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Categories: Bookstores, Vinyl Records
Neighborhood: Dupont CircleTue-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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For those hardcore vinyl collectors, Red Onion is worth a visit. The proprietor Josh worked for years at the very famous Princeton Record Exchange. Apparently he amassed a significant collection over the years and is slowly leaking them out to the public.
The bottom line is that the vinyl selection can be of very high quality. Prices are reasonable given the quality. Josh appears to have a significant expertise at this subject and knows the market fairly well. He does not seem to be one to gouge or take advantage.
So don't expect finds (from an economic standpoint), but you may be pleasantly surprised at the inventory. While small, I have found/seen some rare items.
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Yay! I'm a fan
This place has it all Books, CDs and of course Vinyl! The store is kinda small but it has great aspects to it. It has a listening station, plenty of bargain bins and a new vinyl arrivals 4 sale sections. This place is a diamond in the rough. (By Red Onion Cleaners)
I easily spent a C Note at this place. I could spend all day in here!
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True to its name, Red Onion makes me weep. Please, please support it. Honestly, I feel jealous of anyone who's never been here before, just like I feel jealous of anyone hearing Captain Beefheart or Sebadoh or The Birthday Party for the first time, because that first time is just so mindblowingly, cherry poppingly fantastic and, fuck, you can never get it back...kind of sad, really...but I digress. There's still something to be said for being way past the honeymoon phase with my beloved Red Onion Records & Books. For one thing, I can find it now! And just like the journey of discovery that spawns your unwavering devotion to an artist or band that may be similarly "off the beaten path", once you do find Red Onion (hoping nobody notices you just walked past it three goddamned times), it is so, so worth it. Here's why:
Visit #4, Summer '07: Was jonesing for a replacement copy of Spiderland by Slint (stolen? cracked? who knows?) and wondering if they had it. They didn't. Blast! But awesome owner Josh had no qualms about suggesting I check with their competition, Crooked Beat, where I also practically live. Nice. Indie record shops supporting one another, right? So cool...
Visit #11, Winter '07: Reading and discussion on the corporate takeover of indie arts and music. Bitchin'! Nothing warms me on a winter's eve like my own righteous DIY rage. Challenge authority!
Visit #19, late Fall '08: Gadzooks! A rare copy of My Bloody Valentine's Tremolo EP?!! Just...SITTING HERE?!?! Huh, whaa? Oh, no, no this isn't anything cool. Just, um... Lou Bega's Greatest Hits. All two of 'em! Yeah, gotta love that "Mambo No. 5" right? Excuse me, I need to get to the register, can't pass on a gem like this!
Visit #22, a week ago: I asked what's the name of the band playing right now, and he tells me it's Black Time. They're British, and incredible, and played the Cat a couple of weeks ago.
"Damn, I missed it. Good God, they're awesome..."
"This is the store's copy playing, but it's for sale."
"Is it the only one?"
'Yeah, but..."
"Oh. Well...are your sure? I mean I'd feel bad walking out of here with it, depriving you of such listening pleasure."
"Oh, totally. It's fine. Don't worry, we have plenty of other options! No problem."
***
Do you see? This is what every record store should be.
Sigh...
Just... Sigh...
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Now, I'm a large proponent of "local/independent/homegrown." Large proponent. I'm even willing to pay a little more for it, walk a bit out of my way, etc. Large proponent. I think, though, that locality or independence or homegrowth needs to be viewed as a contribution to a rational framework, not as the entire picture.
Red Onion is very charming, and there is a good amount of stock stuffed into that small little space. It's got a good vibe, and the music over the speakers is good, and people seem to have a lot of loyalty for it.
I have to say, though, for all its charm, it seems far more like a pet project than a business that's interested in staying afloat. There's no consistent product offering beyond those that fall into some sort of miasmic "post-intelligentsia hipster" bucket. It's like people shop there to shop there, for whatever pin it adheres to their lapel, as opposed to shopping there to get the items they're looking for.
It's a perfectly good record/book shop, but it probably doesn't deserve all this chestpuffing. If you're interested in finding something specific, rather than a trip back in time to your heady early-90s college radio station days and all the aimlessness they entailed, there are better options.
Specialization is the hallmark of an advanced economy, and Red Onion would do well to specialize a bit. If I knew I could find the best ______ there, I'd probably be more likely to go.
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What a great store! Looking through the records at Red Onion is like looking back in time. The owner is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. If you are looking for something special on vinyl, this is the place to go in DC. Overall, the prices are reasonable considering the quality of the records he is selling. I also like the fact that Red Onion is a small local business. This place is worth a visit!
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A small-but-well-curated collection of vinyl, CDs, and books at reasonable prices, sold by friendly fellow collectors - D.C. is very, very lucky to have Red Onion.
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I am one of the lucky DC residents who lives within two blocks of "Red Onion Records & Books." Even better, the store shares a building with my dry cleaner (reminder: I should yelp about that too) --- and I stop by there at least twice a week to check out its constantly rotating stock of records and books.
The guy who works the counter is named josh, and he is always spinning interesting records as he works the shop. Even better than his eclectic taste for "in-store listening" music, is his terrific knowledge of the shop's inventory and stock. Even if he doesn't have a record in the store -- he will most likely know off the top of his head the last similar record he had in the shop and the probability he will have another soon.
For those of you who like to patron independent and local stores --- please join with me in giving Red Onion Records & Books our business. These stores give our neighborhoods their character and charm, and if we don't support them now --- we can't complain in ten years when the only music for sale is re-issued Rascal Flats albums at WalMart.
