Lunchbox Records

Really cool vinyl shop! Great selection! Prices were fair. It's definitely cool as well that they have an online store if you live further away. Most of the employees were very nice and helpful. One was very focused on the task he was doing and seemed irritated at helping myself or a fellow employee.

I was happy to get to visit Lunchbox records! They had 3 albums I have been looking for a while now. The staff was knowledgeable and made some helpful recommendations. The store is well organized and they have a clever variety of old & new. I’ll definitely visit again when I’m back in Charlotte!

Excellent local spot with helpful staff. Hard to leave without something in hand...and you'll never know what you'll pull from the used section. Well worth the ride into Charlotte from LKN.

Here's great example of small independently owned purveyor of auditory excellence. It doesn't really matter what your musical tastes are, if you like vinyl, you'll like Lunchbox Records. Hell, just go in and fall in love with their robot logo tee-shirt ... I did. They have plenty of older records, plenty of new ... it's just a matter of looking through the shelves and find what your charge account can afford. You might go in hungry, but you'll leave full.

The nostalgia of this place is everything. Now THIS is a true record store for vinyl record lovers. I honestly just take my girlfriend here but I love the place as well. They have everything from tapes, CDs and thousands of records. Also when I say they have everything, all genres down to new releases and some mixtapes too. I go for the tin lunchboxes they have around the place reminds me of my childhood in the 90s.

Terrific record shop. A very wide selection of new that should have anything you need and a larger used selection that covers all genres with a few rarities up behind the till too. Bonus points for the English fella and the American chap behind the till giving each other some bruising banter while I browsed.

Excellent selection of new and used vinyl for good prices. I could spend all day souring their selection. I will say when I was in there they were playing really loud death metal on the loudspeaker which for me was not particularly welcoming.

I ordered 2 vinyls and a CD from them online (I didn't have time to make the drive uptown) and it qualified for free shipping. Very happy with their selection online and their shipping! Wanted to show off how incredibly great they packed up the items to ship because I was impressed!

If you are into vinyl, go here! They have records, record players, CDs, and tapes. Very nostalgic spot, good prices, great selection, staff is friendly. They were so packed people were waiting for a park, so my only critique would be the parking.

they have such a wide range of records, stickers, posters, cds, cassette tapes etc! i loved this store. would definitely reccomend to music lovers

Stopped here for the first time!! Place was busy, but we found parking easy! Bought quite a few vinyl records! Nice selection! I forgot to buy a T-shirt so we'll have to go back sometime!

My husband and I recently decided we wanted to invest in a record player and we've slowly started to collect vinyls. So, for date night he surprised me and took me to Lunchbox Record to pick some vinyls. Overall, 10/10 would recommend stopping by for all your vinyl needs. Their collection is abundant, eclectic and affordable. We will definitely be regulars! ⁣xoxo, @rondaexplores

Very friendly and easy to deal with . They sell new and vintage. I sold some of my late husband's collection and they could not have been nicer.

Such an awesome spot for all your music needs! Love supporting local too! Its hard to find quality record shops in this age of digital music, but a lunchbox is a gem in the city. They have records, CDs, tapes (yes tapes), players and all the accessories you need. The staff was helpful when I came in and don't rush you at all. Sometimes it's fun to just browse through records to see music to haven't heard of or have forgotten.

These guys are the best game in town. Shop has a great vibe with some knowledgeable staff. My college age son went in to buy his old man an album for Xmas told them he was looking for some instrumental funky jazz and they sent him home with a Surprise Chef record that introduced me to something new, and I love it. Best present my son has ever given me! (not counting the art class treasures from elementary school). Everyone in the shop is very approachable and looking to provide quality service. Give it a go!

There is not much I can add to the 81 other reviews that average 4 stars. Maybe my 5 star might provide a little star boost. Just a fantastic all around experience today visiting this shop for the first time. I was searching for a special birthday gift, the 1971 release of the first Eagles album. I called all the other usual suspects with no success at all. In one case, and I won't mention any names of stores on S Blvd, they had NO Eagles records of any type. After a call with Tyler and a quick visit I had what I was looking for. Not an original edition but a remastered release in original cellophane wrapping. I understand the original issue, if you can find one, will run you close to $450 bucks. Of course I paid no where near that but got similar sound quality IMO. Tyler was nice and professional and very helpful which made the experience so much better. They are observing COVID guidelines but no longer limiting occupancy.

