Kevin N.
Yelp
My first reaction upon entering the newer location was "I've been here before. But not as Dearborn Music." As I wandered around, it felt more and more like an amalgam of Harmony House and Musicland, that also happened to carry used items.
CD's galore, along with a huge selection of t-shirts and some licensed knickknacks. I was especially delighted to see blocks of real listening stations -- ones where you can listen to the actual CD, instead of 30-second mp3 samples (Sidenote: I'm pretty sure the MP3 sample kiosks are one of the reasons you're dead, corporate music stores.)
Prices on new CD's were really reasonable. Lots of new releases going for around $11.99, which is pretty decent for something I can take home immediately.
I liked it as an "all things to all people" music store, but Dearborn Music definitely isn't the place to go if you're looking for a shrine to vinyl.
The used vinyl section is trying hard. But, it seems to exist solely as a magnet for people like me, who came for some old records, and got lured in by the listening stations on the way to the very back of the store. Once you get back there, the albums are crammed in too tightly, and the organization is trash. (Seriously? You put Isaac Hayes under "Rock"?)
Worse, though, is that Dearborn Music seems to think that all vinyl is inherently rare and valuable. Really common stuff that you'd pick up down Michigan Avenue at Stormy Records for $3.99 costs $6.99 here, and may not be in as good condition.
In spite of my contentions with their vinyl section, the store itself is pretty great, if a little too sanitary for my taste.