Minty Vinyl - The must-visit record shop in Düsseldorf for all kinds of collectors
In this article
Introduction
To kick of this blog, I want to highlight my favourite record shop in Düsseldorf. Minty Vinyl is located in the back of an interior design shop in the hip district of Flingern. The neighbourhood is Berlin-esque and so it doesn’t surprise me that I feel like I’m walking into someone’s apartment.
I’ve seen the owner, Guenter Herke, in all kinds of settings from the local flea market selling his budget records all the way to the world’s largest record fair in Den Bosch, Netherlands, hunting down a seasoned collector to showcase his rarities. He truly knows his audience and greets each guest with a smile.
According to Discogs, he boasts a collection of 5,000+ records and a 100% satisfaction rating with 12,000+ reviews. This alone tells me he’s a well respected collector and truly knows his stuff.
The shop itself is relatively petite, but he makes excellent use of his space. Near the entrance is a well-stocked 10€ bin. On the wall, he displays some more rare copies to add some character. The more popular titles are sorted by the main genres in the main room and keeps the rest of his extremely rare inventory in the back, where he spends most of his time. He’s also got a healthy rotation of new stock, so even locals have a reason to come back regularly.
Genres to expect
I can’t say the shop specializes in a specific genre, but I’m always impressed with the jazz and rock selection and have always seen a good selection of Kraftwerk. As a hip-hop head, the selection is rather thin but is mostly centered around the boom-bap era of the 90s.
So if there’s one record where you’re sure to find a record that’s fairly priced and with great service, Minty Vinyl will always be my recommendation in Düsseldorf.
Pro-tip
Before your visit, peruse through the expansive Discogs listings and ask to reserve the record before your visit. I imagine he will expect you to pay for it in advance, but he has very detailed sellers terms and conditions, so make sure you adhere to those.
