The old library shelves are long gone, but the stacks are still here. Only now they hold LPs, 45s, 8-tracks, and cassettes instead of books.
This 1961 mid-century modern building once served readers as a public library branch. Today it’s a used record store packed from floor to ceiling.
The inside wears a bold yellow and black color scheme, which feels like a cheerful wink at its quiet past.
I like how nothing here feels polished or rushed. You’re meant to flip, dig, and wander until something from your childhood stares back at you.
I believe that’s the whole point of a record shop, and this one in Missouri takes it seriously.
I can’t imagine leaving empty-handed. Which album from your past would you hunt for first?
Your Old Library Card Won’t Work Here, But The Stacks Still Do
Shush rules no longer apply inside this building. The Record Exchange now fills a structure that once served as the Buder Branch of the St. Louis Public Library.
The library opened here in 1961, back when mid-century modern design was the cool new look. That style still shows outside, and it gives the shop a personality few record stores can match.
The branch moved to a new home in 1998. A year later, The Record Exchange bought the building and set up shop around 2000.
I love that idea of swapping one kind of collection for another. Books once lined these rooms, and now music fills the same space with just as many stories.
Think about it for a second. Kids once came here to check out books about rock stars, and now people come to grab the actual records.
It’s a smart second act for a neighborhood building. Instead of sitting empty or getting torn down, it kept its purpose of sharing culture with the community.
That history makes every visit feel a little layered. You’re browsing albums, sure, but you’re also standing inside a well-loved piece of Missouri’s past that found a fresh groove.
Those Golden Brackets Out Front Deserve A Second Look
Gold trim on a record store? Fitting, if you ask me, since gold records are the dream of every musician.
The building’s exterior is known for its elegant golden aluminum brackets. They give the front a sleek, retro shine that screams early 1960s in the best way.
The original grounds lighting is still intact, and so are the railings. Preservation fans often point to these details as signs that the building kept much of its character.
Plenty of old libraries get gutted or covered in modern siding. This one held onto the features that made it special when it first opened.
Take a moment on the sidewalk before heading inside. The lines, the metal accents, and the overall shape tell you a lot about how cities once built public spaces with real style.
Architecture lovers will get a kick out of the contrast, too. A crisp mid-century shell now hides a wonderfully crowded music world behind its doors.
So snap a photo of the facade first. Once you step inside and start flipping through records, you might forget to come back out for a while, and the light could be gone.
Bold Yellow And Black Walls Set A Loud Mood
Quiet library colors did not survive the switch. Inside The Record Exchange, the walls have been redecorated in a bold yellow and black color scheme.
It feels like the building finally got permission to turn the volume up. Those bright shades pop behind the endless rows of albums and posters.
The space covers more than 10,000 square feet. Owner Jean Haffner has described it as packed from floor to ceiling, and that phrase is not an exaggeration.
Music memorabilia covers the walls and fills corners all over the store. Many people compare the feeling to a music museum, except you can actually take the exhibits home.
Every turn seems to reveal another room or another stack. It’s the kind of layout that rewards curious people who like to wander without a strict plan.
Wear comfortable clothes and give yourself time. The upper parts of the building can get warm, since the store doesn’t rely on air conditioning, so a cooler day makes for easier digging.
Once you adjust to all that color and clutter, the place starts to feel strangely cozy. Like a giant music-loving friend’s basement, only much bigger.
Bring Patience Because The Vinyl Seems To Go On Forever
One of the largest used vinyl collections in the United States lives right here. The Record Exchange is often listed among the biggest used record stores in the country.
That means you can find LPs in huge numbers, plus 45s and even 78s. Older records are the real strength, especially music from the 1980s and earlier.
Classic rock, jazz, and classical have big sections. There’s also R&B and plenty of singles for anyone who loves a quick spin.
Here’s my advice. Pick one artist or album before you go, then let yourself get happily sidetracked.
That’s when the magic happens in a store like this. You go looking for a Fleetwood Mac record and walk out with a soundtrack you forgot existed.
Rare finds do turn up, too. One album discovered at the store was valued at a whopping amount in the thousands, which makes every crate feel like a lottery ticket.
Bargain hunters should check the discount bins as well. Not every treasure needs a big price tag, and cheap finds can be just as fun to show off at home.
