Rainbow Records

Newark, United States

3.4

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 302-368-7738
Website:
www.rainbow-online.com
Address:
54 E Main St, Newark, DE, 19711
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.9 miSEPTA Newark Station
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street, Validated
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Dogs Allowed
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Newark) 8:16 PM Saturday, June 21, 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Description

Specialties

We carry a wide selection of both used and new books, cassettes, CDs and vinyl as well as a variety of musician’s supplies. We will happily special order anything we may not have in stock.

History

Established in 1979.

Serving downtown Newark for over 30 years!

Rainbow Records also recommends

Switch Skate and Snow

1

review

Sporting Goods

Rainbow Records says,

«Neighbors in the front of our building — awesome shop, nice guys.»

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20 reviews of Rainbow Records

No registration required
Place rating: 2
Brooklyn, NY
record selection caters to local mallpunk skate rats and white kids with dreads… ftmp nothing but overpriced reissue angst… basically no discernible jazz/​soul/​funk/​foreign/​rare selection and maybe ten hip hop joints, dollar bins filled with barbara streisand… employees hovering… stop by if youre looking for whatever current radio indie pop records are selling or rhino reissues of smiths records…
found some decent books tho lol
Place rating: 4
Wilmington, DE
great deals in the discount boxes… i just wish i didnt feel like i was shopping in the dented cans section… otherwise good turn around
Place rating: 5
Hockessin, DE
Rainbow is the only place I buy music these days. Not only do they always have interesting stuff in stock but they also have no problem ordering something for you.
Place rating: 1
Wilmington, DE
** Beware of Merchant**
Rainbow attempts to pass off counterfeit music CD’s as new retail CD’s.
When I calmly confronted the owner about the fact that several had the identification numbers in the inner ring scratched off, and mentioned she should check with her distributor, I was promptly told to leave the store and never return.
**Beware of Merchant**
Place rating: 4
Galesville, MD
I love the book selection here!
Place rating: 5
Newark, DE
Huge amount of new vinyl! Will order any cd or record that you are looking for for no extra charge. Also have a good selection of inexpensive used (and a few new) books.
Place rating: 5
Perryville, MD
I’ve been to record stores across the US and Canada, but Rainbow has to be my favorite one of all. Maybe i’m biased because i’m a local, but this shop really has everything you could need. A great selection of contemporary and older music across many genres on vinyl, CD, and even cassette, an expansive used vinyl and CD section, and everything is extremely affordable. The staff are very welcoming and approachable, and will order anything that is out of stock. The store is clean, easy to find, and well-​organized. They also have regular sales and special offers.
The book section is loaded with new and used gems, and most used books are only a few dollars. Every time I visit I spend at least an hour browsing, and i’ve been coming here regularly for four years. If you live in MD, DE, PA or NJ, you owe it to yourself to give rainbow a visit.
Place rating: 2
Mount Wolf, PA
Was a bit disappointed by the selection at Rainbow Music… I had heard pretty good things from a friend, but they hadn’t been there in quite a while. The used selection is pretty poor… mostly reissues and new records. A came across quite several used records that were cracked, deeply scratched and in just bad shape.
The shop though is clean…
I’ve been to some of the best record shops in my travels and this shop is below average overall. I guess if this was all I had I’d still stop there… worth one visit…
Place rating: 4
Newark, DE
Cool staff. Some pretty cool used vinyl here and there. Youll come across some old local punk/​emo band 7“s from the 80s/​90s. Tons of vinyl, books and cds. Nothing really expensive about buying records here. Support your local record store, dont be ungrateful.
Place rating: 3
San Jose, CA
Since their move, Rainbow really had to downsize. Which is fine, but it’s a bummer that they no longer have the selection that they once did. They still have some vinyl and some books, though I’d look elsewhere for CDs because there aren’t too many (if you’re like me and still listen to them. I thought everyone still did too, but apparently not!). However, they can order CDs which is nice.
