Record Store Day in Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa
Independent record shops open in Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa 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.
- Jay's Toys and Games (West Des Moines)
Collector-focused shop (formerly Jay's CD & Hobby) with LEGO, trading cards, comics, video games, and a growing vinyl records section spanning rare pressings to new releases.
2 sources
- Ratt's Underground Records
Family-owned vinyl, cassette, and CD shop in Merle Hay Mall; roots trace to a 2009 Newton, Iowa store. Ultrasonic-cleans and play-tests every record before sale.
2 sources
- Rogue Planet Music
Family-run, independent since 2017, specializing in jazz and obscure vinyl. Offers a listening lounge plus turntable and cartridge setup services.
2 sources
- Skylabs Audio
Historic Valley Junction hi-fi shop selling and repairing vintage and modern stereo equipment alongside new and used vinyl records and turntables.
2 sources
- The Dark Slide
Skate shop and record store combo in Merle Hay Mall carrying 2,000+ vinyl titles (45s, LPs, 10", 12") alongside decks, apparel, and posters.
1 source
- Vinyl Cup Records
Beaverdale record shop with complimentary coffee/beer while you dig; moved into a larger Beaver Avenue storefront in 2025. Runs one of Iowa's biggest Record Store Day allocations.
2 sources
- Zzz Records
Iowa's longest-running independent record store, open since fall 2000. Deep used-vinyl selection (~10,000 LPs across ~15 genres) plus CDs, tapes, and posters.
2 sources
See the full record store listing for Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa.