5 Best Vinyl Record Stores In San Diego, CA
If you just searched best record stores near me you've come to the right place.
Vinyl records have had something of a staying power. They were once the edgy musical medium several decades ago, but they are still popular with a category of niche music lovers. Many are driven by the nostalgia but also the pure unadulterated quality in vinyl records. In the 21st century, we see something of a renaissance in vinyl records amidst the revolution in musical streaming with portals such as Spotify, USBs, and smartphones, among others. There is no better place to grab some classic vinyl records than in San Diego, CA, which offers some fresh and well-stocked vinyl record stores with a vast collection of your favorite of classic tracks. We have crunched the numbers, gone through the reviews, and scraped the good old web to bring you a list of the 5 best vinyl record stores in San Diego, CA.
Folk Arts Rare Records
Address: 3072 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-282-7833
Folk Arts Rare Records has been a San Diego institution since 1967. It is one of the oldest record stores that is still operational in the whole of California. The record store was established by the legendary cultural preserver and festival organizer Lou Curtiss who, in his heyday, brought in many music legends to perform in the city. The record store is now under a new owner, Brandan Boyle, who is determined to keep this iconic store afloat. Get some of the hard-to-find sounds in all genres, including wall-to-wall folk, rock, R&B, and show tune albums.
FeeLit
Address: 909 E St.
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 707-733-3548
FeeLit is a small shop located in downtown San Diego. It is a friendly haunt with a great vibe and an excellent collection of both new and used vinyl records, local artwork as well as clothing. The shop also hosts live music performances. It is packed with a great music selection that covers many genres and eras. Its selection of dance and electronica music is fantastic. Apart from its vinyl collection, the shop also sells CDs, cassettes, and a number of music memorabilia. FeeLit plays an integral part in the local music scene and regularly hosts album release parties and in-store events. You can buy, sell or trade your music here, and the customer service staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the music collection on offer.
Red Brontosaurus Records
Address: 3044 North Park Way.
San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-795-1282
Red Brontosaurus started out as a student co-op and has grown into a popular buy/sell record store selling some mad LP collections at fair prices. It is known for its superb quality. The record store also buys used products in excellent condition for decent pricing. The store’s main area of specialization is in the punk and pop-punk genre, along with rock in all formats. Apart from its music record collection, the store also sells Blu-ray, video games, consoles, and VHS.
Vinyl Junkies Record Shack
Address: 2235 Fern St.
San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-794-2399
Vinyl Junkies Record Shack is San Diego’s newest record store and one that offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The shop was founded by the same guys behind the Vinyl Junkies Record Swap. The space is beautiful and has been repurposed from an old house. It is situated in the hip and indie-themed South Park neighborhood and includes a constellation of genres. You can unearth some great finds here. There is an excellent collection of both new and old vinyl records and other rare collections in various kinds of formats. On Sunday afternoons, you can hang out at the venue for the “Sample This!” DJ sessions. The store also hosts regular live performances on its adjoining driveway. There are plenty of offerings and bells and whistles that make the place simply check out.
The shop is owned and run by Eric Howarth, who previously owned M-Theory music as well as the record label Hi-Speed Soul and Tim Mays, who owns among others, Soda Bar, Casbah, Starlite, and Krakatoa. Its music collection straddles many genres, including classic rock, soul, funk, hip-hop, punk, jazz, blues, and psychedelic music, among many others. The store buys and sells and also stocks both new and used records.
Normal Records
Address: 550 15th St UNIT 102.
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 760-212-7794
This small San Diego record shop offers a fantastic vinyl collection spanning every music genre. It has a tremendous hip-hop collection, but its musical style also covers metal, soul/funk, punk, country, electronic, indie, classic rock, R&B, and other rarities. The shop is clean and beautifully organized, so you won’t have a hard time sifting through its amazing collection to find what you are looking for. Apart from its vinyl collection, the store also stocks an impressive selection of used CDs and cassettes. The shop’s owner is super-friendly and helpful.
And here is why the 5 BEST VINYL RECORD STORES IN SAN DIEGO made the cut:
If you browse through any of the 5 best Vinyl record stores in San Diego that we have listed on this informative guide, you are most likely going to find that new or old release that you want. All you need to do is ask their friendly staff, and they will always have an expert to help you with any queries that you might have. With most of the record store owners doing everything possible to boost their stock, these guys seem to understand almost everything about the best vinyl records.
Walk into any of the 5 best vinyl record stores in San Diego, and you can easily find that record that you have been looking for over the years!
Suggested Articles
