Reckless Records

My favorite record store. Huge selection records. I'm a big CD guy too, and their selection is excellent as well. I always find things that I don't find at other record stores. Staff is also very helpful 👍

This is a much better location than their downtown store. While I still feel that way too much of the store is taken up by DVDs they do have lots of great CDs and tons of solid, used vinyl. I definitely need to return when I’ve gotten more time to search through the bargain bins as there was a ton of cheap vinyl if you’ve got the patience to dig. I found some great jazz and blues at this location. Definitely worth a stop when you’re record hopping on Milwaukee Avenue.

Reckless Records was at the top of my list during my weekend trip to Chicago, and it did not disappoint. After just arriving in town, I stopped by the N Milwaukee Ave location, hoping to unearth some hidden gems—and I definitely did. From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel welcome and at ease while I browsed the bins. The store itself was clean, well-organized, and easy to navigate. As for the treasures I found? I was beyond thrilled to discover not one, but two hard-to-find vinyl's that I never expected to come across, let alone find both in the same place. The albums I snagged were FM84's Atlas and Timecop1983's Night Drive—pure Synthwave and Vaporwave gold. I couldn’t be more excited to add them to my collection, and the pricing was spot on!

This is one of those spots that makes me wish I had more disposable income. Knowledgeable employees and excellent selection. The sporadic employee reviews on records are true gems.

Record store in a highly pretentious neighborhood. Not too welcoming if you don't look the part. I took a day trip to go crate digging and felt watched the entire time, and an employee decided to stand near the door watching me as if I were about to steal. I finished my purchase but definitely won't ever go back.

The employees are chill, the music selection is eclectic, and I got to watch Kim Deal and her band play for free—easily the best physical media store I've ever visited. The only bad vibes you can experience here are the ones you bring with you—which, I foolishly did, as my bank stopped me three times from buying LPs, because the large purchases were "suspicious"—whatever. Dope place, will definitely be visiting again soon!

Three stars for selection and pricing. With the exception of more recent and popular (that they will charge more for) records, they have INCREDIBLE PRICES, SELECTION, AND WEBSITE!!!! Picked up Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, Bob Dylan records for less than Amazon, local vinyl stores, second hand stores, etc. Which is actually freaking crazy given that the price of records are currently very high. Where they are lacking is their Customer Service. I went to both the Belmont and Milwaukee location and both times I was a bit confused by the layout, so I asked for help and was treated as if I was a bother. Picked up about 200 dollars worth of records each time (I know that isn't a lot in the grand scheme) but still just felt kinda off. There was one dude who was really nice at the Belmont location, I asked him a few questions and he was at least nice enough to show me where they were at. At the Milwaukee location, when I asked where Big Thief was located the rep said " It's labeled" and pointed in a direction which wasn't even right. I spent some time looking and eventually found what I was looking for. I know that crate digging and finding things yourself is a part of the fun, but not if don't know where anything is. I grew up in the city but have recently moved out and this wasn't a store I frequented in my teenage years, so I didn't know where shit was at. It was my first time at both these locations and it was great But I will certainly return because again, they have AN INCREDIBLE SELECTION AND PRICES. Just wish the ppl that are working there werent assholes.

Caution vinyl buyers: I recently started getting into vinyl after getting a sweet turntable. I went to Reckless to stock up on albums but what a waste of money. I bought several previously used and one new (never opened) album and they were all scratched. The albums are mostly unplayable without skips and repeats. I paid $40 a pop for these albums even though they are a fraction of the cost online. The label on each album stated the condition of the albums was 'excellent". What a bummer. I'll never trust Reckless again for vinyl and wanted to warn others.

