Bruised Apple Books | Peekskill. (914) 734-7000.
Like a gentleman's study out of another time period, Bruised Apple Books in Peekskill features soaring tin ceilings with shelves upon shelves of books and LPs. Dust motes glint in the light, the smell of old leather-bound volumes is on the air, and floorboards creak as you meander through the cozy maze of literature and music. Vintage arm chairs and reading lamps are tucked here and there in case you need to plop down and really test drive a book before buy it. Both books and records are meticulously organized and reasonably priced. Worth a day trip.
Mystery Spot Antiques | Phoenicia. (845) 688-7868.
While Marie Kondo makes her minimalist mark on America, the charming Mystery Spot Antiques stands strong as a "shrine to clutter." Offering curated antiques, vintage clothing, records, art, oddities, and other estate sale finds, this jam-packed emporium has something for everyone. The porch sports dollar record bins at all hours, available through the honor system cash box, and the interior has stacks upon stacks of vintage vinyl throughout the seven rooms of Phoenicia's former Main Street hotel. This quirky treasure box is a must-see destination for all lovers of nostalgia.The Vinyl Room | Wappingers Falls. (845) 297-3344
A lifelong music aficionado, John Kihlmire has been collecting vinyl since he was 17. Several years ago, on a 20-day trip out West, Kihlmire stopped off in a cafe in Colorado that had records, books, and vintage pinball machines, and he fell in love with the intimate, retro feel. "The only thing missing was beer," Kihlmire says. This started the wheels turning, and in September 2017, the seasoned entrepreneur opened The Vinyl Room in Wappingers Falls. 
The record store-meets-bar has a selection of turntables, cassettes, CDs, and over 8,000 records of every genre. "I do have a lot of rare stuff, but this shop is also really good for someone just getting into vinyl or looking to broaden their horizon," Kilhmire says. He plays into the nostalgic vibe with retro arcade games like Miss Pacman and an interior pizza window, where you can order from Wagon Wheel Pizza next door. There are six craft beers on tap, plus a selection of local wines, so you can sip while you browse. In case you weren't sold, The Vinyl Room live music every weekend, a killer lineup of renowned DJs like Pete Rock and DJ Scratch, and outdoor seating.
The Vinyl Music Vault | Oneonta (607) 441-3121
The Vinyl Music Vault in Oneonta is a one-man labor of love. Meet owner Vincent Mashburn, who is every inch a native New Yorker. Fast-talking, no-nonsense, eccentric, and opinionated, he is as much a reason to visit as the more than 100,000 records that line the shelves of his music emporium. His selection runs the gamut—soul, rock, folk, jazz, classical, opera, salsa, hip hop, metal, country, easy listening, cuarteto, Gregorian chants, you name it. The store has every conceivable modern music format—8-tracks, 45s, 78s, tapes, CDs, LPs—and the vintage stereo equipment to listen to it. "It's like a little museum where you see all the formats man has devised over the course of time—formats we attribute to technological advances, but really are due to laziness," Mashburn says. He is a purist, preferring the sound quality of old-school formats like reel-to-reel tapes over digital, which he says sound like a "foghorn." With 37 years' experience as a junior high school band teacher, Mashburn's instinct to educate is strong. He teaches customers about genres, artists, instruments, recording mediums, and equipment. "Most people don't grow up with music anymore, so someone has to take their hand and show them," he says. "Music has been my field since I was born. When it's your business and it's your passion, you do it better than anyone."
Happy hunting, record lovers!