In my opinion, Lunchbox is THE record store in the Charlotte area. This place is jam-packed with nearly everything you can think of. I have spent hours lost in here browsing through every single vinyl they have... which is mind-blowing. My last visit was during RSD this year and, although we started late, we were still able to find some great goodies. They are very reasonably priced for all of their new and used stuff. Over the years, I've been able to find some amazing jewels I couldn't find anywhere else, or didn't even know I was looking for. Lunchbox will always be one of my top go tos. My only gripe is that while the store is jam-packed, most of the crates are so incredibly packed full of stuff that it can become uncomfortable to browse or get a good feel of what is there. But, minor gripe compared to all the pluses

Definitely one of my favorite record stores. They stock such great stuff that I walk around with 10 records and have to make hard choices before checking out. You will want to buy everything in the store. They also have a great on-line store if you need to do your shopping from anywhere else in the country.

Nice shop. Definitely could use a little organization and TLC however. Great selection of new vinyl with an emphasis on punk/rock/metal which I like to see. Pricing is at MSRP for the new and seems market priced on the few used lps they have. I found it hard to search the bins though. They have a ton of records but not enough room for them. This causes them to be packed in tight amongst the bins without many dividers with artist names. I generally; like most, like to jump to the artist that I collect. With the set up they have I tend to skip a lot. I didn't buy anything from the bins due to severe spine damage, ring wear and lots of bent corners from the overpacking. It's a shame because I saw about 10 albums I would have bought otherwise. Records need ample room so they can be flipped without damaging them. A little inventory control would help. Additionally I did not like the amount of packed boxes randomly stacked around the shop. In some places they blocked the walls and bins. Unfortunate because I'm not about to move them around. Cute shop but could be much better. I did end up walking away with one album.

BUYER BEWARE (or I guess buyer be aware) They have a good selection, okay prices, and a great atmosphere. However, I have noticed many counterfeit vinyl records at Lunchbox. Some fake pressings can still have great sound, color, etc., but if you're looking for genuine releases from new artists, this may not be the best place. I'm not accusing the owner of doing this on purpose, but still be on the lookout. To spot a fake, look for any pixelation in the album art, halftone printing (though some vinyls are printed with halftone), or any difference in hue when you look at the album online or at another store. As for the owner, find a better supplier and/or please stop deceiving customers :/

It's all about selection for me at record stores. And lunch box has quite the selection of new vinyl. I found the "American Beauty" score and was extremely happy. And they had a big selection of left over RSD titles too. I think this is a great place for new vinyl. I didn't see much in terms of used vinyl and that was fine.

I recently bought a record player and went to Lunchbox to add to my collection. Having never been in there, I was nearly overwhelmed with their selection. They have an extensive collection of new records for every genre from pop to rock to punk to classical to jazz to soundtracks... it's endless. They also have sections of used albums for each genre as well where you can find a good deal if you're willing to take a chance on the used quality. After my first visit, I bought a used album that skipped severely, so being a new-to-vinyl owner, I took it back for examination. It played perfectly at Lunchbox, so the guy told me to clean off my needle and try again. Worked to perfection! Great customer service and great overall experience.

It's quite simple. Every time I go I find what I'm looking for. Also my one stop shop for all pre orders. My favorite little record store to go to period!

I did some shopping here a few weeks ago when I was in Charlotte to clear out my mothers storage space. Lunchbox records was a revelation. I used to shop regularly at other music in Greenwich Village. Lunch box reminds me of other music and that they're totally up-to-date on all the best new releases on vinyl. And they have a pretty deep stock. And they were happy to sell me shipping boxes! Lunchbox records is a real gem.

Parking sucks. Everything they sell is new so save your car and just buy online for at least $10 cheaper.

literally alwaysss find something i like and they employees are so nice and helpful this is my favorite record spot in all of charlotte :-)

I am a proud new owner of a vinyl player so when I wanted to stock up on some old soul/rb classics, I found this gem. It's a very organized store with TONS of vinyl. Some brand new, some used and some classics as low as a dollar. $1!!! I could have easily spent hours in there scrolling as there was sooo many great choices. This is a MUST!!! I have found my new home for all things vinyl.