Reckless Records is an absolute gem in Chicago, and as a visitor, it was a major highlight of my trip to Wicker Park. The variety of music here is fantastic, and I was thrilled to see such an extensive selection across genres. I especially loved their Latin music options--they even had dedicated sections for Shakira and Rosalia, which was such a treat to see! One of my favorite finds was their anime soundtrack section, where I couldn't resist picking up the Castle in the Sky vinyl. Plus, they had very fair pricing too. It's clear this store is curated with passion and care, making it a must-visit for any music lover. 10/10 recommend stopping by Reckless Records for anyone visiting Chicago--you won't leave empty-handed!

Very cool place with lots of store collectibles like t-shirts. If you're looking for something you're very likely to find it in their large and easy to navigate collection :)

Huge variety of music here! Probably one of my favorites to come to even tho Shuga Records is down the street from them but their inventory is a lot bigger. Found most of my records here. People are polite and friendly. You can find some fair prices on some records. Most new records are a standard $30-50. The records on the wall can range from $70-200 or more! Shop smart!

Nice trip down Nostalgia Lane bit the 90s are gone and dunno who even has a CD player nowadays. Brought back memories of flannel, fishnets and combat boots.

Huge record shop in a GREAT area surrounded by thrift shops, retail stores, book cafes, and more record shops. This one was pretty big, and they had a great selection of new & used. I loved that they offered a lot of other goodies like tapes and cds and a nice collection of all of it. You don't see a lot of garage lately and their selection was nice! If you're into records - definitely stop here. Staff was great too they helped me find some vinyls I have been on the lookout for.

What a selection! Reckless has such an in-depth, well-curated collection of vinyl available. The record shop also sells DVDs, CDs, books and shop-themed merchandise like t-shirts and tote bags. A MUST VISIT if you're a lover of music and in the neighborhood!

This was my first time at this location. I also took my nephew he was amazed by the organization and selection at this location. We were able to find exactly what we were looking for. I will definitely be back.

The manager Melissa is unprofessional, rude. And dismissive. She talks negatively about customers in the presence of customers. I was attempting a large order and she refused to speak to me over the phone and told the clerk to say she would call me back, but she never returned my call. The two staff members to whom I spoke were kind and courteous.

The store itself is one of the larger ones I've seen in the city and has a great selection of albums. They have a ton of genres. And if you want to make sure your pick is in-store, you can search it through their online catalog. There is paid street parking, but it's a very busy street, so it can be a hit or miss.

Hands down the best record store in Chicago. The selection is fantastic, the employees are extremely helpful, and the prices are quite reasonable. A must-visit for all collectors of music!

Stopped here on our trip from California. Had a great selection and everyone was super nice. Prices weren't bad at all either.

I love the prices on this shop and they have a huge range of music their but the only problem I have with them is the workers kinda seemed unwelcoming, I felt out of place when I entered the store. I've been to other record stores around chicago and none of them had this unwelcoming feeling as this store. It kinda sucks cause I really loved the selection and the prices. Hopefully in the future I'll give it another try.

This is one of the bigger record shops I've visited, and unlike others they have an extensive assortment of CDs and Blu-rays to complement their massive vinyl catalogue. I didn't have an actual conversation with any of the staff, but they were all smiles and seemed happy to help the busy crowd of customers. The vibes inside were upbeat but relaxed, which made browsing the store a great weekend pastime. Next time I'm in Chicago, I'd be down to swing by for another browse.

Easy trade ins with no nonsense. Staff is always helpful and friendly. Huge selection of every genre of music you could want.

I arrived 5 minutes past closing and the staff still brought my pre order to the door so I wouldn't have to return the following day. Appreciated, since I don't live in the area and have to drive to get there...that Milwaukee Ave. traffic... The only downside was that I made sure to thank the guy who brought me my item and told him that I appreciated it, but he didn't say anything in return...literally nothing...he just closed the door. I took that as he didn't really want to do it. Again, it was 5 minutes past their close, so I'm appreciative that they did.

