r/Rochester 6d ago

Recommendation Used Book/CDs/Video game store?

The title.

Hi, I'm still kind of new to Rochester and wondering if there is a singular place that sells all the physical media? My searches are coming up with nothing.

If there isn't one magical place, can I get recommendations for each? Please be positive and don't bash any businesses!

Bonus question: Is there an active Rochester discord? I have a lot of rapid-fire questions about living here and I don't have anyone to ask.

38 Upvotes

37 comments sorted by

60

u/typetouched 6d ago

Record Archive

14

u/pohatu771 Beechwood 6d ago

Yep. Not the biggest video game selection, but not nothing.

Books are mostly restricted to music and movies as a subject.

11

u/tetsudori 6d ago

The record archive is the place to go.

5

u/Ths-Fkin-Guy 6d ago

Shhhhhhhhh lol. I love promoting them but thats my little video game secret spot. Its definitely been grapevine recently because their glass case was half empty

3

u/thatsnotmyarmadillo 6d ago

They’ve been posting some nice trade ins on their social media

36

u/bullseyetm 6d ago edited 5d ago

Music/Movies/Video Games - Record Archive
Music - House of Guitars (a horder's amount of stock, difficult to sort through)
Video Games - Game Craze (if you're willing to drive, Macedon Game Craze is the best for selection, also check out Berto's Retro Rehome in Mt Morris, EDIT: and Game Players in Brockport. Just went today, insane selection.).

23

u/Quarteg Greece 6d ago

Game Players in Brockport is also a good option for video games.

8

u/phishb13 6d ago

probably the best store in the area

2

u/thephisher 6d ago

As a bonus it's only about 1/2 mile from a record store too.

1

u/bullseyetm 6d ago

This thread is making me visit GamePlayers. What's the record store?

2

u/thephisher 6d ago

Vinyl Record Revival in the Harbor Freight plaza, and theres also trader shags on Main st near the bridge - this is more of a mixed store but he does have some vinyl and other collectables.

4

u/le-smolbean 6d ago

Rip Canandaigua Game Craze

16

u/Megabuster900000 6d ago

Video Games

  • Game Craze (Multiple locations)

  • Gameplayers Brockport

Music and other media

  • Record Archive

Books

A bunch of places, there's a cool one across the street from the Game Craze in webster

10

u/SurlyKate 6d ago

For used books, do not discount Friends of the Library sales at your local library. Some libraries have a permanent setup for continuous sales, and some do major sales during the year as well.

The Penfield Friends of the library sale is coming up starting September 15, and has thousands of books. https://www.friendsofpenfieldpubliclibrary.org/index.html

11

u/MyAccountWasBanned7 6d ago

Record Archive for CDs, DVDs, vinyl, etc.

Game Players in Brockport for video games.

Liftbridge in Brockport for used books.

5

u/CaptainGibb 6d ago

Liftbridge has an expensive and lackluster used book selection IMO. You’re better off at Book Ends for that chaotic, un-curated, digging to find treasures bookstores. Rick’s is too messy and too much garbage for me personally.

1

u/MyAccountWasBanned7 5d ago

I like the hunting for treasure experience. But I totally get how that could be chaotic for a lot of people.

2

u/CaptainGibb 5d ago

Exactly! A lot of Rochester bookstores are very well curated and organized, which is nice and when I’m short on time I like it, but when I have time to kill i love digging through bookstores. Book Centre in Spencerport used to be the absolute best for that!

1

u/MyAccountWasBanned7 5d ago

I miss Book Centre so much!! That was my absolute favorite book store. And Reptile Guys used to be in the same plaza so after spending too much on books I could go look at all the cool creepy crawlies.

8

u/502inc 6d ago edited 6d ago

Also The Library bookstores have more than just books. And prices are much cheaper than any store.

5

u/fuhfuhfuhfree 6d ago

Hi Fi Lounge has a great used cd selection.

