Hunky Dory

This is such a cute store, very much gives those vibes like in the movies of being in a record store, sifting through and finding some hidden treasures. I found gifts for my grandma and boyfriend in the shop today. I can’t believe I found such a niche album, Elvis’ gospel record, and for only $4!! The cashier was really helpful and I appreciate him helping me look for specific artists. My grandma will love this!

Very awesome record store / bar. A unique spot on 9th St that everyone should check out

What an awesome place! My son loves records so we drove from fayetteville just to check this place out. They had discount records in the basement, sold beer, and the records were a great selection. My son found a few records. They offered my dog to come in and even got her fresh water! What a unique place. You really do want to come in and hang out!

funky lil spot. good vinyl selection. smoke shop in the back room feels very iykyk. downstairs has major that 70s show vibes. card games and incense. good group hang with a buzz in the basement.

Hunky Dory is truly an outstanding haunt for vinyl. Even if you are there for the records, they offer a variety of drinks and ample seating as well. The staff and even the customers were friendly. We had a great experience and plan to come back soon!

Super cool store! The selection was pretty broad and the downstairs basement was all $1/$2 finds. They also gave merchandise and tobacco products as well as incense. **6 months later and Hunky Dory had quickly become one of our most favorite places. The staff has impressed me more with each visit which has been quite a few times at this point. The owner is the best. Side note-he allowed my twin 4 year olds to take over their new big screen with Paw Patrol while we shopped. The new look is absolutely amazing. The beer addition was a fabulous idea. I know it must have took a lot of work but it's so worth it! We tried Kombucha today, so so good! Our 45 minute drive to get to you guys is beyond worth it. Thank you!!!!

Awesome record store - wide variety of genres and prices. Great beer (10 taps) - right now they have a Hef, pale ale, seltzer, several IPAs, maybe a sour. $5 pints on Sundays 🤩. Also dog-friendly so our pup had a great time. We will be back to lounge downstairs on all the cushy furniture.

I have been calling Hunky Dory my favorite record store since 2013, and I am always amazed at how great the vinyl selection is, how friendly and knowledgeable the staff are, and I always dig the vibes. If you want some great beer, find some awesome records, or check out the coolest staple of Downtown Durham, Hunky Dory is the spot!

The stuff of many an audiophile-beer geek's dreams: A record store that's also a beer bar! My husband is a huge fan of both music on vinyl and craft beer, so obviously it was one of our first stops upon moving to Durham. It feels like a real community space with folks of all ages and walks of life gathering to talk, share a drink, play a game, or just spend time together. Mimi, the beertender, was very friendly and this place also allows visitors of the canine sort. The beer selection looked to be good, with a number of styles and breweries represented. It's especially nice to see NA options on tap as well as regular beer! The vinyl selection similarly did not disappoint, and we did make a few great purchases.

Amazing beer selection, super friendly people and a record shop all in one!! They had ample seating and a downstairs section as well for you to hang out and enjoy your beer. My boyfriend's mask broke and I asked if they had any extra masks and they had a box of them right at the door! They were really diligent about making sure there wasn't a crowd of people at any point which I appreciated especially during this pandemic and required everyone to wear masks. Will definitely be back soon!

Great place to hang out with your friends and grab a beer. They have a bar on the right as you come in and you can order beer. The records on the left side of the place, provide a great collection of things. I came to hang out and grab some beer so I didn't fully explore the records. Overall, a great place to listen to music and grab a beer. The atmosphere is really chill and the seating area is great!

I've always loved this place for its ambiance and totally amazing staff. I'm even more in love with them for enforcing the mask rule to keep us all safe and protected. Thank you, Hunky Dory. Never stop being great

Pre-pandemic, I loved coming by Hunky Dory on a late Friday afternoon for beers with old friends and snacks with new ones. During the pandemic, I've been thrilled with the unwavering commitment to keep employees, customers, and the community safe. Keep up the good work and I'll see you soon.

