Plenty of businesses are spinning the black circle again, and here are some of our favorites

Summary: Colorado’s proliferation of record shops reflects consumers’ desire to experience music in an expanded form. In addition to audio excitement, there’s artwork, history and photos awaiting pop listeners, jazz enthusiasts and classic rock addicts. We’ve highlighted some northern Front Range stops below. Also, check out a previous Thirst story on Colorado Springs record shops.

By Tiffany Thompson

Vinyl records have faced many challengers over the years, first with the popularity of over-the-air radios and later with the rise of various tape formats and eventually CDs in the mid-1980s. While fans could still find dedicated record stores that catered to their collections, the future was unclear.

Then, fitting for the subject, a sort of rebellion took place. At the same time that digital downloads and streaming overtook CDs as the most popular way to listen to music, vinyl sales were on the rise – and continue to be. To meet demand, additional stores have popped up. From long-established businesses to newer spots, below are local shops offering classics and new releases alike.

Wax Trax

638 E. 13th Ave., Denver; 200 S. Broadway, Denver; 2501 Dallas St., Aurora; 3641 W. 32nd Avenue
Denver

Of all the record stores in Colorado, Wax Trax has been around the longest. For 50 years, people throughout the region have made the pilgrimage to sift through the stacks at one of the state's most well-known suppliers.

One way Wax Trax kept going through the highs and lows of vinyl popularity (besides their killer selection) is being in control of their location. “Part of our secret is that during the heyday of the store, we bought the building, which in turn allowed us to survive when things got rough,” says Pete Stidman, who co-owns Wax Trax with his father, Dave. “As vinyl came back into popularity in the teens and twenties of this century, we had plenty of it, and cooping people up during the pandemic meant an upswing in vinyl sales as people created cozy homesteads to hang out in.”

Wax Trax not only survived, it thrived. For years, the shop has served as a place that brings the community together via a tight relationship with the Denver music scene, including hosting shows and offering a local band section in the store. While Stidman says that the local shows have stopped for now, bands can still sell their own records in store on consignment.

Now Wax Trax’s success continues as they recently opened a fourth location. The new store will open up on the northside at West 32nd Avenue and Meade Street. This location will bring Wax Trax’s selection and expertise to a different side of town. Stidman explains that Denver is broken up by highways, which act as big walls people need to cross to get to their other three locations. “We thought we'd make it easier for them,” he says. “Who doesn't wanna be able to walk to their local record shop?”

Twist & Shout Records

2508 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Twist & Shout was opened in 1988 by two English teachers. In 2022 ownership was handed over to longtime employee Patrick Brown and has since retained its prominence as a Denver staple.

For this record shop, offering a wide assortment of music has always been a priority. This doesn’t just mean stocking every genre; the store also regularly holds events that bring artists and fans together. Their history includes hosting in-store performances from rock n’ roll legends like Patti Smith and John Cale and modern acts like Mumford and Sons. Additionally, they regularly invite enthusiasts of all kinds to the shop for pre-release listening parties.

One huge advantage to buying records here is the size of the store and the variety of products they carry. The sales floor is separated into two large sections. One side holds numerous long rows of CDs. This section also features books, t-shirts, and other collectibles related to music and pop culture. The other side of the store offers similar rows of new and used vinyl–including rarities, box-sets and more for hardcore collectors. There is also a small side room that holds DVDs and Blu-Rays for film buffs.

Black & Read

6655 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada

Black & Read has been a mainstay for record collectors in the Denver metro area for more than 30 years. In addition to variety, from underground metal and punk to the newest Taylor Swift release, one thing that sets Black & Read apart is the store's personality, staff included.

“We have a great interactive and approachable staff with an eclectic and constantly changing, large selection of used and collectible records. We honestly love hearing your stories and what kind of music excites you,” says owner Derek Rolvsbakken.

Despite the dry-spell vinyl sales faced in the past, the quality of the staff and inventory has remained consistent. As for the vinyl revival, Rolvsbakken credits a new generation to the continued success of vinyl sales. “They decided that they wanted tactile deliberate works of art instead of music files. The same thing has happened with books, magazines and games. You want to hold something in your hand,” he says.

