Music Madhouse Records

9526 Erickson Drive, Burnaby British Columbia

To start off with an overused but extremely apt cliché, this place puts the hidden in hidden gem. Music Madhouse is tucked away down the oddly narrow hallways of a partially-abandoned 1970s-era shopping mall attached to a block of high-rise apartments. This one doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic, but those who manage to find it are rewarded with one of the best little record stores the lower mainland has to offer. The owner, Rob Snopek, easily claims the title of “biggest Stonebolt fan I’ve ever met in real life” and is always up to debate the merits of various classic albums. Rob can tell you the origins of every record he’s selling and he keeps a beautifully curated collection (read: he doesn’t keep boxes full of scratched-up junk around to wade through) with an emphasis on local Vancouver bands. There’s always a killer selection of punk and hair metal with lots of unique, original releases - including the only Hanoi Rocks record I’ve ever come across in the wild. The only explanation for such a great collection is that Rob has a time machine somewhere in the bowels of the old mall and can simply stroll back to the 70s or 80s and pick up an album or two whenever he wants. Hours are pretty limited so it’s best to check out their social media or call ahead if you’re planning a trip.