Vertigo Music

Visiting for the weekend and thought I’d hit up this spot after Billy Strings called it out. Love this place! Great vibe and well organized. Has everything! And the prices beat Amazon.

I found a number of R&B albums including an old RSD album I’d been looking all over for. It was priced normal (online, folks were asking triple+). I ended up with more than expected (Sharon Jones, Lauryn Hill, and some old reggae) and requested them to ship to me. Albums arrived well packed, and I was appreciative of the quick turnaround. I would shop here again when in the area!

Really expansive selection of records, CDs, and cassettes. Definitely feels like a treasure hunt, especially if you like metal and indie. I was pretty impressed with the availability of lesser known artists, as well. Metal section was about twice to three times larger than most records shops I have visited, as well as diverse punk and electronic sections. Prices are at or slightly below market average, with big sections of new and used vinyl. Staff were all super friendly and laid back, this shop is a shining gem downtown Grand Rapids.

Nice spot. My only moment of disappointment was the R&B selection. It was in the corner of the store and extremely small compared to other genres of music. Shootout to the guy at the cash register, though that did not say my total outloud while I was on the phone with my hubby. Way to support my marriage!

I live in Chicago and I have a good sized record collection. I hunt for rare records on Discogs, where a lot of local stores post their inventory online. I saw a record I wanted and was traveling to Grand Rapids for work for the week. I entered Vertigo Music and they had a wide variety of great music. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I inquired about the record and they looked for record in the back, which gave me time to look through their collection. They were so nice and apologized for making me wait as they looked for the record, that they even gave me a discount. I honestly didn’t mind waiting but that extra level of customer service was amazing. I highly recommend this awesome store!

I have been to many record stores over the years and vertigo by far is the best one. Incredible selection of music across vinyl and cd. Used section (cd and vinyl) is also surprisingly big if you want to save money. Prices (even new) are also very reasonable. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about any genre of music you’re interested in. Proud to live in GR so I can visit vertigo frequently.

Vertigo is exactly what I am looking for in an independent record store. Tons and tons of inventory are both new and used. They carry some 8 tracks, cassettes, compact discs, and vinyl records, both old and new, as well as used. Great music to be had here. I need to stress the importance of spending time here as there are boxes and boxes of inventory to be gone through. During my visit, I found four classic vinyl albums, all of which I've been looking for some time now. Two from Nightmares on Wax and two from Simple Minds. I'm very happy with the prices on the new records as they were priced below Amazon, and the used choices were fair given their age and condition. I will definitely be back on my next visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan. You can't go wrong here if not only for the visit alone, it's well worth it.

The employees were very kind and helpful! The store had many artists and was so fun to look through!

I found myself back in GR again with time to spare so popped in to Vertigo. Tons of great stuff this time around. I ended up with such a large stack of records that they had to give me a box instead of a bag. The prices were better than what I'm used to in Chicago so that was a perk as well. Staff is great - very friendly and eager to help.

This shop has so much stock, from a wide range of genres, and it's well organized with overflow being easy to find. The only downside, is that it can be a bit tricky to browse since their shelves are so full. They have good deals on used media as well, but I didn't spend as much time browsing that on this trip. Will visit again next time I'm in the area.

This was the best record store I have ever been in. I was on a work trip and had a little bit of time to spare in the evening so I walked over from my hotel and immediately knew from the vibe that this place was going to have some gold for my vinyl collection. It was exciting to sort through the records that were meticulously organized and find some albums that I have been covering for a very long time. My wife was ecstatic with the finds I was able to get, I even scored a T-shirt on this visit and hope to come back on my next trip to Grand Rapids.

I got some cds and patches here. It's a good shop, would recommend to anyone who wants that

I was in town for a conference so stopped into Vertigo before checking into the hotel. The shop is in a kind of funky boutique/restaurant area. There is a large selection of vinyl here, and mostly it is new records. But the selection of used records was ample and worth flipping through. The records were all good quality, no trash. The store is a bit chaotic in some areas; boxes of records stacked up along the walls. Records stacked on top of records in the bins. The staff were generally disinterested. But, I found a few gems at good prices.

This is still my favorite record shop. Herm the owner goes above and beyond making it the best experience. Always a killer modern selection of new and modern records. I've been all around to various states and record store and their selection is not matched by any other shop. Prices here are nearly as cheap as it gets

I love everything about this record store - The selection is unmatchable, it's so much fun to discover so many artists in vinyl, cds, cassettes, plus there's movie dvds and posters and t-shirts, the prices can't be beat, and the workers are super friendly and helpful, you can see they really enjoy what they do, and they make it a fun experience. The first time I went, I was excited to go back the next day for more time to check things out. Totally worth checking out!!