"Music just isn't the same if there's no crackling noises." My 8 yr old made me shed a tear with that statement. I've loved vinyls since I was a child, carrying around my little record player, blasting Olivia Newton-John's "Physical". Obvi. This is a really great record store. One of the best and largest I've been to and full of every genre you can think of. It's organized really well and easy to find music to purchase every time I walk in. The prices aren't bad. You can buy the same online for just a bit less, but you can't compare the experience of finding a great album in a used record store vs hanging out in your underwear shopping on your phone. She pressed me hard to buy her a "Dark Side of the Moon" album. I almost caved out of pride alone.

I love this store. They always play amazing music. Today was Black Sabbath's Sabotage album. Wish I could have stayed just to keep listening! I love their collection of CDs. I don't have a record player......yet. Seriously want one now! This place is great and I always walk out with an amazing find.

Review # 35 out of 365 What's annoying is the opportunity to search cabinets underneath the tables to look for inexpensive records, while new or more expensive records are arranged on the tables above. No thank you. I have no desire to sit on the floor looking through unorganized bins. I guess they don't need sell these records or they would make an effort to organize them. I found a few used records in the "new" bins up front. But, when I figured out where the rest were, I left. You can search Dusty Groove online. Not only do they give you a list of what is in stock, they give you a description of the album. I can purchase $3.99+ records and have them saved for pickup. That's what I will call Customer Service.

Nice, huge selection of used vinyl and a decent catalog of used CDs, as well. Pricing seems average for music resale shops. The staff was friendly and helpful and an indie band was setting up at the back to play a live set the day I visited. They also sell a variety of T-shirts and totes with original designs featuring their store name. Lots of people perusing the stock on a weekday afternoon, so I'm assuming this location is popular and well-traveled. Worth a look for music fans.

I was looking for a gift to give and since some of the Vinyl's I was looking for were older, we stopped by here. They have a large selection of records and once I left I remember another record I wanted to get, I called and I was able to put on hold for seven days. I picked up the record in two days and I was in and out the second time. Large selection of pre owned records as well as new releases. Will come back to get more vinyl's.

If you're the kind of person who can lose a couple of hours looking through records to find a hidden gem then you will love this store. It's nice, wide, spacious and filled with records, CDs, old VHS tapes and even some DVDs. There's a good chance that you'll find what you're looking for, it just might take a little bit and if you can't there's a good chance something similar is in stock. I spent most of my time thumbing through the Punk and Metal sections and I thought both carried a good selection of releases. The staff was also helpful with a couple of questions I had regarding local bands and how the store doesn't have a special local section, but places the local music out with the regular stock. This is good to know. I wish I had larger hands, a larger bag and I also wish I didn't live 500+ miles away. Reckless Records is an awesome store and I can't wait to come back and visit.

Let's go back to Labor Day weekend 2012 which is the last time I set foot in the Windy City. This was the first record store I went to back then. Fast forward to July 4 weekend 2016 and I'm back in Chi-town. Through memory and convenience of being at the Damon stop, I took my buddy here and we went LP shopping. The store is everything j remembered it would be and my buddy was impressed. I made a few good purchases and I like the concept of keeping the actual records in the front. You bring the LP covers to them and they fill them for you to ensure the best kind of quality that you purchase. I couldn't frequent other record shops during this trip due to time. I'll have to make another trip back to Chicago and visit more record stores. This will be on rotation. It's in a nice location near Wicker Park and easy to find.

Not much to say....this is pretty much the benchmark for what record stores should be. Great selection of new and used from every possible genre. Massive metal and punk sections.

This is officially now the best Reckless in the city, for selection, design and size. There is a larger selection of odds/ends music such as modern classical music, not as big as Amoeba but as big as any place in Chicago (if I haven't already bought it all....). The staff are nice and it's pretty efficient to check out. Much improved over the last location, a lot of other fun stores around it too. The clerk actually knew who Boulez was, when I went shortly after he died, I was happy to see someone else is paying attention!

One of the most RAD record stores I've been in the entire country! Excellent inventory, prices, atmosphere... it reminded me of my youth and when I used to work in the record shops back in the day . They don't make em like this no more people! We spent hours In here with our 18 year old. It's not only a place to get great records it's an experience you can totally take your teens to and hang together and they'll love it !