Black & Read’s commitment to getting to know their customers and their rotating record selection (among other items) has paid off. Recently, the business moved down the street from their previous location. Formally the home of a Dollar Tree, the new store is larger and able to hold more inventory than before. They also have some planned events on the horizon, so check back with the Black & Read social media pages for announcements.

Recycled Records LP

1067 S. Hover St. C, Longmont

Since their start as record collectors in 2010, Recycled Records LP has been dedicated to getting great quality albums into the hands of Colorado audiophiles.

When shopping at Recycled Records LP in Longmont, vinyl aficionados can rest assured that the records they purchase are of the purist sound. The store ensures this by running all their used records through a cleansing machine and inspecting them for damage before placing them on the sales floor. Any records that do not play as expected can be exchanged.

In addition to their commitment to pure sound, Recycled Records LP is a great place for shoppers looking for rarities. They consistently keep “one of a kind albums, audiophile editions, and master recordings,” in their inventory, according to their website, and their online shop boasts a number of mint condition records, first pressings and foreign editions.

For those shopping for a new turntable or other audio equipment, Recycled Records LP also sells a selection of quality brands, available to demo at the store.

Bizarre Bazaar

1014 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

For those looking to enter a browser's paradise, Bizarre Bazaar is the record store to pick.

Bizarre Bazaar, located across the street from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, is different in that the owners encourage people to come in person to look through their vinyl, meaning there is no online store. This approach to vinyl sales gets to the heart of why many people love to go to record stores – they’re in it for the hunt, the thrill of spending hours in a store searching for something special. For many vinyl lovers, the fun is in the surprise.

Additionally, Bizarre Bazaar gives back to their community and helps reduce landfill waste by offering a free library wall. Readers who want to bring finished books can leave them on the wall and walk away with something new to read. The free library wall is located outdoors and is available 24/7. This addition to the shop helps keep books – already read and loved – out of the trash dump.

Paradise Found Records & Music

1646 Pearl St., Boulder

Paradise Found’s story technically starts 24 years ago as Bart’s Records. When Bart Stinchcomb was ready to retire, he sold Bart’s Records to Will Paradise, who renamed the store to Paradise Found.

There were certain perks to coming into ownership this way. Paradise explains that when he bought the store from Bart, it came with the goodwill of locals, fixtures, inventory and staff. The advantages were huge.

Paradise Found has expanded quite a bit since then. The current location is 2,250 square feet, and packs plenty of inventory. Paradise estimates they have about 25,000 to 30,000 records and 8,000 CDs. Keep in mind, not all of these are on the sales floor at once, but with plenty of backstock, their selection is surely inclusive.

This inventory comes from a few different sources. Many people come in to sell their used records, but Paradise also takes house calls. “There's a lot of people that have been collecting records their whole lives, and a lot of them are in their 70s now,” he explains. “Many of them can't lift a box of records or they have a bad back. But I love going to people's houses and being able to talk to them and hear their story about music. It's probably my favorite part of the job.”

And Paradise isn’t the only one going above and beyond to help people out. He also credits much of the store's success to the quality of his staff, making it a point to hire people that will help foster a sense of community. “I hire people with a positive attitude,” he says. “I feel it is like a gathering place. A lot of people just want to talk, so there's a lot of energy in the store. And I’ve made a lot of friends here.”

Bonus! Other businesses where you might find a favorite old record

Below is a list of stores that don’t specialize in vinyl, but have a small record section that patrons can look through while doing other shopping or grabbing a drink. If you have a favorite that’s not listed, let us know.

Electric City Repair & Records in Westminster
Intersect Brewing in Fort Collins
Bonacquisti Wine Company in Denver
Stylus and Crate in Wheat Ridge
Electric Cherry Shop + Studios in Arvada

Tiffany Thompson is a Colorado-born writer and musician. In addition to her creative pursuits, she spends her time reading, checking out the Denver music scene, and watching movies with her partner and their cat.