Even with all the recent competition online and in retail, this venerable East Bay record shop remains the Bay Area's single best source for roots music, be it jazz, blues, world music, "hard" country and bluegrass, doo-wop, or rock oldies. Grizzled, grumpy hippies will share their wealth of knowledge and guide you through a mountain of amazing albums -- ask the staff for recommendations and your world may never be the same. Down Home stocks thousands of imports and independent releases on labels that few other stores in the country have even heard of. Recently the store has expanded its online presence and offers most of its inventory through mail order.