First time here and I enjoyed browsing the records, as all are labeled by genre and artists, and the isles are wide enough for multiple people to browse without bumping into one another. This place has records, cds, cassette tapes, VHS, blue ray disks, dvd's, magazines, and I think a small collection of laser discs something for everyone! This location is clean with lots of options and a price range to fit any budget, so I will be back. I picked up some random Old Time Radio records before heading home-- Good Stuff!

One of the dopest record stores I've been to! Super clean, they have a large selection of records and i picked up a few hard to find ones that I've been looking for for months. The staff is friendly, the store is clean be very COVID friendly. They have sanitizers in the stores and enforce physical distancing and store limits. Definitely coming back when I'm in town!

NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE!!! I've been buying and selling here for decades and in it fact had the largest trade ever at the Broadway location in the late 90s. One thing I could always count on was Reckless giving me a fair shake. Today I received the sold-out and out-of-print very limited edition death splatter edition of King Gizzard the Lizard Wizard's Gumboot Soup LP in the mail. I'm short on cash till payday so I figured this unplayed record could get me enough scratch to get by and they offered me $7. I see it online from anywhere between $85 and $200 and they insulted me with $7. Last time I step foot in that store ever.

I can't visit Chicago without visiting here. The Milwaukee Ave. location is the best of the three Chicago locations, and the area is a great place full of coffee shops, local restaurants and shops. Very hipster, I guess. Reckless has a great selection and decent prices. I always find surprises here at good prices. Highly recommended for crate digging.

My fault, I naively did not check the three CD's I bought here for scratches. Two of three skip so bad, it was frustrating to listen to. Cant find the receipt and I'm rarely in the area, so returning them won't happen. Largest used music store I've come across, so very nice variety. Lesson learned, I now check all used CD's I buy anywhere.

Many great finds and gems here, specifically in the movie section though. I've stocked most of my 70s cult/b movies from here (the have a whole section for these). Very wide selection of records, at prices comparable to several other locations. Location and atmosphere make it a really great place to just wander around in until something catches your eye. The shows and events they host are chill and offer a great local vibe.

Great for selling records, and terrific new buys too!

Nice selection, rude staff. My wife picked out a display record from the shelf and handed it to them. They pulled out a scuffed stock record and handed it to her. She point out the cover was bent. Without a word of apology they swapped scuffed record for better copy. I'd recommend the one I no Wrigleyville over this one.

My top record store in Chicago. This has become my favorite location over the last year since it the one I visit the most. They have so much here, you could literally spend all day looking thru their bins. The staff is very helpful too, they will bend over backwards trying to help you find something you might be looking for. Whenever people from out of town ask me where to shop for records when they come to visit, the first word out of my mouth is Reckless.

This vinyl shop is as good as it gets... just ask my bank account. They not only have an eclectic collection of vinyl, they have a lot of it! I was seeing vinyl from artists that I hadn't listen to in ages or altogether forgot about. The staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable and I constantly noticed them arranging the collection... which doesn't sound like a big deal but to any of us that buy vinyls... a neat and ordered collection is greatly appreciated. When I return to Chicago, I will definitely stop by again and add some more tunes to my collection!

Cool record store in Wicker Park, I believe they have a few locations. Had some really unique finds that I haven't seen elsewhere and pretty decent pricing too. I was on vacation so I didn't really find anything worth carrying around the city, but I'm sure locals could find a lot of good gems here.

