Portland continues to be the absolute best city in the country for record stores, and the fantastic Landfill Rescue Unit further cements that reputation. This store gives “dumpster diving” an entirely new meaning with its kooky landfill aesthetic allowing visitors to browse through literal dumpsters full of records. The Belmont neighborhood shop has one of the best punk selections in a city full of amazing punk record stores.
What to Expect from Landfill Rescue Unit Records
A landfill-themed record store might seem like an odd choice until you pop into the somewhat unassuming Landfill Rescue Unit in Southeast Portland. The store is densely packed with new and used records, many of which are organized into old dumpsters. Don’t worry the dumpsters were well cleaned (assuming they were ever used for trash at all) and actually makes for a great browsing experience. I wouldn’t say this shop is cramped by record store standards but it’s certainly on the snug side. Expect to bump hips with fellow shoppers if you pop in on a busy day.
There are a ton of records here and little else besides vinyl. There is a small selection of vintage band and concert shirts as well as some tapes available but this place is certainly about the wax. If Funko pops next to records is an image that causes unbridled rage, you’ll probably enjoy your time here.
Selection
Landfill Rescue Unit is a fairly genre-focused shop with most of the records falling into punk and its sub-genres. There is a section of country/folk records as well as a section for soundtracks, world music, and jazz. I’d say about 20% of the store’s stock is composed of these genres, the remaining 80% of the inventory is divided up into bins labeled punk, hardcore, metal, indie rock, and so on.
Most of the records here were new but there were plenty of solid used records to go around as well. This depended largely on the bins, for example, the country section was largely used records, whereas the punk/hardcore sections were a lot more mixed. That said, there weren’t really any dollar bin records here. So don’t go in expecting to walk out with an armful of records for $20 or you’ll be disappointed. Most of the stock here was in the $15-45 range.
The best punk record store in Portland?
The punk section here is what really stood out to me. I think there are a few record stores in Portland that have as good or better selection of metal records but this might take the cake for the best punk and hardcore section. This is an extremely impressive feat considering shops like 2nd Avenue Records and Blackwater Records are less than 10 minutes away.
One of the things that sets the selection here apart here is the “Top Shelf ” bins This is where you’ll find all of the hard-to-find and highly sought-after punk and rock records for the more serious collectors.
Finally, the new arrivals section is where I had a ton of good luck. Unlike some of the more famous stores in Portland, there is slightly less foot traffic here and thus fewer hands passing through the bins. You combine this with an owner who is great at buying records and you’re left with a new arrivals section that had me ready to pretend I didn’t go in with a budget in mind.
Prices at Landfill Rescue Unit
Everyone’s first question when it comes to a record store: What are the prices like? If I am taking the time to write about a shop, that means I didn’t find the prices too outlandishly high. With that said, the prices here are ever so slightly on the high side, specifically when it comes to new records.
I’m not going to fault them for this for two main reasons: They are upfront about it and the prices are only slightly higher than other shops around town. Records I’ve found for $30-32 were priced around $34. Higher, yes, but hardly a deal breaker when it comes to buying a record from a local business. I also found that their used records were priced a little bit cheaper than some other shops around town and all the used records had an actual grading on them, which was extremely nice to see. Th Lucy Dacus album I purchased was in NM condition and was priced at $15.
My Take on Landfill Rescue Unit
There are so many fantastic record stores in Portland that it borders on overwhelming. Within a 10-minute drive of Portland’s Landfill Rescue Unit, there are at least 8 different record stores by my count. Yet, each one has its unique vibe, selection, and clientele. Landfill Rescue unit is no different. This is such a cool little shop for the decorations and theme alone. Some stores have a cat or dog that acts as the mascot, this one has an Oscar the grouch head.
But should you go? If you are even a moderate fan of punk, hardcore, and metal music then this should be on your radar in Portland. For those genres specifically, this is easily a top 3 store in Portland. 2nd Avenue Records has the advantage of longevity and reputation, and Blackwater Records is slightly more focused on punk/metal. Besides those two excellent shops, this is where you need to go shopping for punk records.
Records Purchased
Home Video – Lucy Dacus
Delaware – Drop Nineteens
Address: 2533 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214