Wow! It looks like the truth hurt you. As for your lying associate, I never hurl anything at hourly paid employees. Especially when it's the SHADY owner whom is at fault. **Heads up everyone, y'all see how this owner's customer building skills are! I have given an honest and truthful account of my experience at Hunky Dory. Due to the unprofessionalism, disorganization and SHADY practices of the owner and his outright lies, he is the ONLY one who suffers! Any business owner who doesn't realize that EVERY dollar adds up, is a obviously a complete fool!*** Best of luck!

Ever since the beer taps were installed in this place I have been dropping by every week or so to grab one of their hazy IPAs that they always have on tap. I really like the vibe, and I like the folks that work here. And here comes the but...you guys really need to work out a setup to promote social distancing. I've seen people packed at the 2 picnic tables outside, which are apparently your only option for seating right now. I'm sure there's a way to properly set up the seating inside for adequate social distancing. And what is going on with the odd hours? I have faith in you guys and am pulling for you, but for now I feel like there are some kinks that you need to work out.

I'm giving Hunky Dory five star! It brings me back to my younger days of flipping through row after row of vinyl at my favorite record stores. It has rejuvenated my lust for vinyl and music! They carry a good supply of used vinyl with new vinyl and used 45's. They are very reasonable with the prices too. Every Wednesday and Saturday they put out new selections in a selected area up front. I have never left empty handed. They opened the basement/ bargain area to customers. Albums for a few bucks and as cheap as $1. I have actually pulled a few great albums from there. There is a turntable with headphones set up so you can test your vinyl out before buying. I'll continue to support this small/ local business by growing my vinyl collection through them and sharing with my friends in hopes of driving some business their way. Also carry a good selection of glass even though I no longer partake in those activities.

Awesome place to hang and enjoy some cool music and great beer. Lots of vinyl and staff is super friendly and helpful. Hard not to leave without buying a record!

Just when I was dreading the drive to Chapel Hill or Raleigh, Hunky Dory opened less than a mile from my office, and more or less saved my life (that's vaguely hyperbolic, but, you know, I'm really excited). The bong selection could be better, but the bowl selection is impressive: nearly all hand-blown, local pieces, with a few quality pieces from California thrown in for good measure (let's face it, those Californians know what they're doing). Lots of colors, shapes, sizes, and they are all just lovely and of good quality. There are also some aluminum grinders, dugouts, one hitters, cigarette bats, bubblers, carrying cases, plus papers, screens, and other accessories. I didn't notice any vaporizers. Today I purchased a PURE Glass---having grown up in Germany, I can see the similarities to ROOR---water bong for $150, marked down from $180 just because the lovable (st)owner, Michael Bell, felt like being benevolent (that, and I allowed him to casually upsell me from a $100 piece) and perhaps because of our mutual love for David Bowie (we had a nice little conversation about 'Low' side A vs. side B; I think I convinced him to give side B another go). Michael is knowledgeable and friendly. Filled two bongs with water for me to try out before I made my decision, then let me split the purchase between my credit and debit cards (apparently today's a good day for over-sharing ...) for this un-budgeted little post-Christmas splurge, so I'm a fan. Good music playing in the shop, too, and lots of vinyl, replica concert posters, Snorg t-shirts and other clothing, dirty card- and board games, and some other just totally random-yet-amusing shit sprinkled throughout. Plus, the store dog is super sweet and loves being petted. There's definitely room to expand---the place has a fairly open layout for a kitsch / smoke shop---and I'll definitely be back. Park on Ninth Street or in the parking lot across the street. Hunky Dory has a temporary sign and is right in line with International Delights and Bean Traders, etc.

The owner keeps her dog in the store (= automatic 4 stars from me!). Unless you have a problem with goofy, sweet yellow labs that follow you around wanting attention, I think you'll like Hunky Dory. Also an automatic 4 stars for bringing back "Hunky Dory". Definitely have some interesting finds here -- vintage clothes that are reasonably priced, lots and lots of vinyl records, different tobacco and hookah smoking items. There's plenty of room for the owners to add more merchandise, so hopefully they will soon! I recommend taking a gander if you're in need for an eclectic gift. Or if you just want to find some unconditional love in the canine form.

Nice little store with a very good selection of used vinyl reasonably priced. Like all used stuff, some is good, some not so good. The choice is yours. I left with 4 albums I didn't have before walking into this store. 1960's and 70's stuff. I am very happy. I will return on my next trip to Durham, and will plan the visit around dinner to take advantage of the many nearby eateries!

