Vinyl Dreams is exactly the type of place that gives Lower Haight so much of its classic Haight Street charm. The grunge, the passion for music, the crates of records, and the dude behind the counter actually spinning real vinyl. This is why San Francisco is amazing. There's something special about walking into a shop like this. It doesn't feel corporate, curated for Instagram, or overly polished. It feels like a real neighborhood record store run by people who genuinely love music. I couldn't NOT grab something while I was here and ended up walking out with the Electronic Artists Collective -- AIR 12", a copy sourced directly from DJ Spun's personal backstock. A little piece of Bay Area underground electronic music history and the perfect souvenir from a place like this. Way cooler than buying some random mass-produced SF keepsake. Vinyl Dreams is the kind of small, independent shop that gives Lower Haight its personality. A little gritty, a little funky, and full of character. Places like this are part of what makes San Francisco special. Long live real record stores and real vinyl. read more

Vinyl Dreams - Vinyl Records Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had some old vinyl albums that I wanted to recycle, they took them and will offer to the public at discounted places, which I found very admirable read more

If I could give 6 stars I would. Great record store run by the icon that is Mr. Mike B. I can always count on getting good recommendations from him, as he takes time to understand the 'ear' of the customer and what 'sound' they're into. Always fun to just chill out and talk music and hear great music there. Better than top notch! read more

Vinyl dreaming on another summer day. Vinyl Dreams is a dope record shop if you're into electronic music, especially house, imports, and techno, this place has some really cool stuff. I found house records that I had never seen imported from the UK. They also have some hip hop as well. This place is for electronic music and DJs. Come here with some money some of these records are 40 bucks or more. There is an area where you can pretend your DJ and listen to records. There is also an area that is hands-off. You must ask to see any of these records. This is where the "special" records are. The staff here knows so much about the genre and music in general, spark a convo if you can't find what you're looking for. Great shop. read more

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Best record shop for DJs and fans of electronic and club related dance music in the Bay ! They cover all forms of electronic music, hip hop and some R&B. This is spot for drums n bass, house, ambient, etc. ! read more

Part of the Lower Haight Crack Corridor, a concentration of exceptional record shops within easy walking distance of one another (also includes Groove Merchant, Originals, and Rooky Ricardo's). Vinyl Dreams is quite possibly the best dance/electronic/house/techno shop in the country. If it doesn't have what you're looking for, Mike, the super kind owner who was a longtime buyer for Amoeba, will probably be able to track it down for you. My dude, a DJ with an encyclopedic knowledge of dance music, spent hours digging here and could have easily stayed longer. I got an OG pressing of Mouse on Mars' "Autoditacker" and successfully talked myself out of buying "Artificial Intelligence," the legendary Warp compilation that kickstarted IDM (I know, I dislike the term, too.). I'd never seen it on vinyl before. Copies go for $$$$. Vinyl Dreams is a labor of love. An essential stop in SF. read more

I have been playing cat and mouse with this store for my last 3 trips to SF this year but I finally got there at the right time and I am so pleased I did. It's so good walking into a dedicated dance music store filled to the brim with new and pre-loved jams from all four corners of the groove. It was refreshing to not have to dig by piles of crap and just be presented with choice after choice to challenge the mortgage payment. Walked out with 10 absolute blinders that didn't break the bank but are going to be played loud as this weekend. Super friendly staff as well and I just wish I had more time to dig deeper. Will be back for sure! read more

Great spot in lower haight to score some lovely Japanese noisey mutant-pop comps, or whatever your vinyl electronic-ey tastes swing.

