There’s something special about physically browsing vinyl in a real-life store. If you’re an audiophile in San Diego, you’re in for a treat!
Today, we’ll walk you through the best vinyl record stores that you can find in San Diego. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Best Vinyl Record Stores in San Diego Reviewed
1. Folk Arts Rare Records
Let’s start with one of the most popular record stores in San Diego. As the name suggests, Folk Arts Rare Records specialize in collectibles and vintage albums that are very easy to track and find.
Additionally, the store has all kinds of old and new vinyl records of various genres, including Blues, Soul, Jazz, Folk, Rock, Punk, Country, Reggae, World, and much more!
Folk Arts Rare Records was opened back in 1967 but it was recently purchased by a new owner “Brendan Boyle” who is as excited about records as the original founder “Lou Curtiss”.
The prices may vary depending on the rarity of the item, although it’s generally much cheaper than the online auctioning prices.
The staff is quite helpful and always keeps the place well-cleaned and organized, which makes it a lot easier to browse and find what you’re looking for.
Despite being one of the oldest stores on the list, Folk Arts Rare Records accepts various forms of payments, including mobile payments.
You can shop there any day of the week as it’s open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM and features private car and bike parking lots.
Contact Information
- Address: 3610 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
- Phone Number: 619 282 7833
- Click here to visit the store’s website
2. Record City
While it’s a relatively small store in the heart of San Diego, Record City has a huge variety of loyal customers thanks to the incredibly friendly vibes of the store and the working staff.
The locally owned store sells a nice variety of vinyl records and CDs of all music genres at competitive prices, whether they’re new or old. The most characteristic collections are usually in the rock, soul, jazz, and indie section.
Even if what you’re looking for isn’t in the available collection, the staff can help you track down and order the records at fair prices. Additionally, Record City is known for offering military discounts by ID!
With the recent reopening, the store’s lighting, ventilation, and aesthetics improved dramatically, which helped in solving the problem of dim lighting that used to make it hard to browse through things.
Record City is usually open every day from 11 AM and stays open till 7 PM. On Sundays, the store opens at noon and closes at 5 PM.
Contact Information
- Address: 3545 Midway Dr. Suite J, San Diego, CA 92110
- Phone Number: 619 291 5313
- Click here to visit the store’s Facebook Page
3. FeeLit Records
FeeLit Records has only been around since 2008, but it has been going strong for quite some time now!
The store is usually stacked with hundreds or even thousands of both new and used vinyl records from all musical genres, and the store is usually updated on a weekly basis.
The store also sells titles of various local artists on vinyl as well as CD and cassette tapes (used and new). In addition to vinyl records, the store also sells various accessories, such as vinyl cleaning supplies, media shipping supplies, and more!
The store is usually well organized and easy to browse through, and the low prices are also another major plus, so it’s a must-visit when you’re nearby.
FeeLit Records is usually open every day of the week from 12 PM to 7 PM. But on Sundays, the store may open as late as 1 PM and usually closes by 5 PM.
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Contact Information
- Address: 909 E St, San Diego, CA 92101
- Phone Number: 707 733 3548
- Click here to visit the store’s website
4. M-Theory Music
Whether you’re looking for some rare finds or you want a lovely store to dig out some hidden gems, you should always keep M-Theory Music in mind.
This record store has a huge collection of vinyl records in addition to CDs and DVDs from various genres, in addition to books, action figures, and other accessories and tools for turntable playback.
The used section also has several cool selections and collectors’ picks that are very hard to find elsewhere.
Customer service is one of the best things about M-Theory Music. In addition to being knowledgeable and helpful, the guys there can help you buy a variety of rare vinyl records and even various turntable accessories.
The store is pretty flexible when it comes to payments, as it also accepts bank cards and mobile payment apps. M-Theory Music is open every day from 11 AM to 7 PM. On Sundays, the store usually opens at 12 PM and closes at 5 PM.
Contact Information
- Address: 827 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103
- Phone Number: 619-220-0485
- Click here to visit the store’s website
5. Vinyl Junkies Record Shack
Vinyl Junkies is a relatively new store that was established by the previous owner of M-Theory Music in 2012.
Although the store’s collection isn’t huge, it has a highly curated selection of new and old vinyl records that run for a significantly affordable price, even the relatively rare ones!
Additionally, the store offers free price estimation for collections from professionals who have been in the business for a very long time.
The store is also pretty clean and has a cool design both indoors and outdoors along with a lounging area to hang out and enjoy authentic music!
The store also organizes sampling sessions on Sundays along with various events and live performances from local bands!
The store is open from 10 AM to 8 PM on Sundays to Wednesdays and extends its closing time to 10 PM on Thursdays to Saturdays.
Contact Information
- Address: 2235 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
- Phone Number: 619 794 2399
- Click here to visit the store’s website
6. Normal Records
Normal Records is a decently sized store that specializes in selling, buying, and trading all kinds of vinyl records.
The store has an impressive collection of records from many genres. However, the most popular genres in the store are Rock, Hip Hop, Jazz, Pop, Electronic, Funk, Soul, and Jazz.
In addition to records, the store also buys and sells new and used turntables and record players, so it’s a good place to have a look if you’re looking for an upgrade.
However, the prices of records usually vary from reasonable to slightly expensive, especially newer ones.
Like Record City, this one is also veteran-owned, so you should expect a nice military discount there. The store is open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Contact Information
- Address: 550 15th St UNIT 102, San Diego, CA 92101
- Phone Number: 760 212 7794
- Click here to visit the store’s website
7. Re-Animated Records
Re-Animated Records is a locally owned business that is run directly by the owner, Nick, who is very nice to customers and always happy to offer guidance to buyers.
The shop has the unique aesthetics of comic book stores back in the 90s but a decent collection of impressive vinyl records that includes both new and old items from several genres.
Additionally, the store sells DVDs, VHS tapes, cassettes, pins, accessories, and much more! The prices here are quite cheap when compared to other stores on the list.
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Coupled with occasional sales and discounts, this one is also ideal if you’re planning to buy in bulk! The store is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
Contact Information
- Address: 8320 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942
- Phone Number: 619 825 8363
- Click here to visit the store’s website
8. Red Brontosaurus Records
This one started as a small project but quickly grew into a popular records store that has many dedicated customers.
The store specializes in pop, Rock, and punk music, but you can also find some decently priced picks in other genres. The store also sells various video games, consoles, VHS tapes, DVDs, and more.
Unfortunately, Red Brontosaurus’s opening time is quite variable, but it’s usually open between 12 PM to 5 PM on Thursdays to Sundays
Contact Information
- Address: 3044 N Park Way, San Diego, CA 92104
- Phone Number: 619 795 1282
- Click here to visit the store’s website
9. Soul Shack Records
Soul Shack is one of the best stores in San Diego to consider if you’re looking for rare soul, funk, and hip hop records, especially vintage ones, as it has one of the largest collections in the whole city.
The store also has various collections of records of other genres, but it’s not as extensive as some other stores on the list.
Besides the solid selection of records, the store is budget-friendly, with most of its records available at highly affordable prices.
Soul Shack Records is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12 PM, but it closes at various times (6 PM on Tuesday to Thursday, 8 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 5 PM on Sundays)
Contact Information
- Address: 3535 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
- Phone Number: 619 228 9385
- Click here to visit the store’s website