In the morning and early afternoon, students from George Washington University and American University lounge around, drink coffee, and study. The atmosphere in the cafe is laid back and mellow. The smell of freshly made espressos and lattes fill the air and tickle the nose. Food menus are glued to the insides of old record sleeves and propped up to entice hungry visitors. Crates of LPs line the wall to the right hand side of the main entrance. The selection is eclectic and varied, but small.

Songbyrd functions mainly as a music venue, restaurant, and cafe. They host live performances almost every night, attracting a multitude of customers to their 220-person-capacity venue. This is a great place to escape from the hurried pace of the city, enjoy some caffeine or alcohol, listen to music, or read a good book.

Songbyrd is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Sundays.

They buy and sell used records, VHS tapes, and clothing that usually has a punk inclination. If the soles of your shoes wear out from walking the store, you’re in luck; they sell fresh sneakers too. Smash Records has a wide selection of CDs and LPs, but they mainly specialize in punk, indie, and hardcore.

Smash Records is open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays.

Melissa, the store manager, claims people of the younger generation are becoming more interested in records. They offer a tangible and memorable experience. In the technological era, it is nice to have something that isn’t offered in the app store, she says.

Hill & Dale is frequented by many who shop in Georgetown, including old collectors and students at Georgetown University. They have been open for three years, have a kind staff as well as a diverse, high quality selection.

Hill & Dale is closed on Mondays. They are open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and are open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

Their record selection is eclectic. They have everything from punk and hardcore, to soul and jazz, to reggae and calypso. They have newly minted records and old records. If you have an 8-track player in your car they sell cassettes too. A soulful gospel recording blares over the loudspeaker creating a friendly, unique atmosphere for the perusing public.

The store has been open for six years and counting. It is co-owned by record enthusiasts, one of whom is the drummer for the punk band Give. Joint Custody has a vibrant, welcoming feel to it, with a staff that is friendly and knowledgeable. If you have a taste for collectible and rare items, this is the place for you. They are open every day of the week from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The interior of the store is decorated with seven-inch singles and full sized LPs. The music they hold spans decades. There is a large and diverse selection in the store. They have everything from old Monty Python albums to a Brazilian Record posted on the wall that says, “PELÉ REI DE FUTEBOL.” The place exudes an aura of music history. One can sense it from the walls lined with artist’s life’s work or by the old Heaven and Earth album spinning out melodies in the background.

Som sells new and used albums. The owner started as a collector. Then, as his collection grew, he decided to open a store to share his hobby with the world. The staff is incredibly friendly and the store is both mellow and accessible. Som is open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays through Sundays.

Mobius Records has something for everyone, says Manager Andrew Schwartz. The walls are speckled with posters of legendary artists like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Run DMC. A contemporary punk album by the garage band Zig Zags fills the store with a welcoming melody.

Mobius is surrounded by a historical firehouse, great restaurants, yoga studios, and a tattoo parlor. They get a lot of foot traffic from George Mason students starting record collections and vinyl enthusiasts who have been collectors since Nixon was in office. Mobius specializes mostly in rock music and its subcategories like indie, punk, and metal.

Their hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

They sell new and used albums as well as new and used musical equipment, such as turntables and standing speakers. They also sell CDs and are in the process of building a wall to better display their varied selection of compact discs.

Blue Groove Soundz is open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

“A lot of my customers in D.C. don’t have cars,” he says. “So, it is inconvenient for them to make it all the way to the new location.”

Despite the setback, Daly and his crew are gaining momentum in Alexandria, and things are looking up. Crooked Beat Records has their own record label, which allows local artists to put their music to vinyl for distribution. The music is sent to a plant in Tennessee for pressing, and the album covers are printed in Florida. They are a store devoted to the local music scene and music history in general. Crooked Beat Records sells both new and used records and has a wide selection and a friendly staff.

They participate heavily in Record Store Day, dishing out cool merchandise like Crooked Beat Records's tote bags and hats. The store is open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays to Sundays.