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New York: Brooklyn: Nostrand Avenue
Last updated September 1, 1997
The "Stroll-a-Nostra"
Taking a walk up Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn to buy African and Caribbean music is a firmly-established tradition here at the ARChive. Stores come and go, but there's always something of interest. Take the 2 or 4 train to President Street, or the 3 to Nostrand Avenue, and walk up to the Newkirk stop. It's a long walk if you do it right, and you can experience what all of New York was once like: full of stores invented and decorated by people, not corporations. Non-stop Botanicas, Bakeries and Boites. This list follows a linear path starting at the Parkway. Again, all info is from summer 1996.
Force Records
803 Nostrand Avenue
Used to be a reggae/dancehall specialist, now a more sedate store catering to a full mix of neighborhood tastes. Pure gold in the hidden boxes of 7" singles, like long-forgotten R&B, rock and disco.
MS Store
864 Nostrand Avenue
(718) 773-9545
Once Charlie's Variety Store, then Microsillon Variety, this store's new Haitian management is shifting the stock from Calypso to Compas. The interior is dominated by giant brown record sporting a rope G clef.
Albas Records
955 Nostrand Avenue
(718) 953-7589
Largest selection of 12" dancehall in the area, featuring the latest "riddims." Homemade tapes are $5 each.
Tigerıs Reggae Hut
1092 Nostrand Avenue near Lincoln
(718) 469-1325
Looks too new to be good, but go in back for old R&B & disco 7" singles and very old reggae leftovers. I got an old Burning Spear ina crewcut record!
Discmart
A little DETOUR:
610 New York Avenue
Corner of Rutland Road, just before the African Record Center.
(718) 774-5800
Mon-Sat, 11-7.
Mostly books with choice records from the French-speaking Caribbean. Dig for treasures. CC.
African Record Center
1194 Nostrand Avenue
Between Hawthorn and Winthrop
(718) 493-4500
Still the best selection of African and French Caribbean music on the road and in the city They have really cleaned up and organized the store over the years. $11 per LP. Incredible selection of live-show videos.
Near here, at 3125 Church Avenue, is Glen's Jerk Shop. Lunch & check out local Reggae shows listed on the great airbrushed posters decorated with glitter. At 3017 Church itıs the Guyana Roti House. Okay, youıve walked and shopped for about 3 hours, you just had a great meal, so you can hop the 2 or 5 train that runs along the length of Nostrand Avenue, or continue onward.
Tropical Records
1417 Nostrand Avenue
(718) 856-1475
Half greeting-card store, looks tiny, acts mighty with just-off-the-boat dancehall singles and a "riddim"-matcher (Mitch) who knows his stuff.
J.D. Records / Ma Maison
1698 Nostrand Avenue
(718) 282-7865
Mostly Haitian and Antillian music from the French Caribbean. Neat and airy, with videos on one side, vinyl records on the other. JD is next to the most beautiful restaurant in the world, Dieu si Bon, with gigantic yellow roses painted on the windows and booths that look like cubist stagecoaches. Haitian food.
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