5 Best Vinyl Record Stores In San Francisco, CA
If you just searched best record stores near me you've come to the right place.
San Franciscans are lucky to live in such a great city where music lovers can easily walk into some of the best record stores in the world. These are great retail record shops that preserve the time-honored culture of checking through boxes and finding great artists with amazing work that you can cherish for years. As vinyl fanatics and local DJs already know, the record store scene is still alive and well in San Francisco. We understand that every vinyl collector wants to find fully packed record stores where they can find all the vinyl there are searching for. Here, we have identified and listed 5 best vinyl record stores in San Francisco.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
Address: 1038 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415-550-7865
This excellent record store was established just like a small storefront in Temescal, a popular neighborhood in Oakland. As of now, 1-2-3-4 Go! Records pride itself on having outposts on different sides of the Bay. One of their outposts is located in the mission. Music enthusiasts will find everything to do with great vinyl when they come here, including lots of indie rock and punk, as well as many used and new reggae records, blues, rock, and other music genres. To make it even better, 1-2-3-4 Go! Records clean the used records before selling them to their customers. You should consider this as a welcome bonus because there are very few stores that time and effort to clean their records before selling them.
Grooves Merchants
Address: 687 Haight St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: 415-252-5766
This stunning record store located adjacent to Castro on Mint Hill Octavia’s side is, without a doubt, a fabulous SF treasure, even though it is not the most organized record hop in San Francisco. Ray Anderson, the previous owner who passed away back in 2016, was a popular figure in the music scene in the ‘60s. Most people fancy the concept of easily finding something on time without having to put much effort. The founder said that he invested in a music store to help people and music lovers find records easily. It is an excellent shop if you are looking for new vinyl.
With 4.5 stars from the 56 reviews featured on Yelp, Grooves Merchants is a great store to shop for vinyl records. Just walk into the store, and you can expect to find all genres of music, particularly international music, blues, rock, soul, and jazz.
Do you want to sell your prized records? If so, unlike other record stores, Grooves Merchants doesn’t ask you to bring your record collection to the music shop. They have a team of friendly staff who will make house appointments within the California and Bay Area. They will come right to your home library to receive the records that you want to sell. Also, Grooves Merchants can come to get the vinyl you wish to sell even though you don’t live in California.
Originals Vinyl
Address: 701 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: 415-660-8779
Established by Dom Siracusa and Matt, who are brothers, this music store has been in business for a few years, and it was only in the year 2016 that they moved to Fillmore Street. Specializing in jazz, old-school soul, and hip hop, there is no doubt that Originals Vinyl is a well-stocked store with excellent employees. Besides selling the best records, Originals Vinyl also offers other services such as cleaning your old-fashioned vinyl using high end, ultra-sonic devices. The great news is that you don’t have to break a bank to have your vintage vinyl cleaned because you only pay $2.50 per vinyl. Also, Originals Vinyl offers de-warping services where you are required to pay $10 per record. Also, you will find a bargain pin where you can find different treasures for a price ranging between $1 and $5.
Noise
Address: 3427 Balboa St
San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: 415-702-6006
This is an eccentric record store that is managed by Sara Johnson and Daniel A.J. Brown and one that doubles as the small jazz and gallery venue. When the shop was opened back in the year 2015, the store has been praised by music enthusiasts as the best vinyl store in San Francisco’s music industry. Besides managing the music store, Daniel also plays tenor sax. Noise is fully packed with a wide variety of LPs, and hosts live jazz shows over the weekends, mostly on Sunday afternoons. Therefore, grab a few records, converse with the staff, and listen to some live music.
Rooky Ricardo’s
Address: 419 Haight St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: 415-864-7526
Ever strolled around Rooky Ricardo’s and thought you have just been taken back in time to the ‘60s? If so, it’s because of the outstanding conventional design of this great record store. Here you will find rotary phones, toys, vintage posters, and the elegant 1945 wall linings. However, if you check around and speak to Dick Vivian, who is the owner, who has been managing the place for more than 30 years, you will most likely find some great records. Rooky Ricardo’s is packed with R&B, oldies, and soul vinyl, specializing in the ’80, the ‘70s and ‘60s. The friendly staff will tell you about everything you need to know about the records you find here. The shop features a welcoming and warm vibe that encourages you to listen to music on the record players with headphones.
Rooky Ricardo’s is the place to be if you are looking for zines, tapes, vinyl, and CDs. Are you in a small band? If so, you have every reason to smile. Rooky Ricardo’s features a basement workshop with full-screen printing. Here you can find custom made T-shirts for your upcoming live performance. Come into the store for a free arcade device, and you can buy a few beers for the clerks.
And here is why the 5 best Vinyl record stores in San Francisco made the cut:
If you browse through any of the 5 best Vinyl record stores in San Francisco 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 Francisco, and you can easily find that record that you have been looking for over the years!
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