Amoeba Music isn’t just a record store, it’s an institution. Since opening its doors in Los Angeles in 2001, the shop has been a magnet for anyone passionate about music, film, and pop culture.

With its sprawling collection of vinyl, CDs, DVDs, books, and exclusive releases, it has become a place where collectors, casual browsers, and world-famous artists all cross paths.

From Sunset Boulevard to Hollywood & Vine

The original Hollywood Amoeba opened in 2001 on Sunset Boulevard in a massive 24,000-square-foot space. For nearly two decades, it was a destination for locals and tourists alike.

Exterior view of Amoeba Music storefront in Hollywood, featuring its iconic signage and surrounding traffic.

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In 2021, after navigating both a real estate shake-up and the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the store moved a few blocks to its new home at Hollywood and Vine.

Today, you’ll find it at 6200 Hollywood Boulevard inside the El Centro complex, steps from the Metro and the Pantages Theatre.

What Sets Amoeba Apart

Part of Amoeba’s magic is its ever-changing inventory.

Shoppers can dig through bins of used records, stumble across rare finds, or pick up the latest releases, all replenished daily through customer trade-ins.

Aerial view of a record store interior filled with shelves of books and music media, with customers browsing.

But the store offers more than just music and movies. Over the years, its stage has hosted intimate, free performances from artists as varied as Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and Kendrick Lamar, cementing its reputation as one of the city’s most exciting live music venues.

Beyond the shopping and the shows, Amoeba serves as a meeting place for the music community.

It has weathered the rise of digital streaming by leaning into the physical, in-person experience, something irreplaceable for those who still love flipping through records and connecting with other fans.

An overview of the Amoeba Music store interior, featuring numerous rows of CDs and vinyl records organized on shelves, with shoppers browsing through the collection.

Visiting the Store Today

Shoppers can sell or trade in their collections for cash or store credit at the buy counter, open every day.

For those who can’t make it to Los Angeles, Amoeba.com carries part of the store’s catalog and offers free U.S. shipping on music and movies.

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Interior view of Amoeba Music store showcasing shelves filled with vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs, with colorful columns and customers browsing.

If you visit in person, parking is available in the El Centro garage on Argyle Avenue, with 75 minutes validated with any purchase.

The Hollywood location is also easy to reach by public transit, sitting right on the Metro Red Line and several bus routes.

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