Mushroom New Orleans

I hadn’t been here in possibly 15 to 20 years. It still looks very much the same. That’s a good thing in this case. However, just say the service was poor would be putting it nicely.
What service? I’m not talking about «can I help you with anything?», «How are you doing today?», Or anything like that…
I’m talking about «hello»…
Cold and offputting.
Not good.

This is one of the last cool music CD and record stores around NOLA and they probably have one of the larger selections of any of the few remaining stores. On a recent visit they actually didn’t have the music I was looking for but that’s a rare occurrence that has only happend this once. They also have a selection of used music for sale along with t-​shirts, posters, hippy smoking junk and lots of other knick knacks.

This is my favorite store in the city. Not my favorite music store, my FAVORITE store. I can spend hours at a time at the Mushroom and have no regrets. They have a great selection, and are in my opinion quite cheap (of course that depends on what you’re buying, and I’m talking music). Some people may be scared away by the creaky flour boards or the smell of «incense», but seriously, give it a try! The staff is helpful but knows when to leave you alone. I can go in there and completely lose myself in the music and not be bothered, it’s great! Oh, what I would do to spend the weekend in this store! ⁷⁄₅ stars!
Update: they are open on the weekends! (At least Saturday, still have to check in on Sunday) So sorry about that mistake. Still my favorite place in this great big (little) city!

Need an old record? Check. Need some cool poster for a gift? Check. Need some extra money and have cds laying around? Check. The Mushroom has it all and more. It has been around for as long as I can remember and it is the place you go when you want something that is music related. In middle school it was patches. In highschool it was cds and in college it was posters. Now it is the place to go for a gift for friends.
Be sure to check out the Mushroom for all of your music needs. Right near Tulane University.

Been coming here since middle school, the Mushroom always had everything I’ve been looking for in music, movies, posters, and whatever other little ‘tools’ i was looking for.
I’ve never had a bad experience with the staff here. They’re all pretty helpful and happy in assisting you find what you need. I come here mostly these days for the in-​scents which there is a deal buy three, get one free, but they’re all super cheap.
Also, they have probably the best four-​twenty sale anywhere, 42% off during that high-​ly celebrated time of April ;). However if you can wait a couple more weeks, I believe the sale is 45% off during Cinco de Mayo.
A well blended head shop, music and video store, you’re most likely to find what you need here, at a decent price.

The mushroom is an amazing store. Chris and (Rob or John cant remember) were amazingly helpful and patient. Theu set me up with a very good cape pen at a great price. The selection and atmosphere of the store is so good! Special thanks to Chris! I would recommend this place to everyone!

Chris the owner is one of the greatest guys! The selection of glassware at this store is immense, and the staff is super helpful. Went in with a broken accessory, and on a budget, and Chris worked with me to solve my problem within my budget. He went so far as to take time and work to fix an abnormally sized and very expensive accessory, so that I could leave with my problem solved, and without spending a million dollars. I will recommend this shop to anyone!

This is probably the best (and only) music option in the Uptown neighborhood. The CD selection (new & used) is great and the vinyl selection is just okay. This is also a great place to come if you’re looking for music posters. My main interest though is vinyl. The Mushroom will carry the most popular vinyl records, but for the harder to find records I prefer Euclid or the Louisiana Music Factory.

Good sample of vinyl records and plenty of random things college kids would want to get their hands on. The prices are fairly spot on, and its in a cool hidden spot up some stairs in the attic of a building. U sort of have to know about this place to find it, so that makes it better than most record stores. Good posters too, if you still hang them in your dorm room.

i agree with everything Bjorn Q. posted. The Mushroom is unorganized, full of hipsters/​posers, overcrowded and leaves a lot to be desired. Parking sucks.
We dug thru those vintage stickers, patches and pins one night for a couple of hours. They sold us bags full for the price we offered ($ 7 or $ 5…i can’t remember). The next time we went, the items were all jacked up… for rusted pins and mildewy stickers.
There are better record stores in the city… or should i say… there are record stores in the city… this is really not one… it’s just posing as one… it’s mostly CD, tee shirts & other junk…

I’ve been a regular customer here for over 20 years, it’s the best independent music store east of Dallas (and I’ve been to scores of them).

i LOVED THIS PLACE! i found some amazing records to add to my collection for GREAT prices! much more reasonable than other record stores, i also found some awesome trinkets, memorabilia and all sorts of unique hippie gear! ive been to A LOT of ‘head shops” and stores such as this one ALL over the country and this one BY FAR had the most unique products ive ever seen! it reminded me of the shops on Haight st in San Francisco but with a bigger selection!

This review is just about the music I don’t care about the paraphernalia.
Like an episode of hoarders shit is everywhere. Merchandise is sorta organized. New. Used. Local. Vinyl.
The guy working the counter said they hadn’t had time to unpack since they got back from Voodoo Fest. Understandable.
What is not understandable is why they haven’t invested in a Swiffer Duster. Make that a case of Swiffer Dusters. This place needs a good cleaning.
The new section seemed the most orgainzed.
If you like sifting through dusty records and CD’s you may find something in the used section.
Caution! Some shelves are actually held up by merchandise. You may pull a CD out and find that you just lost a game of Jenga.
I saw a box of records for $.99 cents each. I suggest they throw that box out or make some record bowls out of these. The box is just in the way.
I’d like to see this place more organized with an inventory. Looking around I can see why this might be a bit overwhelming at first but put down that bong and maybe up the energy level with some coffee. Have a bargain bin. Donate. Straighten. They wouldn’t need so many warning signs about being on camera if they had someone on the floor working it.
A business profile on line said this store has an annual income of almost ½ million dollars. I imagine ¾’s of that income is the paraphernalia.
My theory is the music takes second place.
It is what it is. And perhaps that gives the place some grotty hippy charm.

Records and CDs, both new and used, posters, an AMAZING collection of stickers, t-​shirts, hippy-​type jewelry and accesories, incense, and lots of «smoking products», wink, wink…
Be ready to climb some stairs and lose an hour, or so, if you like looking at music.

I never thought I would actually go into this place. I had planned on heading to the Herb Import Company in the Quarter, but Mardi Gras parades cut me off from downtown. Target audience is the stereotypical college stoner. I generally don’t look like a college stoner [because I’m not one], so I got some odd glances when I was walking around and especially when I approached the counter in the «tobacco pipe room.»
The lady working the counter was relieved to deal with me and my pal instead of the group of bloodshot-​eyed young men asking to see the $ 400 «water pipe» for the 10^th time. I think she figured out my M.O. when I declined any glassware featuring illicit flora, red/​green/​yellow, or the face of bob marley.
I had heard rumor of the mystical smoke shop discount that one can get on glassware, but had no idea how to make it happen. Was there a code word? A handshake? No — it turns out the employees will gladly hook you up with a great bargain if you are polite, in your right mind, and enter with a clear purpose. Try it out. It works.
NB: this is on the second floor w/​o an elevator. totally inaccessible to those who can’t walk up stairs.

The vinyl has been moved to a little ghetto in the back of the store, and the main business seems to have shifted to blunts and pipes… but you can still vibe on what’s still (kind of) one of the last great record stores of its kind.
Climbing those curvy carpeted stairs after a few too many, to be greeted by blasting music, sketch situations, and that signature dusty album/​strawberry reefer roller scent — brings back the old daze.
Anybody seen Record Ron?