Wow wow wow. What a selection. And so many amazing used records I've never seen anywhere else. Albums I've been searching for for a long time. Very very impressed and HIGHLY recommend.

I used to frequent this place when they were located further down Central and tolerated the owners textbook Record-Store rudeness. Here were are almost 10 yrs later in an attempt to go check out their "newer" location. I casually walk in around 11:30 assuming 99.9% of the other business are open. Not Cool Hand Luke (owner) as I'm greeted with a snarky "open at noon". No sorry , no nothing. First of all lock the door then you might not get random ppl coming prior to opening trying to support your business. Well, lesson learned as I will not give this dickbag any of my $$$ and will continue to buy my vinyl online as I have been.

Good vinyl store but mostly new reissue on rock stuffs. Almost none classical, jazz was kind of limited to reissue too. No treasures found‍‍

Great selection of records! Was from out of town and was surprised to see that they had a performance area- wish I could have seen one.

Wax is back! Everything old is new again! Over the last few years (geez maybe it's been a decade now)audiophiles have resuscitated vinyl. I even remember hearing an NPR program that mentioned demand is so high that the factories that make records pretty much churn and burn 24/7. Lunchbox is probably best for records new and used. Next there's a decent selection of new CDs, with quite a good Punk selection. Not that many used CDs, but the size of the space limits how much merch they can carry. The location is great. The parking lot actually has quite a few spaces. The prices are reasonable. The parking lot was full and so was the store on a Saturday afternoon, with a pretty consistent flow of customers. And I love the paintjob. The building itself is just plain cool!

1 star is too many for how rude the staff is here. They were so unprofessional and didn't stick to their word they posted on their social media whatsoever. They need to communicate better and care about their customers more. So disappointing as I actually wanted to check out this record store and buy some things but their staff totally put me off. Tried to blame customers for their wrongdoing. I'll be going to other record stores in the area from now on.

This place is a musical oasis that I didn't even know I needed! Can't wait to return!

Cool little record shop in plaza midwood. They have tons of records, old and new. You can pretty much always find what you want. Records are organized very well. Staff is not the most polite. Whether you have a record player or not I suggest you swing by.

Lunchbox Records is a very cool store. I found every artist I wanted there, very impressed with the vast selection. Everything is very organized and categorized for ease of browsing. Great new and used music.

I've been going here for a while now and it's always awesome. Huge selection of new and used vinyl as well as collectibles. The staff is always super cool and helpful too! This is definitely my go to for records.

Pretty nifty record store. You can find just about any kind of music. Cassettes, cds, records. Also offer a gender neutral bathroom which is cool.

Guy in the glasses that works here was a total tool bag. Asked if they did any kind of repairs (my audio-technical start button isn't working) and he said no. I asked if he knew anyone in the area that can do something like this he said no. And that "their guy is backed up". Immediately turned and went back to what he was doing....Great customer service you got here......

Lunchbox is Charlotte's little hidden gem. Central Avenue is the perfect place for it, too. I am a huge vinyl fan, so I have to go here often to purchase records. The selection is so-so, but with vinyl becoming archaic since the popularity of CDs, iTunes & bootlegging, it is what it is. They offer 12 inch & 45s. I am happy if I come out of there with something used, which is still in mint / perfect condition. The used prices are decent, some are pricey. New vinyl is expensive (in my opinion). The place is small & has a vast selection of CDs & DVDs. The staff isn't too friendly nor do they seem overly happy for your business. But then again, in this case, I'm not here for the customer service. I really like that they give you the option to hear vinyl before you buy. They have a record player & headphones set up in the back for you to preview.

Although this place seems large enough to operate at 50% capacity they choose to do the opposite and only operate at legal I would assume to be 10% ( only 5 costumers at a time) now most people will see this as a blessing and a god send but when it's 90* outside and humid the last thing I wanna wait for is kids with cropped jeans to walk outside so that I can actually go in and make my purchases. Will I be back to try again probably maybe at a time when I'm not WAITING 20 min in the blistering heat of CLT

If you're a collector or just enjoy listening to vinyls, Lunchbox Records is a great stop to pick up the newest album or hunt through boxes upon boxes of vinyls to discover your next great find. Prices are reasonable and while the location is a little odd (located next door to a tattoo parlor advertising two for one name tattoos on my evening), you get the most incredible view of downtown Charlotte in this up and coming neighborhood [Plaza Midwood]. The inside of the shop is a little dingy and small, low ceilings and a thought at organization of the vinyls. Apparently they have small shows in the venue, although I have NO idea how that's possible. However, for someone whose centerpiece in her home is her record player, this shop was right up my alley and I was happy to pick up a new album.