Mike really puts his heart and soul to this place. You can tell by how well curated and always visited by worldwide producers and dj's. There has not been one day where I visit this place and leave empty handed. Thanks for all the hard work and making a place like this a reality. read more

Vinyl Dreams - view from the couch - Vinyl Records Near Me - San Francisco, California

Vinyl Dreams is something special. Some background: every time I came to San Francisco, I would head to Black Pancake Records (see my original review here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-pancake-records-san-francisco#hrid:d0Kp6-YWMiWiRNDpK_dgFg). The record store typically carried some great disco, edits, and dance music. It was one the remaining shops of its kind (vinyl only, with a focus on newly released dance music). And then it closed in May 2013. Thankfully, in it's place is Vinyl Dreams, which now inhabits the historic space of both Black Pancake and its predecessor, Tweekin Records. Yet Vinyl Dreams does something different that I haven't found in any records stores that I've frequented in NYC, Japan, Chicago and Philly. It curates. The space is, well, well-spaced, with only a choice selection of records on sale. Mike, who runs the store, hand selects records and doesn't sell $1 used records (frankly, if you want that, head to Amoeba). This approach gives the store a more personal feel, and Mike was there to give me a bunch of recommendations, all of which were solid (thank you for that Optimo Records gem and sick Lee Douglas edits!). Check Mike's store out. In this time of online-only Discogs, Beatport and Juno, it's a rarity that dance / electronic-music specific bricks-and-mortar record stores exists, let alone ones that specifically curate their selection for listeners like Vinyl Dreams does. Great store and can't wait to head back. read more

I just unearthed my yelp password just to review this incredible new store. I have not been so excited about a store opening in a long long time. When I heard from a friend that yet another record store had moved into the old Tweekin Records location on Lower Haight I was intrigued yet somewhat apprehensive, but my concerns were abated when i found out that local DJ Mike Bee (of Housepitality fame, most recently) was the owner and buyer for the new store. Mike is doing it RIGHT. Since the opening, I have watched the bins filling up with nothing but incredible music, hand picked by a truly enlightened selector. If you like quality house and electronic music, this is your new one-stop. And it doesn't stop at electronic music, Mike has an expansive understanding of a wide range of music and I can't wait to see how the floor stock evolves. So let's all help make that happen and buy way too many records at this store. vinyl is the longest lasting format for recorded music; so with a selection like this, it's bound to be a sound investment (no pun intended) San Francisco used to be one of the best places in the world to buy vinyl, it's one of the reasons i moved here. This store gives me hope that it can be that place again. read more

killer tunes, staff, and vibes support your local vinyl shop vinyl dreams legacy continues on in the lower haight community get some sweet records !! read more

Great record store! Lots of amazing in store performances. Great new tunes and used records as well. If you need advice just ask Mike Bee or one of his great employees. read more

No reason to not give this place a 5-star rating. Seriously though, for anyone looking to purchase disco, electronica, techno, dub, ambient, or any other electronic music genre on vinyl this is the place to go. They've got some technics set up in the store so you could spend hours in here pulling vinyl out and discovering new,incredible music. The business owner is clearly passionate about collecting incredible releases and has some really collectors box sets behind the counter. I came in for about an hour on Saturday and left with a copy of Boards of Canada's reissue of the Campfire Headphase (incredible album!!) but will definitely be going back for more. read more

This place is super dope ("rad" for all you hipster vinyl-heads). For such a small space they have an abundance of listening stations (they have signs requesting that you not occupy a listening station for longer than 15 minutes). The staff is friendly enough. I get the feeling that this is the kind of place where the staff warms up to you once you become a regular. This is just a random assumption though. The ONLY thing that brought my review from a 5 to a 4 star is that their selection is not that large compared to other stores. However, this adds to the charm. Furthermore, you can argue that their selection employs quality over quantity. read more

Decided to check out the shop while I was in the area. Super glad I did! I'm pretty zeroed in on the dnb/garage/dub/grimey stuff, and was pleasantly surprised at the nice selection at the shop. Reading many of the other Yelp reviews I was under the impression that this place was only about house music so I was a bit skeptical to go, but really glad that I did and I want to emphasize that there is much more than just house to be found there. Listening stations were awesome too, and so welcome after visiting may record stores without. Prices seemed the be better what the much larger Amoeba was charging for the same thing. This really beats the hell out of leaning heavily on Discogs and constantly paying for overseas shipping on new tunes! Will be coming back very often, but after the first visit this is the top record shop for me in San Francisco read more

