Cheapo Records

Cheapo Records is a Central Square record store in Cambridge selling new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and VHS tapes. The stock runs across oldies, Cajun, soul, jazz, folk, classical, blues, hip hop, disco, rock and soundtracks, and the owner has singled out its New Orleans, Cajun, zydeco, country and blues selections. Shoppers looking for something in particular can stop by or call, and the staff will see if they can help.

Cheapo’s website dates the shop’s Central Square presence to 1954. A newspaper profile estimated the collection at more than 100,000 LPs and roughly as many 45s, with many more in storage, and described owner Allen Day, who took over in the late 1970s, as an affable fixture among local audiophiles who shares the stories behind customers’ purchases. One regular quoted in that profile had been shopping the bins for about 30 years.

What to Know

• A newspaper profile traced the store’s record selling in Central Square back to 1948.
• Many records in stock, both new and used, are highly collectible.
• The store’s website features a gallery of past and present Cheapo characters.
• It is listed with the Central Square Business Improvement District.