Thanks for all your help finding Jazz and Bossa Nova. You've been a great resource for filling out my vinyl collection. Great record store!

5 Stars for the selection...but... The bins are crammed with too many records, especially the new rock section. You can't flip through the lps. Due to the tight bins, and to make some breathing room to flip, I've observed people pulling records out of the bins by 'pinching' the top of the first few albums to lift them out, which WARPS the vinyl. The reason i say this is I've bought a few new/sealed records that have had a 2-3 inch pinched bend at the outer edge that bounces the needle right off the turntable when you try to play them. Buy some more bins guys, or at least leave a couple inches per bin pocket open to avoid damage to your inventory.

I enjoy the atmosphere and this record store has just about every record i've ever felt inclined to buy. My absolute favorite record store in the Charlotte-Metro area.

Great selection and helpful staff, a good mix of new and old with a very strong collection of vinyl boxsets

Good things do still come in small packages. If you find yourself in the Elizabeth neighborhood don't neglect to drop in here and check out their selection of new and used CDs and DVDs or just to browse their selection of music-related books, magazines and local news rags. Park in the back behind the building! When I walked in it brought back memories of my beloved Reckless Records in Chicago. And I knew I'd found my new sonic home in Charlotte. It's flanked by a tattoo studio and a pawn shop and admittedly parking is a bit of a pain. But it's worth the effort (both psychological and automotive) to get a gander at some premium stacks of used music. If there's a more punk rock shop in this town drop me a line. God save the Queen (City)!!

Lunchbox has a ton of new vinyl, and I do mean a ton. They have everything from country to rap and everything in between with very fair prices for recent presses. They also had a lot of left over RSD '19 titles priced several dollars below what I've seen them in pretty much every record store I've been to so far. As an example they had a couple of copies of The Rolling Stones' "big hits" for $28. I paid $35 on RSD and hadn't seen it cheaper than $33 anywhere else... so on new vinyl selection and pricing this shop hits the mark and should definitely be on your radar if in the Charlotte area. For me though there needs to be more than just volume to a shop. It was almost impossible to sort through the titles as the shelves were so full in some places that you had to move things around just to look. Also, music was categorized by genre and 1st letter of band only (I.e. Rock B) so you really need to be able to shop freely through the racks in this style otherwise you'll definitely miss things. Another issue I ran into was purchasing an expensive "used" title. The clerk got down a record for me that was hiding behind other albums. Which seems a bit surprising that a $50 record is not even displayed. Had I not asked, I never would have found it. I noticed a large mark on the album and asked it it were play tested. I got a pretty incredulous response that they can't test everything ( which I get, but most shops that deal in high dollar used records know if they play or not). I get you don't test every $2 record that comes through, but at this price I would expect at least an offer to play it in store. I would have bought more, but being made to feel like I was an idiot for asking a question I decided to get my expensive record and move on. Hopefully it plays because I live 6 hours away...

Great selection of vinyls. Been here a few times and have not been disappointed with what I received. One of the best I've been to and my favorite location in Charlotte.

this record store is one of my favorites i've been to! i came in and the employees at the front were smiling and greeting me into the store. i spent about an hour in the new pop/rock section which had excellent records and one of the largest and overall best selections i've seen in any record store. i ended up getting two records and not spending very much money! i definitely recommend for this place to anyone in charlotte.

Super dope spot - I am a new record collector and i was able to get a variety of records in store, from Taylor Swift to Fleetwood Mac. I was surprised at how reasonably priced everything was, and the employees were friendly and helpful.

As a music lover, I shop at all the local record stores but Lunchbox is one of my favorites simply for their selection. All record stores specialize in certain things and have their strengths and weaknesses, but Lunchbox has very few weaknesses and the store's strengths include a great vinyl selection and huge sections dedicated to soul and jazz vinyl including selections from some very obscure labels few other stores in the area carry unless they come in used. If you love vinyl, Lunchbox is where you need to be.

