With the advent of digital streaming it’s easier than ever to discover new music basically for free. However, flipping through records and CDs in a local store brings a new level of engagement and interactivity that any music lover can appreciate. Here are three great stores to get your hands on physical media in the Santa Rosa Rosa area. They aren’t the only local spots to shop for music, but they’re a solid place to start.
The Next Record Store
Well known by Santa Rosa Junior College students, The Next Record Store has been a staple of Mendocino Avenue for more than 40 years and is a quintessential locale for anybody fond of physical media. It carries an extensive catalog of music across all genres, formats and eras.
Separated from the genre-divided rows of inventory, The Next Record Store’s discount section offers an affordable free-for-all for shoppers on a budget. Traversing the rows of unknown artists and Adam Sandler comedy discs, one can find several household names: Nirvana, The Beatles, Limp Bizkit and other musical legends available for only $2 per disc.
With its diverse, up-to-date selection, The Next Record Store is guaranteed to have a little something for everyone.
The Void
For fans of vintage music or clothing, The Void is a fantastic addition to Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square. The shop opened in October 2024 and offers jaded Santa Rosa shoppers a new space to trade, listen to music or just relax after a long day of sniping bids on eBay.
During my last trip to The Void’s music-filled milk crates, two hip-hop singles with rad cover art caught my eye, and after a friendly barter with the cashier, I made off with the records for just over $4. If you have access to a turntable, The Void is a great place to discover your new favorites from the bygone era of ’98.
Goodwill – Various locations
As ubiquitous as they are affordable, Goodwills are sure to carry an assortment of donated music and physical media. Much of the music you’ll find will be on the older side: Vintage Christmas carols and recordings from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra are commonplace.
Most Goodwills won’t have exactly what you’re looking for, but they shine when it comes to finding something unique. During my numerous trips to the music section I’ve come across a clown-themed ska-punk compilation, albums from a band with 13 monthly listeners and a heartbreakingly custom mixtape addressed to someone else’s lover.
While music isn’t its specialty, Goodwill is certainly hard to leave empty-handed.
Whether it’s to bolster your collection or find something unique, there are always places to discover music in Santa Rosa. While digital streaming may be the most convenient, local shops can offer media one would never have thought of. By shopping in-person for music, every trip to the store can become an adventure into the medium’s vast history while potentially broadening one’s own taste in it.
Tim Penny • Mar 27, 2025 at 6:59 pm
what are my chances you would say of me finding a cd i would really like?? love from milwaukee❤️