Totally agree with everything Helena K. said...PLUS... From experience, the dog is super cute. His name is Brew and he's friendly with other dogs. And that makes total sense, right, dogs in a glass shop. Aside from the California pieces Michael keeps there's also a real good local selection. The last time I went in there my friend and him got to chattering about all the different local glass artists around the Triangle. I guess if you're a local glass blower or sculpturer or ceramicist you may want to stop by Hunky Dory and peddle your wares. For the rest of us the music selection is vast, the glass is beautiful, and there's some more knick knacks like shirts, incense and disc golf frisbees. If you see that guy wearing the "I Pull Out" shirt, that's my friend. I got him that shirt here for his birthday. We're talking high-quality folks, super-HIGH quality.

What an awesome place! Great albums for sale and have a beer from their taps. Super nice people. The owner was incredibly helpful in finding albums that met my daughters taste in music! Customer service A+! Will definitely go back!

Everything is indeed Hunky Dory here! My thirst for vinyl drew me in immediately. The sizable stacks were all used vinyl from what I could tell. Some solid finds though! From overhearing the locals talk, it seems like a good circulation of acquisitions makes its way through this little shop. I am, of course, a sucker for any record shop with a mascot. His name is "Brew" and he's awesome!

Excellent local vinyl shop. It's a real listener's kind of place too, with a great inventory. Owner is a great guy too. They have other products available too, and he was super helpful.

This review is for the record store side of things, I am far too asthmatic to be able to provide my 2¢ on what looks to be a fine smoke-goods emporium. Now, to the point: this is an amazingly deep store with well curated racks on racks of wax to peruse. I managed some good scores. Definitely don't miss the new arrivals "Treasure Trove" section on the far right of the first rack, and the 'Weird" section all the way in the back on the last rack. The guy working the shop seemed super friendly, and this is a must-see destination whether you're visiting the area like me, or are a local. Support local record stores!

I travel to Durham often and when I do, this is a must stop. I frequent records stores like teenage girls visit suburban mallscapes. I can tell you that this is one of the better record stores around. I love the selection of records and the great prices. The staff is helpful and friendly, but they also leave you to dig through records til you find that jewel.

If you are a vinyl record collector, there is simply no better place to go. Enough said. They also carry glassware and hookah supplies, smoking blends, etc. It's a groovy spot :-)

Finally, Durham has its own conveniently located head shop! Nice selection of glass with an emphasis on local pipes and state of the industry bongs, plus a full complement of accessories. Vinyl lovers will also enjoy browsing here - always lots of LPs in stock. Also: cool T-shirts, cute clothes, local art and other fun stuff. Knowledgeable, friendly service, plus a sweet store dog make this a must-stop on 9th St.

I have found my new favorite shop for vinyl. Michael is super knowledgeable about music and he really gets some great hat to find stuff. Nice Price puts all of their good stuff for sale on eBay, so they rarely have anything of value in the store. Michael sells everything in the store, do you can get some treasures. Wednesday and Saturday are great days to go because that's when the new arrivals get out out.

I live in Raleigh, and even with my selection of record/smoke shops I definitely would make the trip to Durham any day for Hunky Dory. Ever since I walked in the whole staff has been incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. There is also none of the pretentious atmosphere that you can sometimes get with some head shops or record stores, if you have questions they are more than willing to answer them. (and also not make you feel silly for asking) Plus its always rad when owners have their dogs at shops with them...if that doesn't give you a hint about the friendly atmosphere I don't know what will. Hunky Dory also has an awesome Facebook page...which in this day for me as a customer is a must. Just to boast about it a bit more they update you on new vinyls they get in...which is exactly why I'm writing this review. They posted new records they had just gotten in and one just so happened to be a vinyl I had been searching a while for. Michael even held it for me while I made the drive to pick it up! Stellar customer service I'm telling you! :) Check them out you won't be disappointed!

Great selection of smoking accessories, hilarious t-shirts, and tons of vinyl. Owner is very friendly and exceptionally helpful. I've shopped at most of the RTP area's headshops since moving here in 2007, and this one is the best. Be sure to give Brew, the in-store Labrador a friendly pat as you complete your purchase!