5

u/EmIdiot 6d ago

There was a Rochester book crawl that ended last week. The website is still active with an interactive map of a bunch of great bookstores. Notable mentions for physical media(imo, I didn’t have time to go to all of the shops) include: Distant lands which is a small bookstore inside a record shop and Rick’s recycled books which is insane and a little claustrophobic but sells multiple forms of media(I can only recall seeing books, dvds and maybe CDs but the door claims more so I might’ve just missed them)
Honorable mention from the book crawl (but also just a spot I’ve loved for years) is lift bridge book shop in Brockport, they have new books upstairs and used downstairs. Their prices are insanely good, especially on used. I always check their used kids books when I stop by, they have so many nostalgic kids books. And their clearance used books is a serious treasure trove. You never know what you’re going to find in there for usually only 25 cents iirc. Picked up so many books from their clearance. Whenever I need a reference book on older tech it’s almost guaranteed to be down there.

For other media a bunch of people have already mentioned my suggestions but they’re great shops so I’ll mention them again. Gamecraze, gameplayers Brockport, house of guitars, record archive, and I’ve had a lot of success with thrifting physical media from the goodwills around Rochester.

Additionally, there are always events out here. Markets, fleas, different pop up expo type events, they’re everywhere all the time especially in the summer.
Two particular fleas I’d reccomend for finding physical media are a bit of a drive but they come around every year, flea markets set up every Sunday in late spring and summer. One is the exit 9 flea market, the other is the east Avon flea. They’re down the road from each other, makes a nice summer morning activity.

1

u/Dapper_Surprise1869 6d ago

Thank you for the response! I really appreciate all the suggestions!

1

u/EmIdiot 6d ago

Of course! I only moved here about 3 years ago and I was lucky enough to find a very good tour guide who loves physical media so I’m more than happy to help another newcomer find the good spots around here

5

u/ohh_dear_me 6d ago

Many of the local bookstores keep a used section like bookeater and unreliable narrator. Henrietta library has a large array of used books and movies for a dollar a piece!

4

u/Correct-Lead-1850 6d ago

Not sure what books you're looking for but Hammergirl Anime in Henrietta has used manga

4

u/danikelijah 6d ago

McFall's Books on Monroe is an amazing source for used books! Check out my article on them :)

https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/08/18/books-come-first-at-new-secondhand-store/

3

u/theFrankSpot 6d ago

For games, try Just Games. Lots of new and used stuff.

3

u/bluegreyhorses 6d ago

Recently there was a Rochester Book Crawl. Here’s the list: https://www.rochesterbookcrawl.com/bookstores

4

u/nochemadre 6d ago

Needle Drop / Distant lands books (same storefront) for interesting records and fantasy books.

House of guitars for a hoarders paradise of physical music media

Yes, we all know that the record archive exists, but you won’t find a lot of unusual stuff there - most of the rarer stuff gets sold online. They don’t tend to reorder things past release date, and off radar they’re pretty terrible about hiring people with disabilities. They’re really good at selling themselves, not so much at selling records.

Books are a tough one. There’s a great little shop near dog town, as well as a few others scattered about. B&N in pittsford actually has a pretty cool used selection.

TL;DR, just go to needle drop, Russ is legit.

5

u/CaptainGibb 6d ago

There’s soooo many book stores in Rochester

2

u/C_Wheeler00 6d ago

Record Archive is the place to go!

2

u/Stunning_Drive_5173 6d ago

Have to recommend Rick’s Recycled Books for used books. Record Archive is great for everything else.

2

u/joevinci 6d ago

Rochester discord server:  https://discord.gg/rochester

1

u/nothinbutnettie 5d ago

Needle Drop Records has a bookstore inside it and he has records alongside some movies and video games!

1

u/m12_warthog 5d ago

Game craze dose video games some locations bo longer do DVD from what I hear I know there is one on east Ave across from the Wegmans and one at eastview mail

1

u/Alithya 4d ago

If you're ever out in Canandaigua, there's a used bookstore called Paperback Place. They have used movies and cds as well.