Remember 8-Tracks? They Remember You Too
Vinyl gets the headlines, but the backup singers deserve applause. This store carries 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes in serious quantities.
That mix makes it a time machine for almost any generation. Your parents might grab an 8-track, while you hunt down the cassette you wore out in middle school.
Movie fans get their share as well. Along with VHS and DVDs, laserdiscs and Blu-rays show up among the shelves.
I think that’s what makes the place feel so personal. Everybody grew up with a different format, and almost every one of them is waiting here somewhere.
Cassettes have even made a comeback with younger shoppers. Some people buy them to play, and others simply like the look of a stacked tape collection on a shelf.
Don’t skip the CD racks either. Albums from later decades often show up on CD, so this is where newer favorites may hide.
If you no longer own a player for some of these, don’t worry. The next section has you covered, because the store sells the gear to play them too.
Stereo Nerds, Your Dream Corner Is Waiting
Turntables, tuners, amplifiers, and speakers fill this part of the adventure. The Record Exchange offers hundreds of pieces of vintage electronic equipment.
You’ll spot cassette decks, 8-track players, receivers, and all kinds of gear from past decades. For audio fans, it’s like a hardware store built entirely for sound.
This matters more than you might think. Buying an old record is fun, but hearing it on a vintage setup feels even more authentic.
Beginners can benefit here too. If you’re starting a collection, picking up a turntable and your first records in one trip saves a lot of hassle.
Ask questions while you browse. Staff are known for being helpful and knowledgeable, which is handy when you’re staring at knobs you’ve never touched before.
Old gear also has a certain charm on display. Wooden speakers and silver receivers look great in a living room, even before you press play.
Got equipment collecting dust at home? The store buys and trades too, so your forgotten speakers might help pay for something new, or at least new to you.
Nearly Fifty Years Of One Family’s Love For Music
Back in 1977, Jean Haffner started a business that would grow far beyond one shop. He had moved to St. Louis just two years earlier.
At one point, his company ran nine record store locations around the St. Louis area. Later, everything came together under one roof on Hampton Avenue.
That roof is the old library, of course. Having the full collection in one giant building explains why the shelves feel so endless.
It’s still a family business today. Jean’s daughter, Jena Haffner, partners with him in running the store.
I find that really refreshing in a world of chain stores. A family-run shop with decades of history brings a sense of care you can’t fake.
The store is closing in on its 50th anniversary, which is a huge milestone for any independent business. Few record shops last that long through so many changes in how people listen.
Records, then tapes, then CDs, then streaming. Through it all, this Missouri shop kept buying, selling, and trading, and it’s still spinning strong.
Posters, Pins, And Pop Culture Pieces Worth Hunting Down
Gifts are surprisingly easy to find here. Beyond music and movies, The Record Exchange sells posters, books, buttons, and all sorts of music memorabilia.
The walls themselves are covered with old promotional pieces and ephemera. Even if you don’t buy anything, looking around feels like flipping through a scrapbook of pop culture.
Younger visitors have discovered this side of the store in a big way. Many come for unusual or downright bizarre items you won’t find at a mall.
Some collectors even buy records mainly to display them. A colorful album cover can look just as good on a wall as framed art.
That gives you a clever idea for birthdays. Find an album from the year someone was born, and you’ve got a gift with real personality.
Little extras like pins make fun add-ons, too. They’re small, easy to carry, and perfect for backpacks or jackets.
Keep your eyes moving up, down, and sideways. In a store packed this tightly, the coolest piece might be hanging right above your head.
Plan Your Trip So You Can Stay A Good Long While
South St. Louis is where you’ll find this musical maze. The Record Exchange sits at 5320 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109.
The store is generally open every day of the week. Weekdays and Saturdays run from morning into the evening, while Sundays start at noon and close earlier, so check hours before you head out.
Give yourself plenty of time. A quick ten-minute stop barely scratches the surface of a building this full.
Summer visits can be toasty inside, so dress light and bring water. Spring and fall make for more comfortable browsing.
Visitors with mobility needs should call ahead about entry options. Stairs are part of the building’s layout, and knowing your route helps.
Can’t make it in person? The store also runs online auctions through its Record Exchange 247 Action Auction platform, so you can bid from your couch.
Still, nothing beats the real thing. Flipping through crates inside a former Missouri library is an experience streaming can never copy, and your favorite childhood album might be waiting.
