5. Rough Trade, Brooklyn

At 15,000 square feet Rough Trade currently holds the title of largest record store in New York City. The space, which, according to Stereogum, was previously used as a prop warehouse for HBO, contains a sizable selection of records and books, a café, a music equipment store, a music venue that fits around 300 people, and an installation room.

The Williamsburg outpost of the popular London record store opened very recently in late November, with a performance by Sky Ferreira. The installation room currently houses a recreation of Childish Gambino’s bedroom. A Guardian Greenroom, right next to the ping pong tables, has polls set up for customers who wish to participate. Main Drag, a music equipment company, also has a place in the Rough Trade space.

The store is an arm of the London-based record label, which was behind the Smiths’ first four studio albums. Despite initial worries about competition, the mammoth-sized store seems to be succeeding in their aim to work well with the record stores already in the area.