Waiting Room Records

When I went to Waiting Room Records on a work trip, so was amazed at the quality of both the products and the service.

I was able to get many items including their awesome Black Flag referencing cat t-shirt, a record player felt protector, stickers, a Merge sampler, the new New Pornographers record, a Ministry tape, and more for a truly affordable price point, especially considering that I was supporting a local shop rather than a huge soulless conglomerate.

I really hope to be able to buy more from them soon, for example, the new LCD Soundsystem record.

Plus...cats in the shop. What could be better?

Support them! Do it!

Pretty awesome store. Extremely well organized- it's incredibly easy to find exactly what you're looking for- and a great diversity of music. Plus, a sweet cat.

This is my Favorite record shop in BloNo, they always have all the popular vinyls and even some older vinyl. They are always helpful and will help anyway they can. I personally have bought my whole collection from them and I have never had an issue with quality.

Immediately giving 4 stars for the fact that I was greeted by Murph, the cat. The 5th star is for the fact I found Cold War Kids to add to my collection.

MONDAY-SATURDAY 10am-7pm, SUNDAY 12pm-5pm

Very friendly service: you can walk in looking for your favorite Mandy Moore album and they'll help you out and not make you feel dumb. You can also come in looking for a City of Caterpillar cd and maybe make a friend.

They have lots in stock, if it's not in stock, they'll order it for you free of charge. They also offer a weekly new cd guide personally written via email. Knowledgeable and independent. Jared's been good to the store and the music coming outta central IL. Prices are a little more than Best Buy or buying through the internet, but at least here, you can listen to it before you buy and sound off on bands with the staff and that's really what you pay for.
In some cases, there will be midnight release openings/listenings for highly touted releases.

Sometimes it feels like you can count the amount of still standing quality indie records stores on one hand. Check your list of major cities - and you start to see that not even all your metropolises have them, Miami, I'm looking at you.

Which is why it's kind of amazing to note that Normal Il. has three or so of these little spots going.

Of these Waiting Room might be the best, just pull anything out of a bin and notice how much must go into promoting these little tomes of audio. Full band write ups, clip and paste reviews and album pictures on bin cards, and a dazzling mix of lesser known bands and icons floating side by side.

Given the shop is small and they won't have everything all at once. But since when is the intention of shopping in a record store to buy the full catalog of more than maybe one band? Even that's rare.

Instead let yourself be taken in by the magic of the stacks, select out some of the two dollar promos - they've got gems there too. You'll be glad you did.

The other reviewers here have this place pegged, I just wanted to comment on their customer service. I called ahead to ask them if they had any copies of CDs from a handful of local (and otherwise obscure) bands. The guy then looked around the store, rounded up what he had. He set aside the CDs for me for a pick up later that day, which went off without a hitch.

I realize that this is not an exciting story, and it probably does not strike you as customer service above and beyond the call of duty, but try to think of another store that sells music (Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, even Borders) where you could expect and receive such service. The staff is not only knowledgeable, but they are helpful and friendly, and not at all the elitist pricks that work in other record stores I have visited elsewhere.

Plus they stay open to 7pm.

Excellent store(and 5 stars, considering it's in Bloomington-Normal). Guy who owned the store was friendly as heck, and I almost always hit up this store at least once a week when I was going to Illinois State. Adam is about right about their prices, but I didn't mind that, especially since the owner has a cat that lives in this store! (a la Permanent Records in Chicago)

I thought for sure, I'd never again remember the name of this store. Thankfully, when I did a search of Normal, IL businesses, the name suddenly came back to me, so I am able to give the rightful praise that this store should get for existing in this area. And of course, when the only other options you have locally for music/CDs/etc. is going to one of the big-box stores on the east side of town.

Having shopped here for the first time via a Cash Mob, I have to say I wish I had ventured into this store before!

I've been a DJ in a previous life and I'm picky about my records - Waiting Room has a nice selection, well categorized, nicely laid out, and easy to shop.

Truck, the store cat, is amazingly cool, as are the vintage clothes and the t-shirt selection!

Prices are very reasonable, and Jared (the owner) is a great resource. I hear great things about custom orders, will have to try that one day soon!

Huge selection, every genre imaginable, and great scope of products.

Will be back!

This has been my record store of choice in Normal since back when it was Deadpan Alley. Jared keeps a great selection and atmosphere for any taste. The staff is always knowledgeable and friendly. They will special order any album you desire and call you as soon as it comes in. I will gladly pay another dollar or two per album to keep a store with this much personality in business!