Lunchbox Records has an excellent selection of records for all music listeners. However, their clientele does not seem to cater to the same diverse demographic. Let me start by saying this: I'm a black man, and I feel uncomfortable walking into the store. I'm greeted with a cold welcome (barely) from the staff and no one seems to be helpful when I am browsing what they have to offer. What keeps me coming back is finding my favorite records on the shelves. Today, I went into the store with 2 of my friends and we were greeted with up-and-down stares and side eyes. While we were there, the staff seemed to be more into their own conversation than us as we looked for records. I didn't really find anything I liked (or hadn't seen before), so we headed for the door. The staff fell quiet as we walked out of the store, as if they were waiting for us to leave. For the past year, I've spent possibly hundred of dollars at this establishment, but I'm afraid I can't put up with the blatant disrespect any longer. Sorry, Lunchbox.

It isn't often that you're passively insulted by the staff at the checkout counter while dropping $100 at a record store, but that's what happened today at Lunchbox Records, a place I was pretty stoked about after reading all the reviews and browsing their selection. To be clear, this place has a really decent used selection and a nice variety of new stuff. They're also WAY into punk, which may explain a little bit of the condescension. The only annoying thing is how overstocked the bins are. You literally have to yank out each record to see what it is in the new sections. This is terrible for the records and their packaging, and you'd think they'd know better. If you don't have room for all those records, thin the herd, boys. Work with the space you have. It's a shame to feel like I have to write a negative review of this place, especially since it has so many positive ones. And I realize that I, too, sound condescending in tone here. But the way you're spoken to by the employees goes a long way. I've never instantly regretted a purchase at a record store, until now. But if you're from out of town and also visiting the Ikea store nearby, don't mention it to these guys. I got smirks and eye rolls. Pretty stunning, actually, to patronize a store, drop that much money (which was probably their biggest sale of the day), and get attitude based on a place I'd shopped at 10 minutes earlier. I didn't even get a "thank you" as I walked out. How punk! I dunno, maybe the greasy-haired twerp was having a bad day. Maybe there was something he felt particularly enraged about he'd read that morning in his current issue of Adbusters. I know it's probably difficult to wrap your mind around, but not everyone who patronizes your store will share your value system, or your taste. It's no reason to act like a child. Remember, the goal is actually to make your customers want to come back, even if they're from out of town. Next time I'll just take my bourgeois money to Manifest instead.

Went in to lunchbox on my lunch break for holiday gifts for my husband. The staff was incredibly helpful! Love the items we got and look forward to continuing to grow our collection from lunchbox

What better place for a haven of vinyl than Plaza Midwood? Pardon, not just vinyl, but a great selection of new, old, classic, and unknowns that have been newly refound, used and delivered anew to this glorious establishment. I used to be a big CD buyer and this place has always been a treasure trove for what I was/am in the market for and wasn't in the market for.I love that you can always find something you didn't know you wanted until you saw it here. So many of my favorite bands tend to release vinyl editions of past records and I love that I can find them here. They always have box sets, too, which can be hard to find elsewhere, other than the internet. I've come in on a weekday and just perused for hours and had conversations with the owner about shows, new records, turntables and other things. He's a cool dude. They've been known to have some shows here, too. Usually something local, but still fun. It's a squirrely little shop with no real allocated parking lot. Take heed to some of the spots in the surrounding shopping areas as you may come back to your vehicle with with a nice, shiny boot on one of the front wheels.

Lunchbox is, very literally, your friendly local record shop. They have a healthy collection of new and used, cd and vinyl, and always more than a handful of well marked local artists. That is not to say that they are huge, because they are definitely not, but they make every square foot of that store work towards their music-y goodness. Oh, and anything they don't have, just ask and they can probably order for you. They are always more than willing to let you hear a new album on the store stereo before you buy it and if you happen to lose your phone in their parking lot they will totally help you look for it. I have bought everything from used Pat Benatar vinyl to a delightfully electronic Matmos cd there (and I didn't even feel like they were judging me for the Pat Benatar!). Their prices are a bit higher than you might find at some chain store or the used section of Manifest (used cds start around $6, new stuff flirts with a Jackson unless it's on sale) but the eclectic selection and wonderful local-ness of Lunchbox make it worth the extra coin.