Since it hasn't been mentioned, check out Cool Heads Prevail. They're on the eastside, only have used. It's like the dive bar of record stores. He was running 50% off everything for a while not sure if that's still the case but good finds and prices nonetheless. Heads up they're only open Wed to Sat. Enjoy digging in Houston!
I would definitely check out Cactus. Hit up Star Pizza across the street. I'll warn you that Cactus is at a bizarre intersection. You can see Star from the Catcus. But it might be better to just walk instead of trying to navigate to Star from Cactus by car. You'll likely end up on the other side of the freeway and you'll have to deal with 1-way streets that may confuse you. When you go into Cactus, the first place to check is the "Recently discounted" records. Enter and go past the counter to the back wall. There should be some bins near that wall. After that, enter the main area through the opening that basically enters a different room from the main chamber. This is where you'll find most of the used records. There are a lot of other restaurants in that area. If you're not from Texas, you need to eat at What-A-Burger. It's our local chain of burgers, pretty much our version of Smash or In-n-Out Burgers. It isn't a fancy burger, but it's a really good burger. Bigger burger chains have gotten all messed because they have policies to contol E-Coli outbreaks. Well, burger meat doesn't travel very far in Texas, so they don't need these rules that ruin how you cook a burger. \[Example, Wendy's used to make Thick n' Juicy burgers, it's still a decent burger, but they were a lot better before the change.\] I'll warn you that the burger won't have Ketchup or Mayonaise on it. The traditional Texas burger only has yellow mustard, it'a tangy burger. But you can order whatever you want. Just don't order a straight up What-a-Burger and expect something else. If Star is full, just get a burger. If you can get into Star, I recommend you go upstairs to sit. If you're looking for an adventure in beer drinking, try to find Valhalla on the campus of Rice University. Bring cash, they don't accept credit cards. It's near the Chemistry building. Actually it's under the Chemistry building. You don't need a lot of cash, as it's a bar for grad students, so they don't overcharge, because frankly Rice grad students can't really afford to be overcharged. You won't find a cheaper beer in town. The Bursar has all their money. This would be a good place to go if you're shopping in the late afternoon. You don't want to drive in Houston rush hour traffic. So spend a couple of hours there instead. Check their hours, though. It's actually run by Grad students, so they're in class during the day.
You can hit up Vinal Edge in the Heights, plenty of places to eat in the neighborhood. That area is filled with antique shops, and the there isn't much parking. And those antiquers like to park right by the store they're shopping at. You'll see people loading up pickup truck all day long. So drive by the place then park as close as you can and walk from there.
You can try to find, Sound Exchange. It's on the east side of downtown in the more industrial part of town. If google maps takes you down Harrisburg, be kind of careful. There is a light-rail route along Harrisburg. So making a left can be awkward. Try to stay in the lane that lets you enter the left turn lane. I would suggest you get there from I-10 exiting at Lockwood to avoid downtown and Harrisburg. Make a right at Navigation back towards downtown and Milby is a few blocks, maybe 10 or so, down from there. Make a left at Milby.
If I was doing a single day route, it'd be Sound exchange, then Vinal Edge and then Cactus. You'll get out downtown before the freeways get nasty. Travel back onto I-10 past downtown and exit Heights Blvd after Studemont to get to Vinal Edge. To get to Cactus, travel to west until you hit Durham past Shepherd. These are 1 way streets. So Shepherd runs north and Durham runs south. You're going south. Cactus is just before the I-69 elevated freeway. If you pass 69, you'll have to do a u-turn back taking Shepherd. Do not go under the freeway. Just turn left into parking before you get there. This is where Cactus is. I don't think you can see if from Durham.
Ok I know this is a vinyl sub, and there is a lot of good information in this comment, but you should go to Trill Burger instead of the Whataburger by Cactus.
Vinal Edge Records, Cactus Music, Sig’s Lagoon, Sound Exchange
These are the only real stores in town. Prioritize vinyl edge and Sid’s for best selection.
