Record Store Day in Denver, Colorado
Two dates to know: Record Store Day Black Friday is Friday, November 29, 2026, and the next main Record Store Day is Saturday, April 17, 2027.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is an annual event built around independent record stores. The main event traditionally lands on the third Saturday of April each year; Record Store Day Black Friday is traditionally held the day after US Thanksgiving. Both days bring exclusive, limited-run vinyl and CD releases sold only at participating independent shops — not big-box retailers, and not mail order until the in-store exclusives sell through. Because pressings are limited, popular titles can sell out within the first hour, which is why a line-early culture has grown up around the day even at shops that are otherwise quiet on a weekday morning.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early. At busy shops, lines for popular titles can start well before opening.
- Bring cash. A cash line often moves faster than card on a shop's highest-volume day of the year.
- Check each shop's own site or Instagram in the week before the date — participating shops post their own opening time, line policy, and which exclusive titles they've ordered in.
- Release lists are first-come, first-served and vary store to store. A title in stock at one shop may not show up at another, even across town.
- Expect one-per-customer or per-household limits on the most in-demand titles.
- Not every independent record store participates every year, and allocations vary shop to shop — confirm directly with the shop rather than assuming based on a past year.
Shops to check in Denver, Colorado
Independent record shops open in Denver, Colorado right now. We don't yet track which specific shops participate in Record Store Day or what they've ordered in for a given year — check each shop's own site or Instagram close to the date for their exclusive-release list, opening time, and line policy.
- Albums on the Hill
A basement fixture on University Hill near CU Boulder, Albums on the Hill has sold new and used vinyl, CDs, and concert tickets for decades under longtime owner Andy Schneidkraut.
2 sources
- Angelo's CDs & Vinyl
Behind a bike shop on East Iliff Avenue, Angelo's has traded used CDs, vinyl, and DVDs since 1990 from its original Aurora storefront.
2 sources
- Angelo's CDs & Vinyl
A longtime South Broadway shop selling used and new vinyl across genres alongside CDs, posters and head-shop merchandise, with a second location in Aurora.
2 sources
- Black & Read
Founded by the late Danny Graul in 1991, Black & Read pairs a large used and new vinyl selection with sections for books, board games and role-playing games in a relocated Arvada storefront.
4 sources
- Black & Read 2
The discount offshoot of Arvada's Black & Read, this Wheat Ridge storefront on Wadsworth sells lower-priced used vinyl, CDs, books, and games a short drive from the flagship.
2 sources
- Chain Reaction Records
Opened in 2014 by hardcore-scene brothers Josh and Justin Lent, Chain Reaction is a family-run Lakewood shop focused on punk, metal and hardcore vinyl, CDs and cassettes.
3 sources
- City Records, Comics & Toys
Opened on East Colfax in February 2023 by three Denver pop-culture collectors, City Records buys and sells vintage vinyl, CDs, cassettes, comics, toys and trading cards.
2 sources
- Drop To Pop Records and Curio
An 88-square-foot record nook on North Broadway curated by owner Greg Daniels from his personal collection, Drop To Pop keeps famously tight hours announced via Instagram.
2 sources
- Electric Cherry Shop + Studios
Owner Ally Skiba opened this Olde Town Arvada shop in February 2020 selling secondhand vinyl alongside vintage clothing, handmade goods, and local art, and it has hosted its own Record Store Day events.
2 sources
- ESP HiFi
A records-only listening bar in the Santa Fe Arts District built around vintage Klipschorn speakers, tube amps, and Garrard turntables, pouring natural wine and coffee across from Wax Trax Records.
2 sources
- Invincible Vinyl
Tucked in an industrial pocket of the Baker neighborhood, Invincible Vinyl buys, sells and trades used LPs, singles, cassettes and CDs spanning every era and genre.
2 sources
- Malinche AudioBar
A mezcal-focused listening bar and daytime coffee shop on Platte Street inspired by Tokyo listening-bar culture, playing vintage Mexican vinyl through custom speakers with Nikkei-Mexa small plates by night.
2 sources
- Mutiny Information Cafe
Relocated to Englewood in summer 2024, Mutiny pairs a coffee bar and comic shop with used books, vinyl records, live music and literary and gaming events.
2 sources
- Paradise Found Records & Music
Once known as Bart's Record Shop, this Pearl Street store was renamed Paradise Found after owner Will Paradise took over in 2016, continuing a Boulder vinyl tradition tracing back to 1991.
2 sources
- Recollect Records
Opened in the Golden Triangle by Denver native Austin Matthews in 2016, Recollect is a small, tidy used-vinyl shop known for jazz, blues, experimental and classic-rock rarities.
2 sources
- Records on Main
Family-owned by Cassie Chernin and her parents, this downtown Littleton shop opened in spring 2025 and hosts listening parties, trivia nights, and its Spin HERstory series.
2 sources
- Recycled Records LP
Off Hover Street in Longmont, Recycled Records LP stocks more than 100,000 used and new titles across LPs, 45s, and CDs, and says every used record is ultrasonically cleaned before it hits the racks.
2 sources
- Sold Out Vinyl Records
This Englewood shop opened on South Broadway in March 2025, built around a curated stock of more than 100,000 vinyl records, CDs, tapes, and collectibles; Westword named it Best Suburban Record Store that year.
2 sources
- Stylus & Crate
A Wheat Ridge coffee shop built around a mid-century stereo console, where customers can play records from the house collection or bring their own while drinking espresso and eating Belgian waffles.
2 sources
- The Vinyl Reset
An independent Denver record shop on Federal Boulevard selling new and used vinyl and merchandise, with an online store and in-store events.
2 sources
- Twist & Shout
A Congress Park fixture near Colfax music venues, Twist & Shout fills an 11,000-square-foot store with new and used vinyl, CDs and DVDs and regularly hosts in-store performances.
2 sources
- Vaultaire
A subterranean cocktail bar beneath La Foret on South Broadway centered on an analog hi-fi system spinning curated vinyl, paired with vintage spirits and French small plates.
2 sources
- Vinyl Valhalla
A small, family-run neighborhood record shop in Littleton operated by the Neff family, Vinyl Valhalla sells new and used vinyl and hosts listening parties for new releases.
3 sources
- Wax Trax Records
Operating in Capitol Hill since the mid-1970s, Wax Trax is described as Colorado's oldest independent record store and has grown into a small local chain.
2 sources
- Wax Trax Records (Broadway Bazaar)
Wax Trax's second Denver storefront, opened in 2023 inside the Broadway Bazaar vintage shop on South Broadway, selling vinyl, CDs, cassettes and turntables alongside vintage clothing.
2 sources
See the full record store listing for Denver, Colorado.