Great record store in downtown G-Raps! I didn't have a ton of time to do much browsing but I definitely saw more than a few things I would buy had I a bit more scratch to spend. The staff here was super nice and the space was clean and organized. Sure, the videos and cassette tapes are kind of piled in the corner but part of the fun is digging through those old school wonders and coming out with a swell find (like the N*Sync video I got a gave away at a recent Elite event!). The prices are decent, although they seemed a bit higher than some shops round these parts. Most of what I saw was rock/indie/punk but there was a bit of a selection of some soul and funk that I flipped through a bit as well. I'm not much of an expert on those genres so I can't comment on how well rounded it is, but they do have some stuff for you to peruse through. Overall I'm glad to see a record store like this still kicking around!

Any town would be lucky to have a record shop as top notch as Vertigo. They have a very large selection and easily half the shop is filled with vinyl. Their music is broken into the typical genres which makes browsing for what you want easy. I was able to get through the entire rock section in less than an hour, and there was a ton of obscure stuff I found that I'd been looking for. Most importantly, they price their stuff to sell. Most of their albums were very close to the Discogs median price or cheaper, which led me to spend a bit too much money. Last but not least is the staff, they were very friendly and welcoming and take pride in where they work. All in all, a shop that would standout even in a city much larger than Grand Rapids. A local treasure that I will definitely revisit when I'm back in town.

Went to buy a record this week (Portishead's Roseland NYC Live) as it's the records 23rd anniversary. One of my all time favorite bands and just a beautiful piece of work. So I call up Vertigo Records and ask if they have it. Just one more left and they will leave it behind the counter for me. But more impressive was that almost immediately the man on the line says "Is this Santiago?". blown away, just from my voice he recognized me. Every time I go in, Herm takes his time to talk to you, but to know that he remembers each person like that is amazing. If I wasn't yet, I'm a lifelong customer now. #VertigoRecords #CustomerForLife #ThePluralOfVinylIsVinyl

Had the whole day yesterday in Grand Rapids, decided to check out Vertigo Records...glad I did! HUGE selection of used and new vinyl, all genres well represented. Managed to score several records on my want list. All the folks working there are super friendly, and definitely love music and love helping those who love music! Definitely recommended if you're in town

Genuinely the best record store i've been in. The selection is far and beyond better than other record stores and the employees are so helpful. Go here if in GR

Amazing selection of new & used vinyl, CD's & cassettes. Also sell used DVD's. Staff was very helpful in finding gems to add to our collection.

This place was an amazing store with a great environment and the nicest staff you will ever meet, not to mention the extremely diverse collection of records (old/new), CD's, movies, and cassette tapes. It was an overall great experience.l

One of my favorite places to browse on a rainy day! The people here are so friendly and helpful. They have a variety of records and they never seem to disappoint! Love going here and definitely recommend!!!!!

I was in the area and wanted to go shopping for some vinyls. The store is huge. They have a great selection of used and new vinyls. I was looking for a Leon Bridges vinyl but they didn't have it. But that was OK because I found and Alkaline Trio vinyl ! ! ! Actually I found a lot vinyls I wanted ranging from the Horrorpops, Blink 182, Kendrick Lamar, NOFX, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd. The store really has a variety of music and good prices.

This is a damn fine record store! I have gone here a few times, while on tour in Grand Rapids. I loved that this store was so close to the DAAC, which was a cool DIY music venue! While on tour you always have time to kill and there is nothing like a fantastic music store to kill time in! This is a gem of a store. I have bought a few things here. All used stuff. Which there selection was amazing! I loved how they have a vas selection of psych pop stuff and great soul sections! I have not been around Grand Rapids all that much, but I do know they have great beer spots, cool vegan food, and this great record store! Sounds like my type of town!

Greatest record store in Midwest and Scotland!! I've been to vinyl shops in Chicago, Detroit area, Edinburgh Scotland, and a few in Greenville, SC plus many more and my findings are conclusive: Vertigo is the best damn vinyl shop this side of the Mississippi!!! A Grand Rapids gem with some fantastic people running it too.

