So you’ve finally made it to Hollywood. Congrats! As a native Californian, allow me to say: Sorry! We know it’s gross! And no The Wax Museum is not worth the price. So you got your Walk of Fame picture, and now you’re wondering, is there anything else I should do before leaving this tinsel-town hellscape? The answer is yes! You should go to a record store. Then leave and never come back unless you have to, and warn everyone else to skip the Walk of Fame entirely. Unless you’re going to Amoeba or Nivessa Vinyl Records.
What to Expect from Nivessa Vinyl Records (Hollywood)
It’s not much of a secret that Hollywood and Hollywood Boulevard are…well, maybe not so nice. Some might call it a gritty charm, whereas others will describe it as a zombie-infested wasteland. I think that both are true in their own way. Either way, you can’t talk about Nivessa Vinyl Records without talking about what is going on outside the shop doors on a given day.
Nivessa’s Hollywood location (They have another location on Pico Blvd) is right smack on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s more or less at the end of the star-covered sidewalk that attracts tourists and all manner of unsavory characters. The shops’ neighbors are convenience and liquor stores rather than gift shops selling keychains. What you end up with is a place that feels caught between the Tourist Mecca that is the Chinese theatre and the darker, messier part of Hollywood that locals know. Essentially, Nivessa might be one of the most authentic businesses on Hollywood Boulevard. Just regular people selling great records at great prices.
There is a simplicity to this shop that fits the vibe of their little block. Three large aisles of records set evenly apart in a wide open, almost warehouse-like space. Tons of thrift shirts are available near the front if you want to fully complete the aesthetic of ironically shopping in Hollywood. There is a delightful messiness to this store. It’s not a disaster that makes it unshoppable, but just enough chaos and randomness that makes the shop fun to explore before you even start diving into any bins.
Selection
The selection of records here was pretty wide-ranging, which I anticipated since this shop is on the larger side. No genre in particular stood out besides maybe the Hip-Hop section. That might be more of a regional bias from several years of shopping at record stores in Portland, which tend to be light in this department. Most of the records here were used and are in varying condition, but I was able to find a good amount of new records mixed in, so if you lean more contemporary, then it’s still worth some digging.
Besides Vinyl, there are a few bins of VHS tapes, cassettes, and CD’s for those who love all physical media equally.
Prices at Nivessa Vinyl Records (Hollywood)
The quality of records ranges here, but the prices are about as fair as can be. If you don’t care too much about sleeve conditions, then you can come away from here with a stack of records at really good prices. Plenty of bargains to be had, as well as higher-priced records for you fancy folk.
My Thoughts on Nivessa Vinyl Records
It’s not a secret that the humble Nivessa Vinyl Records needs to compete with one of the biggest and best record stores on the planet. But they manage to do so by offering a selection and vibe that is almost entirely different. Go to Amoeba to fight the crowds and find every record you’ve been searching for forever. But come here to relax, dig around, and talk music.
Selection – 7.5/10
Prices – 8.5/10
Vibe -8/10
Records Purchased
Bright Future – Adrienne Lenker
Address: 6434 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028