Nice place to find new and old 12-inch dance/EDM singles... also has a small collection of used mixers, turntables and speakers to choose from. read more

San Francisco may have changed a lot over the past few years -- and not all for the better -- but there's still a small shop where you can browse a curated selection of vinyl records, brought to you by a staff who really knows their stuff about proper dance music. Thanks Mike, for keeping the flame burning here in SF! read more

The go-to spot for House, Techno, and Disco records. A departure and upgrade from the former Black Pancake location. As owner Mike puts it, his selection is "heavily curated." Instead of crate-digging, there is simply the latest and greatest. There is not a large selection of old/used records, but there are other stores (and Discogs) for that. It makes it much easier to find quality content. The dual listening stations allow you to demo your selections before buying (crucial). Tons of great imports from Europe to cater to the burgeoning "Deep House" explosion, but also plays host to local labels like Icee Hott and Dirty Bird. Excellent selection of domestic labels too (LIES, Wild Oats, Glenview, etc.) Although I haven't made it out yet, Vinyl Dreams puts on listening events with beverages and DJs as well. Vinyl Dreams acts as a nexus for the underground House and Techno scene in San Francisco. The selection is catered towards DJs: There are crossover records like Boards of Canada here, but not many. Most of the stuff are EPs meant to be mixed. Don't let that discourage you from checking it out though because you might find some gems to add to your vinyl collection. You'll discover records you can't find anywhere else here in this clean, minimal, neighborhood store right on Haight street. read more

Great and helpful stuff. Prices are good and reasonable. Will be back and will bring friends.

Without a doubt my favorite record store in all of the bay area. Primarily holding disco, electronic and house, this place is a mecca for all things dance music - new and old. The owner is extremely friendly and holds solid recommendations if you need help filling gaps in your sets. This place is definitely a Dj's record shop. Highly Recommended. read more

Awesome selection of hard to find techno, jungle, house, hip hop and more. Mike (owner and one SF's best DJs) is always on point with his musical taste & recommendations - if he doesn't have something you want, he'll scour the interwebs to get you a copy. read more

Mike B. has the biggest brain for music data I've ever seen. He is charming, and happens to be one of the best DJ's I know. I would choose shopping at his store over any other based on excellent customer service, selection, and vibe. read more

I came in here knowing very little about electronica except that I wanted to know more about it. I was worried I'd seem lame and out of place since I didn't know what to ask for...but the moment I walked in the owner greeted me and started playing random tracks for me and my wife to get a feel for what we liked. We felt so comfortable and had a lot of fun! Highly recommend this place :) read more

Great shop for the electronic enthusiast who knows what they like and knows that vinyl can do your brain right. If you truly love music - form a connection with your selections. Own them. read more

Mike B does not fool around. Great selection of techno. Support your local record shop!

Great to have a good record store back in the old Tweekin' location! Whoever does the buying has great taste in techno, house and other electronic. Mostly new stock, which is fine with me, nothing beats a piece of virgin vinyl when you get home and play it. I would have bought 80% of what I listened to if I had more cash to spend on wax :-) Solid store, I hope they stay around a long time! I'll gladly do my best to buy up as much of their stock as possible :-) read more

Best spot for underground house and techno records in SF!

This place is good to go. Stopped by on a quick trip from NY. Great selection, helpful staff. Lots of obscurities mixed in with tracks that are right on trend. Plus he's got a killer sound system. Recommended. read more

If you want to purchase music that is properly curated, this is the place to go! Mike knows what he is talking about and his suggestions will never leave you empty handed when you leave the store. This is the place to be! read more

always has a great collection of vinyl and used record players for sale. if you're into electronic music, this is the place to get it.

This is the very best record store that I have ever been to & i have traveled the country digging for tunes. Do not miss Vinyl Dreams when in SF. A true wonderful place. read more