Great place in the Durham area for vinyl records. Picked up some Ryan Adams vinyl the past couple of visits.

Hunky Dory is a used record store gem. A few years ago, my brother and I drove across the country, over the course of a month or so, and stopped at about half of the Rolling Stone - Top 25 Records Stores in the country (Jack White's record label in Nashville, Amoeba records in Berkeley, and some hot spots in Athens GA, Minneapolis MN, Salt Lake City, and Chicago IL, to name a few.) After seeing a few top notch record stores, I can easily say that Hunky Dory could make the list. The owner/staff is friendly and knowledgeable concerning any vinyl/turntable questions, and for repeat customers the owner even offers his record cleaner to clean up stubborn dirty vinyl (free of charge.) The quality and pricing is also tough to match. I have yet to purchase a record from Hunky Dory that skips and all records are priced a certain % below what the market value is, to give the customer an absolute steal. Any vinyl lover who lives in Durham or is passing through should give this place a stop, and always check the new arrivals, brand new finds are put out every Weds. and Sat. Enjoy!

Coolest store in Durham !! Always find what I'm looking for when I go there and always get the best service!!

Hunky Dory is a great place to buy records and tobacco accessories. If you want friendly and knowledgeable staff, this is the place to go. If you want cheap records, go to Goodwill. The prices on albums here I would say are fair, and there are some certainly some bargains to he had. I have been in most of the record shops in the area, and spent a $100 or so at a time on records. I like Hunky Dory because you don't have to dress a certain way, or know the "most underground band ever" to be accepted as "cool". I think their service is as indicative of "down home southern friendliness" as one would be able to find. If you want a pleasant experience shopping for glass, this is also the place to go. The staff is as well versed in their knowledge of pipes as their selection is large. Hunky Dory is a the epitome of Buy Local, Shop Local. Sure you can scour the internet and maybe save a buck or two, but who are you really supporting? I would urge anyone looking at reviews to look at the number of reviews a reviewer has placed, and pass judgement then. I really hate to see this store get a one star rating because someone wasn't able to get a NM condition album for $1.99. If that is what you are looking for, then take your chances on eBay, and leave your flaming to a persons feedback score. (granted, mine is not high at all, but I wanted to come to the defense of my favorite record store)

I just stopped by this store and was really impressed with what they have to offer. I bought a vintage skirt that was really cute, and had a great price, which makes it even better. I will definitely be going back to buy gifts for the holidays. They have some really cool and funny T-shirts, a great vinyl collection and plenty of other stuff to choose from. We've been needing a store like this on 9th Street in Durham for a long time, so I'm glad it's finally there!

The best selection of used vinyl in the Triangle with a staff that knows music and cares about what they put out for sale. Inventory constantly changing, with great new stuff every time I go in.

This is a great smoke shop but an even better record store. The prices for the store are awesome, and the atmosphere is so chill. The employees and manager are so easy to talk to. It's a great place and a fantastic location.

I came in over the holidays with a gift certificate. I can't remember her name, but the girl at the counter found me a copy of Michael Jackson's Thriller, which I've been searching for for *months*. She hooked me up big time! Plus a sealed copy of Madonna's True Blue. Such a great experience. Every time I've been in, everyone has been awesome. Highly recommended!

Very nice selection of glass tobacco smoking implements, incredible vinyl, and funny t-shirts. Not cheap, but well worth the price. Wonderful customer service. Owner always willing to go the extra mile and open to making a deal. Friendly dog.

I love Hunky Dory! This store has a great selection of tobacco smoking accessories, t-shirts and vinyl LP's. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. I mainly go there for the used Vinyl. There is always a great selection. I've been collecting vinyl for 15 years now and have noticed that in most stores you have to thumb through 50 albums of crap to find the good stuff. At Hunky Dory I can usually find something new and exciting within the first few minutes. Even better the owner frequently posts new arrivals on their Facebook page! -All in all a great store with great merchandise- very reasonably priced. I make it a point to go at least once a week.

