I know a lot of you here live quite far from Marine Park/Sheepshead Bay/Gravesend, but if you want…read moreused records, Zig Zag is the place to go. Luckily for me, I live in the neighborhood west of here. I've always ignored this spot for years due to the insanely outdated and weathered posters (really horrible ones, too). However, I manned up and walked in about a year and a half ago and I must say: this place is great. It turns out that Zig Zag is quite historic. Back in the early 80s, heavy metal had its glory days here in Brooklyn. L'Amour's was the place to be and Zig Zag was the place to get records... and meet your favorite bands. It's hard to believe that bands like Metallica, Motorhead, and Venom all stepped through that door at one point. Stan, the guy who works there, has basically seen it all and has not given up his 80s days just yet. As for the actual selection of goods: it's just like any other used record store. You win some, and you lose some. Because this place has diminished into obscurity over the last 20 years, all of the super rare stuff is left untouched and hidden underneath everything else. The prices are a bit high ($12 average for a used record?) though the price is worth it for some records. How Stan manages to keep this place in business after all these years blows my mind. I know he does a lot of EBay-ing, but damn! He must kick ass at it. All in all, this place is filled with unexplored treasures and is definitely worth your time especially if you are a collector of classic rock, classic heavy metal, and everything else related to that from the 60s-80s. Oh, there are CDs too but who cares about that plastic crap?

Another one bites the dust…read more I used to shop here during my teen years. I'm quite sure it had an awesome Metal collection. However, I used to buy Post-Punk and 80s Goth vinyl here. Many times it would be cheaper at Zig Zag than some of the stores in the Village. Well, good music is officially dead. In the age of auto-tuned crap, the bell tolls for another fallen indie store. R.I.P.

BELMAR: right downtown, Lofidelic Records is a vinyl record shop with a mix of old and new. We…read morevisited on National Record Store Day and had fun browsing the racks while appreciating all types of music. We met the owner, David and his cool kid Ethan, who gave Brie lots of love. Leashed and friendly dogs are allowed inside to shop with you. There's some seating to enjoy the music and be on the lookout for DJs and special events. We went home with Metallica's new 72 Seasons LP. 905 Main StreetBelmar, NJ 07719

If it's still open go and buy stuff. Great service and inventory. Otherwise I'm pretty sure it's…read moreclosed.

I took my teenage grandson to Randy Now's Man Cave this week in Hightstown NJ - He is a BIG Beatles…read morefan and fan of other artists from the 60's an 70's. As we walked in I felt like I was a teenager myself - a trip for sure down memory lane. The selection of vinyls and memorabilia was amazing - and Randy was such a great person to meet and talk with. He had such awesome stories to share with my grandson and I. If you are a music lover or collector take the time to visit this store - you won't be disappointed. I look forward to visiting Randy's store again with my grandson. The town itself I learned from Randy is filled with it's own history and stories.

HIGHTSTOWN: Randy Now's Man Cave is an awesome spot in downtown Hightstown selling used vinyl…read morerecords, CDs, old-school collectibles, and more! Leashed and friendly dogs are allowed inside and we met the man himself, Randy, who was so nice to talk to! We went home with an Allman Brothers CD, a couple of 45 records, bubblegum flavored soda, and a Star Trek Voyager postcard. Quite an eclectic haul and we love it! Located right next to Old Hights Brewing, it's worth a visit!

My 15-year-old daughter has recently gotten into vinyl records and wanted to support a Black-owned…read morebusiness, so we decided to check out this shop in Middlesex. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcome. The staff was friendly and took the time to explain that customers are welcome to bring in their own vinyl records and spin them, or use records from the shop's collection. I thought that was a really cool touch and something you don't see every day. The store itself is on the smaller side, but don't let that fool you. They have a surprisingly good selection of used vinyl at reasonable prices, along with a nice assortment of CDs and cassette tapes. The atmosphere felt authentic, relaxed, and centered around a genuine love of music. If you're into vinyl, looking for something different, or just want to support a local Black-owned business, this place is definitely worth a visit.

Love this amazing local shop. Sara, the owner, has made a…read morepoint of creating a welcoming feeling, gathering product from many places, offering workshops and making masks and tu tu's Pot holders and napkins to order.beautiful jewelry, cards and posters. I visit to see what's new every time I can and love supporting this great local gem.

Great gift shop on Main St with handmade items, crafts, decorations etc.. Staff is super nice…read more You will not leave empty handed. Prices are very reasonable

Just took a nice, social distant, walk around Bradley Beach!…read more Stopped in at Present. Had a wonderful conversation with Amy one of the co-owners & did some shopping. While we're all cooped up, nothing is better than some aromatherapy. A spritz of this on an eye pillow and some deep breathing could go along way! They have eye pillows if you need them :-) This is a pet friendly store, and our dog Mo loves the treats! Lots of local artists work to select from. The perfect place to pick up a nice unique gift for a friend or browse for something inspirational for yourself.

I can't say enough about this store! Everything about it is amazing: the owners, the products they…read morecarry/sell and the space/location. I have been a customer here for a few months now, and always make it a point to pop in Present when I am in Bradley to visit the owners, Aimee and Heather, and to see what's new in the store! I absolutely love the products they carry here. I have purchased everything from jewelry to essential oils, to lotions, face products, soaps, to cute birthday cards! Everything is so unique, and the connection that Aimee and Heather have to the vendors they carry seems so special. There is always a meaningful story or fun fact about any product I buy there. I love it! This is the perfect place to come for a gift or to treat yourself. Bradley needed a place like this, and I couldn't be happier about it! Looking forward to visiting again.

Ute store and they offer ghost tours of Asbury. Parking is street. They have all kinds of books and…read morepotions. Tarot cards and sage. Very helpful and not overly pricey.

This place is a treat. The store itself has some really cool literature, crystals, and trinkets,…read morebut don't skip out on the museum tour. The museum is small and the tour itself is about an hour long, but it's super fun and entertaining. They only take one group at a time, a maximum of 6 people, so book ahead of time. Our guide was Jack and he was great, very knowledgeable. The tour doesn't cover every percent have in the collection, but you can definitely ask about any items that aren't part of the tour. Overall this is a great way to do something a little different from Asbury Park's regular beach/food/shopping.

Independent book stores are few and far between. Thunder Road Books recently opened their newly…read morerenovated location in the heart of Spring Lake. The store has a nice selection of best sellers, kids books, and event offerings. The staff and manager are friendly and happy to be there. I was recently introduced to Thunder Road when they sponsored an event for one of my favorite authors. Take a look at their website for upcoming events.

SPRING LAKE: an independent book shop right near the lake, Thunder Road Books has a nice selection…read moreof best sellers and kids books, gifts, and events, all managed by a friendly staff who are excited to help you find your next read. Friendly and leashed dogs are allowed to shop with you and there is a doggie water bowl out front of the store. It was fun to browse the shelves and Brie really enjoyed the Science Fiction section. Check out their website and social media for upcoming events.