It’s easy to see why Sacramento is the Needle-to-Wax Capital — er, wait, it’s the Farm-to-Fork Capital. Either way, there’s certainly room at Sac’s table for its record store scene, which can be traced back to the 1940s.
That’s when hometown hero Russ Solomon started selling vinyl out of his dad’s drugstore on Broadway Avenue at the age of 16. Originally called Tower Record Mart but later changed to Tower Records (the shop was in the same building as Tower Theater), Russ established a local icon with a handful of stores by the 1960s + created a global phenomenon with over 200 stores by the 1990s.
The company sadly shuttered its doors in 2006, but the music lives on.
Whether you’re new to vinyl or a certified audiophile, here’s our guide to five local record stores keeping the music alive in the River City. Let’s rock.
Phono Select Records
📍 2475 Fruitridge Rd.
📻 The self-identified “friendliest record store in Sacramento” sells new + used vinyl, as well as vintage tapes, secondhand CDs, and a rich collection of 45s from local bands.
Kicksville Vinyl & Vintage
📍 931 T St.
📻 Find a wide selection of new releases + reissues alongside curated vintage records here — just don’t be surprised if you walk away with a mid-century modern chair as well as an armful of vinyl.
Twelves Wax
📍 3324 Broadway Ave.
📻 This Oak Park record shop has a great selection of hip-hop and electronic, as well as albums from Nirvana + Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Delta Breeze Records
📍1750 10th St.
📻 Vintage records, stereos, and new + used record players are the heart of Delta Breeze Records. Pro tip: Take your broken record players or stereos here for an expert fix.
Rocket Records
📍1002 24th St.
📻 Find a whole lotta love at Rocket Records, with its great selection of classic rock, 80’s hits, as well as brand new + hard-to-find wax.