Hunky Dory Durham: Where everybody knows your name. Every time I step into the welcoming threshold of Hunky Dory Durham, I get an immediate sense of Belonging. Whether the shop is being held by the owner, Michael Bell, or his trustworthy employees, or even his friendly, adorable yellow lab, Brew, I have a feeling of warmth. As a newly born audiophile, I recently scoured the inter-webs for a supplemental dose of the weekly Vinyl Purge. I was not in any means expecting to find a second home. I was not looking for a haven, a nook in which I can release stress and feel welcome for who I am, what I enjoy, and who I seek to be. The kids at Hunky Dory surely shredded light on what an asylum a Record/ Smoke Shoppe Can be. To begin with, the atmosphere is peaceful enough. As I stated earlier, the pet friendly, nonchalant, easy going, be who you are aura is one to not be missed. I have surveyed other indie Record stores, and the atmosphere between Hunky Dory and their rivals are Night and Day. I like to quip that HD is the 'cheers' of Durham, in more ways than one. You can bring your life, your story, your quirks and you 'tude, and they will accept you for who you are. The idea of a bartender and the customers being friends is stitched in the DNA of this small, but powerful force of true Mom and Pop, Everybody is family sanctuary that is Hunky Dory. The Facade of HD is nothing compared to the quality and value of the treasures you can find in this 'Eclectic Emporium'. To start off with the name of the store, Hunky Dory Referencing the classic Bowie album. Inside, the first think you see is the bins and racks and crates filled with the best, and only form of physical music found on this earth. The small, but cozy shack is stacked with Vinyl, thousands of records waiting to be found, waiting to be heard, waiting to tell each and every unique story found in the plethora of musical styles, genres, ventures that HD so profoundly has to offer. You can find anything and everything there, from Aerosmith to Zappa, from Aretha to Wonder, from Air supply to ZZ top. All sorts of music, sitting, waiting to be discovered. Now don't think that these pieces of Art are going to bust your bank. Oh no, there is a difference between Hunky Dory and some other crap shack trying to tycoon the Vinyl Community. Finding the record is the hardest part of the battle at HD. From there, it is smooth sailing. Each record brought in is closely evaluated, inspected, and priced fairly to what it's worth. A $140 book value Beatles album (yesterday and today, no dead babies:-P) was priced at a fair $50. This is the top pieces in their collection, keep in mind. On a daily basis, you can go in and find a huge rack filled with $1 records. Not a few, a ton. Enough to fill a small store on any means, all of which are quality, common pieces. When I say common, I don't mean classical crap, I mean stuff like Billy Joel, 38 special, Elton John, Pop, classic rock, some R&B, heck, I saw Bill Cosby in there. This ain't no thrift store collection to choose from, this is $1 is a deal stuff! Besides the $1 records, and the few, but worth high ticket records, the store is filled with tons more, individually priced selections ranging from Jazz, to R&B, Country, Rock, Metal, Oldies, even some new, reissued classics. On any given day, you will find some piece of treasure, and I Guarantee it will be in your budget. But what else does HD have to offer, besides vinyl. I am glad you asked. Any eclectic emporium needs to have a lifestyle involved, right? Yes, hunky dory is a giant dealer of LOCAL blown glass. Local tubes, local ashtrays, local heady work. Why get crap from 3000 miles away when you can have the best from less than 300. Some of the art, I say art 'cause they get some gorgeous tube and hammers in, the bring in and have to offer is outstanding. I am personally not a smoker, but I appreciate the beautiful pieces they bring in. Also, because I don't smoke, I especially appreciate they sell Vaporizers. They constantly have stocked home or portable units, and to me a healthy person is a happy person. Along with the ease of a healthy, happy atmosphere, I am especially impressed by their absence of 420 merchandise. They sell t shirts at HD, but unlike other, anarchist establishments in our area, HD keeps the shop Friendly to all walks of life. They strive on 'give respect, get respect, and I truly admire that. I would not think twice about bringing a child in the welcoming establishment, or any 'conservative' friends and family I have. Overall, Hunky Dory is a store that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a ear worm, or a smoke, or just a place to feel welcome. Hunky Dory is A place of Nirvana, in all uses of the term :-D