Hard Wax
Founded in 1989 by Basic Channel's Mark Ernestus, Hard Wax has become a techno institution in Berlin's Kreuzberg neighborhood. Located on the third floor of an old factory building, the minimalist space offers a meticulously curated selection of electronic music with special emphasis on techno, house, dub, and experimental sounds. The store is known for its no-nonsense approach - records are organized by genre and release date, with concise hand-written descriptions. Staff members, many of whom are respected DJs and producers, are known for their encyclopedic knowledge but characteristically Berlin bluntness. For electronic music aficionados, Hard Wax is nothing short of a pilgrimage site.