This place is great. I've recently got back into vinyl and am in the process of building my collection. A buddy of mine recommended this place. So while visiting family in GR I made a quick stop here to check it out. The owner was extremely friendly and welcomed me when I walked in and even gave me the layout of the store. Lots of used and new vinyl. Good selection. What really impressed me was the fair prices. They were cheaper than Amazon in some cases. Score! I like to support brick and mortar and in this case I couldn't walk out without buying 4 LPs. Will be coming back.

Getting to travel with work I have hit the best record stores in New York, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Denver, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Dallas, Nashville, basically any large city. And surprisingly this is one of the best anywhere. I would put this store in a top 5 with Amoeba in LA, Reckless in Chicago, 2nd Avenue in Portland, and Other Music in New York. Why? 1. Organization - an accountant's accuracy but not the impersonality of a Tower or Virgin or whatever 2. Selection - well stocked new, used, classics and semi-classics, plus tons of obscure picks all generes 3. Vibe - large but old, very cool store, always great new tunes playing 4. Staff - the owner is awesome, remembers me even though I only pass through once a quarter, gives deals, has great opinions and truly loves music 5. Location - around the corner from the best coffee shop in the Midwest - Madcap Would HIGHLY recommend as a top tier record store to any music fan.

I am so grateful that this place exists in Grand Rapids. It's a beautiful nostalgic gem that I need to visit more often when I'm in town. Awesome selection, good prices, great atmosphere.

Outstanding selection of new vinyl. Best I've ever seen. Well laid out, good used selection and great service.

Awesome local record shop! Fantastic selection of new and used music. The staff is always friendly and helpful. They will special order anything for you if by chance they don't have it. I'll always support the local record shop!

This place is very well organized. Awesome customer service and easy to find what you're looking for! I never do reviews but this place is definitely worth visiting.

Really cool store. Good selections of cds. Really nice employees. I have gone to this store 5 times in the last month. Neat selection of patches and posters.

I go to record stores when I visit pretty much anywhere I ever go. Not to say that I've been to a ton of places, but I've been to record stores in Detroit, Chicago, Scotland, Dublin, London, Amsterdam, and Paris, and my thoughts always come back to Vertigo, no where has ever been as perfect of a record store. They always have exactly what I'm looking for, even if I didn't know it! I don't think I've ever been able to walk out of there with less than 4 or 5 new albums....On the one hand, I'm thankful that I don't live in GR, but on the other hand, sad that I rarely get a chance to visit Vertigo.

We were in town for business and decided have breakfast at Wolfgang's (another great GR institution) and then head over to check out Vertigo. I was looking for a very difficult to find album from a local Detroit band that I have not been able to find anywhere else. When we got to the store we were greeted nicely - a friendly hello and a dj spinning in the back of the store who was pretty damn good to listen to while perusing their large used collection. They did not have what I was looking for the owner, Herm, was more than happy to research it and let me know what he could get his hands on. 45 minutes later I had 5 albums in my hands all for under $25. This was almost as fun as shopping at Amoeba Records and Vertigo is definitely the same caliber store as Amoeba albeit on a smaller scale. Go! You won't be sorry you did!

While in Grand Rapids visiting extended family, I experienced a bit of panic thinking about how it would be my turn to drive the 14 hours to get back home with no music in a rental KIA Rondo. During our meal at San Chez, I was recommended to Vertigo Music by our lovely server who also just-so-happened to work at Vertigo. She did not steer me wrong! The Northeast has plenty in the way of incredible High Fidelity-esque indie record stores so I wasn't expected to be blown away, but the space was large and not cramped, the selection diverse and organized, the prices reasonable, and the people helpful. All in all, just a really cool place that I would pop in all the time if I lived in Michigan.

Hands down, one of the best independent record stores I've ever been in EVER, all over the country. Beautifully carved out of an old storefront on Division Avenue, this shop stocks everything. If they don't have it, they will gladly order it for you with no rip-off charges like the chain stores. From punk to indie to hip-hop to house to local. I have known Herm Baker, the owner, for many years and he is a great guy. He is dedicated to bringing good music to the West Michigan area. Back when him and Dave (who later founded the now-defunct Eastunes) ran Vinyl Solution, they created both a great record store and an all-ages music community. Their book/zine section, run by local coffee magnate (ha) Ryan Van is quite impressive as well. He stocks a diverse library of radical literature, great zines, and other interesting stuff. Check it out in the back. Vertigo Music is a mainstay of the downtown shopping experience now. Definitely check this store out if you have any interest in music!