The staff are all right, but more than once I’ve found their patrons to be insufferable, openly making fun of peoples musical tastes. Not this is Rainbows fault, but I would have asked them to quiet down. They did nothing. Now this smaller location, it seems like its a hipster wonderland. I don’t really frequent anymore.
Place rating: 1
Charlotte, NC
Owner would only let my fiancé and buy one vinyl copy. Sucks! Each person should be able to buy a copy! Will NEVER go back! Owner was a jerk! Don’t go here.
Place rating: 2
Elkton, MD
2⁄5. That’s the best I can do. If you’re coming to this store for vinyl, walk out the door. You’re far better off going online. If you’re a collector you’ll realize how much higher the products are priced at this store than online or any decent record store for that matter. Their used section is beyond awful unless you love Sixteen copies of the same Peter Frampton album. Hell, I don’t love one copy of Peter Frampton but that’s just me! Most of the music found is trendy garbage. However, there are some gems but as stated before over-​priced. SST records sells their LP’S for 9.99. Rainbow sells the same LP for 22 bucks. I purchased one record (used) from the hipsters. Was warped. Great. Anyways, this place is probably the place to go if you want to feel more secure in your masculinity. (Did not check out their book section, also could care less about cd’s)
Place rating: 1
Newark, DE
The owner tells me to bring my cd collection down but hes only payin around a dollar a cd. So i pack them all up drag em down there & he offers me $ 20.00 for over 200 cds!!! 5cents each? REALLY!!? What a waste of time!!! BUT… I actually thank him ive sold around 100 of them on ebay & made $ 241.00!!! Owner has a horrible attitude & I will never go back there again. Just my opinoin
Place rating: 3
Bethesda, MD
CDs man I haven’t bought in a few years does not help that the store changes locations back and forth every few years. Current location is gone? Switch skateboards/​poser store is there now
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Rainbow is conveniently placed right on the University of Delaware’s campus, and, for a college town’s record-​and-​book store, it’s not bad. They have a moderate selection of punk music (although «rock» is all together, so you have to dig a bit), and prices are pretty good for used stuff. They also have some pretty cheap used DVDs. There are listening stations but you can only listen to pre-​picked new releases and sometimes the headphones don’t work right, but hey, who can complain about free listening stations?
One of the best things about rainbow is that they aren’t super picky about buying books and CDs for store credit, so you can come in with a bunch of old books that you don’t want, get a couple bucks each for them in store credit, and come out with a bunch of cool CDs. They also used to have a free section, where bands could put their demos or stickers or fliers or whatever. Not sure if it’s still there in the new place, it probably is.
Place rating: 4
Wilmington, DE
They recently consolidated their store, which was a good move imo. The result is a new entrance (up the alley, it’s no longer accessible from Main St.) and a smaller space. There’s more of an emphasis on vinyl, which suits me fine, as well as a nice section for used books. They’ve made the transition into cozy, local music/​book shop and I think it’s for the better. As for the vinyl selection: Lots of new stuff as well as a decent selection of used. You’re unlikely to find any huge scores here, but I’ve had a couple of nice finds from the used department.
Place rating: 5
Aventura, FL
Great used selection, tons of vinyl, and a relatively welcoming staff of hipsters. R.I.P. Rainbow!
Place rating: 5
Philadelphia, PA
Rainbow is always a must-​stop for me and my boyfriend when we end up in Newark. The CD and vinyl selection is great, you can find some real gems in the used sections too. Despite living in Philadelphia, I have yet to find a store up here that can rival this one.
Place rating: 4
Philadelphia, PA
I always try to stop in here when I’m in Newark, DE to see what they have. It is a great little independent record & book store that offers new & used: vinyl, books, CDs & DVDs. I pretty much buy exclusively used material here; they have a small but eclectic variety of stuff. I consistenly find some good books for a $ 2 or $ 3.
Place rating: 4
Wilmington, NC
Great selection of used books, not to mention a staff that is willing to go the extra mile to order that new free jazz rocket that you (and none of their other customers) absolutely must have. When one of my special orders was missing a disc, they took care of it right away. The used vinyl that flows through here is primarily classic rock, but I did manage to score some Dewey Redman and Paul Bley sides on the cheap.
Bottom line: if you’re in Newark, DE, you have no reason not to stop in – what the hell else are you going to do?