Plaid Room Records — Local services in Loveland

Contrary to popular belief, the most important factor in a great record store is not it's stock of new and used records. If all I wanted was to buy records, I could do that online or at any other record store. What sets Plaid Room apart is it's staff. They are not just ringing up sales and swiping credit cards, anyone can do that. They are tastemakers who never cease to have a recommendation for a great addition to your collection.

A record store should be so much more than a place to buy music, it should be a place for people of like minds to hang out, share music and share experiences. In that, Plaid Room Records excels. There's nothing like the community of music lovers that gather at a record store.

That being said, their selection of music is fantastic and if they don't have what you're looking for, they'll get it. At most record stores the used stuff is separated into genres, but a Plaid Room, everything is just in alphabetical order. At first it would seem that would make finding records more difficult, but it's actually just the opposite. Records are still easy to find by the artist's name, but along the way, as you flip through the racks, you'll undoubtedly find something unexpected that you may never have seen otherwise. For example, I was just flipping through and came across an original Stax Records pressing of Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Coming." I immediate scooped it up and put it in the growing stack of records I was carrying around to buy. It's finds like that that excite me about going to Plaid Room, and that you simply cannot replicate online.

So next time you're looking for something, new or used, buy local and stop by Plaid Room instead of going online. Trust me, you'll enjoy it much more and your money will help keep Plaid Room around for many...

I just wanted to echo all of the positive reviews and say that Plaid Room is my favorite spot in the area to buy records. Is it the best record store in Cincinnati?That really depends on your personal preference and is hard concretely nail down. Is it the largest? Nah - but they are currently working on their expansion into Plaid Room 2.0, a larger storefront right down the street. And I must say, I'm very excited about that! Is it the most fulfilling record buying experience in Cincinnati? From my experience, yes!

The owners Bob and Terry are passionate about what they are doing in Loveland - and that can be seen both in the quality of their record store and the authenticity of their label, Colemine Records. They consistently provide me with some of the best customer service I have received from any business. Not to mention, they both are really down to earth and take the time to make sure you have a good experience. They are the main reason why I choose to shop at Plaid Room a little more often than other stores.

Selection-wise, the shop sports a large section of new LPs and some singles - as well as a small to medium-sized section of used records that is very well picked and curated. A good variety of rarer gems pass through the store periodically, and videos of new additions can be seen on the store's social media accounts on a biweekly basis. Of note, I really appreciate the quality and condition of the used records that I have bought at Plaid Room. Used prices seem to range from right on the money to decent deals. New item prices seem to range from very fair to a few dollars more expensive than average.

This place rocks. If you are into records, do yourself a favor and head over to Loveland to check...

I don't want to be a hater, especially since the establishment does have charming qualities, but the vibe of the place is extremely selective. I imagine it's a hipster and jazz-enthusiast dream store; it's not the best place to visit if you're seeking metal or punk. I've been there a few times now and I have yet to see anything beyond the occasional recent release of mainstream metal and the obvious reissues of classics. There's no black metal, no death metal, no doom metal, no d-beat, no crust. To my astonishment I was overwhelmed to see a few grindcore splits in the 7-inch section, but they were overpriced. In fact, almost everything is overpriced. I've bought a few records from other stores (including big chain bookstores) for almost $10 cheaper compared to the pricing of Plaid Room Records. Also, lumping all the stuff into 1 section is annoying; it's a super small store, so saving space is a must, but genres exist for a reason; rooting through all the stuff you hate in search of something you love is quite cumbersome. But like I said, it's a charming place and if you find yourself basking in the beauty of Loveland then you should walk in and give it a look . . . but, if you're like me, seeking extreme music and a good deal, then you're in the...