I've been going to vertigo since I first started buying records over 10 years ago. I've been to a decent number of record stores and vertigo will always be my favorite! I don't go as often as I like, but if I did I'd be broke as a joke. It would be nice to find some Etta James or Bill Withers in the racks, but they are hard to come by.

Great shop! A wonderful selection that is organized so you can find what you're looking to purchase. The staff is also super friendly and helpful. You can tell the people who work here love music and their job. From now on any time I'm back in town I'll be stopping by and picking up a record or two or five.

This place has a LOT of new vinyl, and a really good selection of older/classic vinyl. If you like the hunt, then the cheap bins in the back are fun to look through (Gerry Dodd's is more of an adventure if that's what you're into). But everything here is really organized and easy to look through. Service was nice, and everything worked out.

Destination worthy. Yeah I love it. I lovvvvve drifting slowly down the stacks of vinyl. They've got old and new, and new old. Killer vibe, killer selection. Good.

Hands down the best record store in town. Don't bother with the other places. They have new and used records, and new and used CD's. Crazy selection and it's not there they can more than likely get it. They also carry a local music selection which is nice.

It's been a while since my last visit to Vertigo, but I figured to leave a comment because Grand Rapids needs more Yelp love. Like the previous reviews, Vertigo is a great record shop if you're looking to find an eclectic (and good) selection of music ranging from many genres. I really appreciate their Jazz and Blues selection. I hadn't yet tapped into vinyl since I was there last, but when I do go back, that's the first area I'll be browsing. Their reviews and album synopsis' are always helpful, along with the staff. Used CDs, some DVDs and VHS along with various music merchandise (tees, magazines, buttons) are also sold at this necessary and independent Grand Rapids staple.

A good solid record store. I only looked at their vinyl, so I can't comment on their CDs. They have a large stock of new and used rock. The new records are priced similarly to independent shops like Encore or Flat Black and Circular. The used records are slightly higher than average, but not unreasonably so. My biggest beef, however, is that the selection is very very skewed towards rock/punk/metal. There was very little soul/R&B. I found a few gems, but most of it was bad 80s soul by former stars. I can't blame him for focusing on rock if that's what the customers are buying, but I prefer the more diverse selection at Encore in Ann Arbor, People's in Detroit or FBC in East Lansing.

Stopped by last minute before me and the gf went back home to Chicago. It was only supposed to be a quick look since we had a three hour drive ahead. We ended up spending about an hr and half and spent about $120 in records. Awesome place and definitely will be back. Found a lot of records that had the lowest prices compared to amazon and even eBay. Highly highly recommend

The best record store I have ever been in, if they don't have what you want (they always do) they will order it for you. They have everything from metal, punk, pop, jazz, and a HUGE selection of used cds. They also have a pretty large vinyl section. I think you can still buy tickets to local shows also.

Incredibly diverse and impressive selection of vinyl records and compact discs, knowledgeable and helpful staff. The prices are very fair. The owner is truly in the record business for all the right reasons. Cares about music, cares about helping customers. It's refreshing that a brick-and-mortar record shop like this exists. In this Internet day and age, I feel it is part of my civic duty to frequent this place. Love it.

Vertigo is still my favorite record store to this day. The owner, Herm, is a great guy to talk to and is more than willing to help you out with any questions or concerns you may have. I have gotten some great recommendations from him in the past. The selection here is fantastic, and if they don't have something you want then they will order it for you. The prices are usually very cheap, and there are always good deals going on. Where else can you pick up pretty much any new CD for $9.99? Incredible. Vertigo is one of the few places I miss in Michigan. I try to make it a point to stop there every time I am back in the area.

Massive! This store is massive! Great staff, killer selection across genres.....My only complaint is that some of the new sections are on the other side of the store from the used, while others are side by side. But it does force you to wander and see everything! I found stuff that was totally fair at retail and they accepted an offer I made on a used record! I'm not from there, but when I go back on tour I'm going back to Vertigo!

Very good record store. My wife and I ducked out of a wedding for an hour to check this place out. Owner was super friendly. Big store and lots of customers. The crowd was young and I was surprised how into vinyl they were. Prices more then fair and quality of used vinyl better then expected based on the price. Everything I bought as far as the media quality was close to mint. I bought six originals from the 60s. Fun stuff for around 30 bucks. I will come back when we visit Grand Rapids again.