Red Onion provides me with the greatest experience in the world --- you know the one... you are digging through a pile of records and discover something that you never even knew existed --- and it is exactly what you have been looking for. Once you return home with your treasure, you put it on the turntable, turn off your cell phone, crack open a beer, and listed to both sides twice (a slice of heaven).
Also, make sure to sign up for the Red Onion email list. Josh will send you all the recent arrivals --- so you can call ahead and reserve the records you want.
To quote a man smarter than myself--- "its only rock and roll, but I like it."
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I had no idea record stores existed in DC!!! I went to Red Onion in search of a birthday gift and was pleasantly surprised to find that this tiny store is well-stocked. I found all sorts of records, ranging from about $8 to $50, many of which I was tempted to buy for myself even though I don't own a record player. There is also a pretty random selection of books, all of which are sold for half the list price.
The owner is from Long Island so we bonded right away! He's friendly and helpful. I love the little sitting area by the window, very relaxing. Oh and there is always good music playing!
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This place is in total hiding and appears at first glance to be an extension of the dry cleaning place it shares its first entrance with. despite all that, this place is a total find through and through. its like being invited to a new friend's house and peeping through their record and book collection while they're in the bathroom and discovering that you love a lot of the same stuff (if you and your friend are sort of indy).
actually the place itself looks like the homey sort of basement where a collector could spend serious time reorganizing records.
Fun Fun Fun
limited hours though, which is kind of a bummer, but kind of great.
i think its open til 7pm on weekdays and then friday to sunday til 8 or 9?
warning:
this is not the place to try and pawn off your 311 records!!
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This place is pretty tiny, but still has a lot going for it. First of all, there aren't that many second-hand book stores in DC. Ditto for CD's and records. This is all three. Looking around for the brief amount of time that I did, they seemed to have a pretty good selection for the size of the place. One thing that bothers me: putting the Graphic Novels in the kids section. sigh. Also, it's not very close to any metro stops. But worth checking out.
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Update: Kudos to Red Onion for having the 12" original 1983 pressing of New Order's Blue Monday. A classic.
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Teeny tiny used record & book shop next to Lauriol Plaza. It's like a college DJ's basement bachelor pad, except tidy and well-lit. If you seek a particular title, you'll have better luck at Melody Records, Kramerbooks, or Books a Million. But if you enjoy serendipity, this is a terrific place to browse (and kill time while you await a table).
By the window are soft reading chairs and a Welcome Back Kotter lunchbox (gotta love that).
Book/CD collections are eclectic (examples: Bob Dylan, Be Your Own Pet, the Cure, the Shins, Nick Hornby, big photography and Impressionism books, Lonely Planet travel guides ...) The books I bought there were reasonably priced and in excellent condition.
We recently got a record player, so my husband enjoyed browsing the large vinyl selection. So fun to check out vintage album covers! He was tempted by a New Order 12".
I am so happy to have a used record store in the neighborhood. We'll be back.
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I'm a fan too. I only recently started buying records and I'm unable to go there without leaving with at least 2 albums each time. The selection is great, there are some good deals to be made and the guy I always see there (sort of young with brown hair and glasses) is very friendly. My favorite place to shop with Som Records.
I'm so glad I found this place! I didn't even get to the records and cd's, but spent a while browsing the excellent used books selection, ending up with a very nice edition of Atonement, which was completely paid for by my store credit received for some old books I brought in to sell! Also the dude who was working there was super nice. Awesome place, definitely a nice stop on the bike ride between Dupont and Adams Morgan.
I stumbled upon this place on my way to Dupont. I had no idea the Red Onion was there prior to this, as it is in in the basement of a building next to a dry cleaner. It is right next to Lauriol Plaza as well. What a great find!
The store is small, but has an excellent collection of records for those who enjoy the art of sifting dirt to find the gems. The selection here is really good though, and I had a hard time narrowing down my choices to just three. The prices are reasonable, though there are more expensive records too. In addition, all records are guaranteed, so if you have a problem with the playback, you can take them back.
The owner is really friendly and seems knowledgeable, and there was great music playing in the background. The other thing I liked about this place was that the selection was eclectic, and not geared towards mostly one genre.
I'd like to piggy-back on another reviewers' comment about the sitting area...I think it's a nice touch, and makes it seem like a friendly place to hangout.
If you collect records, I highly recommend this place.
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Admittedly, it is my boyfriend and not me that frequents this place, but I have been there a few times, and it's great, and the owners deserve more business. It's a male/female tag team (siblings? couple? no one knows): he handles the vinyl, she handles the books. They've got a great , relevant collection of both and manage to move some stuff through there in spite of its small size.
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If you blink you'll miss it. And this place is too rad to be missed.
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Am I ever glad I wandered into Red Onion Records & Books, which has everything you could want in a record store: a friendly and knowledgeable owner, a clean bathroom (so you don't crap your pants when you make an unexpected find) and a fantastic selection of books and music at fair prices. Thus far I've made two trips and have not left empty handed.
As previous reviewers have mentioned, what Red Onion lacks in quantity it more than makes up for with quality. It's a always a pleasure not to dig through rafts of Herb Alpert and George Benson vinyl that inhabit the jazz sections at most record stores.
There's something dreamlike in every aspect of Red Onion. Who knew it even existed? A record store that sells VINYL?! In Dupont?! As if the zaniness of that idea wasn't enough, the owner/clerk was just about to float off into the stratosphere in his own VAGUENESS. What a great place!
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Washington, DC
Category: Shopping
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
Category: Electronics
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
Category: Music & DVD's
Washington, DC
Category: Bookstores
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