Gems abound, the turnover is rapid, and the prices are reasonable. Not many record stores can claim as much. They will order stuff for you, they will hold stuff for you. The staff can be hit or miss, but over time you'll zero in on a fave or two. Great looking space, terrific in-stores, speedy and efficient trade instation. But it's all about the stock. And they got it in spades. Avoid the Belmont location. The manager is a real kips**t. They misplace stock, whinge about it like infants, and then take it out on customers. Forewarned you

This is an updated reposting of my previous review from when the store was at its earlier location. To sum up quickly... I've now been shopping at this location solidly for the last 5+ years since I moved back to Chicago, and it continues to be as good as it was when I first posted my review back in 2011. For more details, see below... As a 40 year old, I remember first hand when back in the 1990s, we had a lot more choices for good record stores with huge selections that existed in the real world. And back then, Reckless was good (at least the Broadway location, anyhow), but it really didn't stand out as strongly compared to the competition as people like to think it did now when they reflect back on those old days. However, in today's world, I have to say that I think it now is pretty much among the best stores in Chicago. This is in part because most of the worthy competition has died, but also because Reckless has risen to that level in the last 10 years. Particularly at the Wicker Park location, but Broadway, too. At both of these locations, I have (in recent times) found prices to be fair, selection to be great (the searchable online database totally rules), and, for vinyl at least, the quality ratings are pretty much always accurate. Did I mention the online database rules? I also find the employees to be super helpful and friendly. I'm not sure why this Reckless gets knocked for having snooty employees. That is a problem sometimes at the Broadway location (and always has been, even back in the day), but I honestly haven't run into it here.

A good local record store. They have a good selection of Vinyl and for a fair price. The staff is knowledgeable and very friendly. The basement of this place has tons of good records for a dollar. I don't recommend selling here because the employees give low ball offers for your music. I do however recommend shopping at Reckless to anyone in the area, it's a great shop.

Enjoying a leisurely Sunday fall afternoon strolling alone. I happened to come upon this record store. I entered in search for some great country music. I was really enjoying my time browsing until this disgusting version of "little drummer boy" comes on the speakers. In September ....? I..? Come on...

You know that store in the movie High Fidelity, yeah that's this store, which is awesome that a place like that still exists in the era of digital music. A must visit for any record collector, with a total eclectic mix of LPs for sure to find something you like. They also do a small business in used DVDs, with a nice selection of older out of print criterion films among others. All those great boxed DVD set are here too,you know they ones with the great collectibles. They seem to be open pretty late at night, and in a great neighborhood too. Perfect for what it is, and if you like what it is.

Almost has everything under the sun. Very old school record store. It has many new albums but has an excellent stock of old records by popular musicians in all genres.

I am moving and found that I owned 150+ dvds that I have not touched in years. I took my collection to Reckless Records, and they purchased ~40 of them for $1 each, and gave me directions for where I could donate the rest. I have no idea what their criteria was for buying or not buying DVDs, but I was happy to get $40 cash out of what I considered to be an antequaited collection.

Every time we are in Chicago, we always stop here to see what they have. Lots of genres of music on vinyl, CDs, even some tapes and more. They also have books and DVDs. Staff is always friendly and helpful. The Milwaukee location is our favorite and the best in my opinion. It's close to shops and restaurants as well.

This shop is a must. A favorite date activity for my husband and I for almost a decade now. Such a diverse and beautiful collection! Please support their business so they stick around.

Best record store in Chicago hands down. This location is way bigger than the loop one. Huge selection of Vinyls. I never sold anything here yet though.

Reckless is an institution in wicker park. The neighborhood has changed and even Reckless moved down the street but it's one of the staples. They have a great selection of new and used records, CD's, even tapes (who is listening to tapes?). The staff is helpful and it's always a good mix of patrons. Truthfully I don't even listen to records that often, I just like going in!

Advertised a Dee Snider autograph session on their webpage. The venue was listed as their Milwaukee Ave location. We hauled ass from Elgin to be there and were told it was at their Broadway location. OK, haul ass through World Series traffic on the L, get there 10 minutes before the end of the advertised time for the event. "Dee left 45 minutes ago."

Oodles and oodles of records. They do this weird thing close to closing though where they suddenly shut off all the music and they keep announcing that they're close to closing every few minutes and all the employees go from friendly to a little stern and all the fresh and fun vibes just get sucked out really fast.