I've been to record stores all over the country and Vertigo is still my favorite by a long shot. You can always find Herm hanging out there ready to answer any questions. His music knowledge is mind blowing and he can always recommend something new for you. Incredibly diverse selection of old and new vinyl. Very easy to navigate. If they don't have what you're looking for they are happy to order it and they'll have it for you in a few days with no extra cost. Last but not least, the prices. Best prices I have ever found on vinyl, even compared to Amazon. So get out there and support your local record shop.

Vertigo is great for just about any type of music. I mostly buy techno and house, and though their rack of new electronic CDs is a bit sparse, the many shelves and crates of used 12"s in the back more than make up for it. It's a rare occurrence that I walk out empty-handed, and if you're the sort of person who likes rock or punk, things will be even better for you. And here's the thing: if for some reason they don't have a new release that you're looking for, talk to Herm (the owner) and he'll get it for you. And by "get it," I mean "special order it from his distributors and then call you back a few days later to tell you that your records are ready for pickup at retail price or less." It's quite an operation. One last point: be sure to subscribe to the e-mail list on their website. Along with detailing some new releases, it contains discounts on many of those releases that you can only get if you bring a printout of the mailing to the store.

With an owner who knows his music, a diverse offering of solid used vinyl in VG+/NM condition, and very reasonable prices all around, Vertigo is one of the best record stores around. I crate dig quite a bit, in LA and Michigan, mostly; if one collects jazz, blues, indie, classic rock, metal, punk, pop, there's reason to swing by Grand Rapids now. Keep places like this alive and hit up Vertigo!

This really pains me. It really, really does. I love a local music store. I was up near Grand Rapids for a concert and (like always) hopped on yelp to see if any good used music stores were around. The reviews were rapturous for Vertigo. Even though it was a good deal out of my way I decided to have a go. It took a bit to find some parking and I found myself at the store 10 minutes before it's supposed to open at 11am. No big deal though. I just walked around and tried to stave off the cold. Around 10:58 I settle in and wait for the doors to open. 11:03 comes. I'm sure it'll open any second, right? It's a local business. Maybe it's either run by the owner or some college kid was supposed to open it and is just running a little late. These things happen. Down the street a guy gets out of his car... but he's just another customer who is expecting it to open and can't get in. He retreats to the warmth of his car. 11:07 rolls around and I'm cold and getting a little annoyed. I call their number. No answer. So they aren't even in yet! A family is rushing across the street. They're going into an apartment above the store. Could this be the owner? Maybe he was out shopping with his family? Maybe. I decide to give it a few more minutes. I tell myself I'll stay to 11:10. The guy with the family saw me. If he WAS the owner or a worker he'd be sure to rush down, right? Well, I give it to 11:11 and still no one comes to the door. I call the number again. Still no one answers. At this point I'm hoping the guy with the family wasn't the one who was supposed to be working there because that would just be totally rude. I'm pretty sure he wasn't. As for who was... and where they were over 10 minutes after they were supposed to open... who knows. So I make the way back to the car. It takes a bit and as we drive by I look... still closed. This was close to 20 minutes after the store was supposed to be open. This is not a way to run a business. And it makes me sad because it sounded so great from the other reviews. In fact, if I'm ever up that way again (unlikely, but you never know) I'll check it out again and do another review. Until then, this review has to stand as it is because I've got no other choice. I didn't get to check out the great prices. I didn't et to see the great selection or check out the zines. I just stared at the (frankly, pretty ugly) store front for 15 minutes. And that's really too bad. Being there and open when you say you're going to be is one of the most basic things a business can do. Maybe my loss will be other customer's gain if they can learn from this.

The staff is extremely helpful and very friendly. They all know their music and can make recommendations for any genre. The prices are very reasonable across the board too.

Amazing selection in lots of formats, friendly staff, and very reasonable prices! I'd recommend vertigo to everyone!

I was in Grand Rapids for a week in May for business. I'm from Minneapolis where we have handful of good record/music stores. I'm a confessed vinyl junkie and love to visit record stores when I travel. Vertigo is a Gem! I spent a couple of hours here on a Tuesday evening. Had a great conversation with Herm...learned a little about him, his music philosophy, and Vertigo's history. Searched the used and new vinyl. Walked out with a used Audiophile Series import of Rush "Moving Pictures" and a new copy of The Kills "Blood Pressures". Great used inventory and Best new vinyl prices I've ever seen. This place is worth a visit and be sure to set aside enough time to not have to rush it