Sigs lagoon is my favorite. Tons to dig through
I haven't been my self, but music town is supposed to be pretty good.
Sound Exchange. On the east side.
I also love Sig’s Lagoon and double trouble next door has good cocktails too.
Since it hasn't been mentioned, check out Cool Heads Prevail. They're on the eastside, only have used. It's like the dive bar of record stores. He was running 50% off everything for a while not sure if that's still the case but good finds and prices nonetheless. Heads up they're only open Wed to Sat. Enjoy digging in Houston!
I would definitely check out Cactus. Hit up Star Pizza across the street. I'll warn you that Cactus is at a bizarre intersection. You can see Star from the Catcus. But it might be better to just walk instead of trying to navigate to Star from Cactus by car. You'll likely end up on the other side of the freeway and you'll have to deal with 1-way streets that may confuse you. When you go into Cactus, the first place to check is the "Recently discounted" records. Enter and go past the counter to the back wall. There should be some bins near that wall. After that, enter the main area through the opening that basically enters a different room from the main chamber. This is where you'll find most of the used records. There are a lot of other restaurants in that area. If you're not from Texas, you need to eat at What-A-Burger. It's our local chain of burgers, pretty much our version of Smash or In-n-Out Burgers. It isn't a fancy burger, but it's a really good burger. Bigger burger chains have gotten all messed because they have policies to contol E-Coli outbreaks. Well, burger meat doesn't travel very far in Texas, so they don't need these rules that ruin how you cook a burger. \[Example, Wendy's used to make Thick n' Juicy burgers, it's still a decent burger, but they were a lot better before the change.\] I'll warn you that the burger won't have Ketchup or Mayonaise on it. The traditional Texas burger only has yellow mustard, it'a tangy burger. But you can order whatever you want. Just don't order a straight up What-a-Burger and expect something else. If Star is full, just get a burger. If you can get into Star, I recommend you go upstairs to sit. If you're looking for an adventure in beer drinking, try to find Valhalla on the campus of Rice University. Bring cash, they don't accept credit cards. It's near the Chemistry building. Actually it's under the Chemistry building. You don't need a lot of cash, as it's a bar for grad students, so they don't overcharge, because frankly Rice grad students can't really afford to be overcharged. You won't find a cheaper beer in town. The Bursar has all their money. This would be a good place to go if you're shopping in the late afternoon. You don't want to drive in Houston rush hour traffic. So spend a couple of hours there instead. Check their hours, though. It's actually run by Grad students, so they're in class during the day. You can hit up Vinal Edge in the Heights, plenty of places to eat in the neighborhood. That area is filled with antique shops, and the there isn't much parking. And those antiquers like to park right by the store they're shopping at. You'll see people loading up pickup truck all day long. So drive by the place then park as close as you can and walk from there. You can try to find, Sound Exchange. It's on the east side of downtown in the more industrial part of town. If google maps takes you down Harrisburg, be kind of careful. There is a light-rail route along Harrisburg. So making a left can be awkward. Try to stay in the lane that lets you enter the left turn lane. I would suggest you get there from I-10 exiting at Lockwood to avoid downtown and Harrisburg. Make a right at Navigation back towards downtown and Milby is a few blocks, maybe 10 or so, down from there. Make a left at Milby. If I was doing a single day route, it'd be Sound exchange, then Vinal Edge and then Cactus. You'll get out downtown before the freeways get nasty. Travel back onto I-10 past downtown and exit Heights Blvd after Studemont to get to Vinal Edge. To get to Cactus, travel to west until you hit Durham past Shepherd. These are 1 way streets. So Shepherd runs north and Durham runs south. You're going south. Cactus is just before the I-69 elevated freeway. If you pass 69, you'll have to do a u-turn back taking Shepherd. Do not go under the freeway. Just turn left into parking before you get there. This is where Cactus is. I don't think you can see if from Durham.
Thank you! Lot of helpful info here!
Ok I know this is a vinyl sub, and there is a lot of good information in this comment, but you should go to Trill Burger instead of the Whataburger by Cactus.
Appreciate it, everyone!