurines and etc on sale. I just hate that I've never been able to find a Wonder Woman comic storage box yet. But of course a bought a comic and some wearable pins (They make the pins out of resourced comic books!! How neat is that?!!) We'll be back!

Great spot for Southern Wake comic collectors. This store cut my drive time by about 30m each time…read moreI go. Gladly changed all of my subs over to help support Russ's business. Friendly staff with good recommendations, always initiating conversation and very welcoming. Using LOCG (website) they suggested to pull covers makes selecting your books really easy. Great selection of new books and alternate covers. I need to take some time and look through their back issues. They do have a nice selection of Key wall books that seems to grow monthly. Been collecting for 40+ years and I would highly recommend making this your "home shop" if you live nearby.

This shop is an incredible find. It has that perfect hometown comic shop vibe in a beautiful…read morehistoric downtown atmosphere. The service was top notch and they answered every question I had and then some. Everything was organized, the selection was vast, and it was all easy to look through. Prices were primarily at MSRP from what I had looked through. I'm just getting back into comics and the owner Russ took his time to help answer a bunch of questions that I had and to give recommendations on what I might be interested in. You can tell be knows his stuff and keeps up with the current trends too. I'll definitely be heading back in the near future.

Fantastic atmosphere. Friendly staff. Crazy delicious cinnamon rolls! Hard to beat great coffee and…read moreexcellent pastry, unless you add "bookstore" to them.

Fable is becoming one of my favorite coffee shop and book store. I love the cozy vibes and it's…read moresmall but offers a lot. Inside the shop there is some sitting both downstairs and upstairs. Outside has a good amount of sitting and plenty of shade. I've been enjoying trying their monthly specialty drinks. I also like how there are non dairy milk options. There is also a few book clubs, which is cool. Parking feels limited at first but I've learned that you can park in the back back on the grass or the the left side going into the back.

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

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

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

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

its the best record and (cd) store in Raleigh one time i…read morepayed a doller and got billy joel piano man (wait for it) for a dolller!!!in good condition owner Kurk is nice and knoladgable also cd buffs 25 cents cds!!!! beat that sonny state records u overpriced crap!!! record Krate is by far the best record store evert

I do not frequent this record shop, but after my visit today, I will not be back. Record Store Day…read moreis an event for my wife and I, we go to most of the shops in the area. This shop's selection was not what most people were looking for, it was what the owner was looking for, and it was the smallest selection I have ever seen in this shop. I understand RSD is an expensive day for shops and they cannot buy everything to have in stock. However, that was not the biggest problem. This shop is dirty. There is a cat and the shop smells like it doesn't know how to use the litter box. The owner tries to cover up the odor by burning incense nonstop, and the ashes from the incense just pile up on the shelf. I walked out feeling like I needed to take a bath with the stench stuck in my nose.