The Best Record Stores in Denver: Mile-High Vinyl

Q: What is the best record store in Denver?

Twist and Shout on Colfax Avenue is Denver's flagship with the deepest new and used inventory. Wax Trax on 13th Avenue is Colorado's oldest independent record store, running since 1978. Recollect Records in the Santa Fe Arts District is the curated funk, soul, and hip-hop specialist. Serious diggers hit all three.

Q: How many record stores are in Denver?

Denver has roughly eight to twelve independent brick-and-mortar record stores, with three anchors (Twist and Shout, Wax Trax, Recollect) plus smaller shops including Angelo's CDs and Vinyl, Wax Trax Broadway Bazaar, and Invincible Vinyl.

Q: Does Twist and Shout buy used vinyl?

Yes. Twist and Shout buys used vinyl and accepts wide-ranging collections. Call the shop at (303) 722-1943 or visit during business hours. Wax Trax also buys used vinyl at their dedicated Capitol Hill used store.

Q: Are Denver record stores open on Sundays?

Yes. All three anchors are open Sundays. Twist and Shout runs 10am to 6pm, Wax Trax 11am to 7pm, Recollect 12pm to 5pm.

Q: Do Denver record stores participate in Record Store Day?

Yes. Twist and Shout, Wax Trax, and Recollect all participate in Record Store Day each April. Twist and Shout typically has the largest event with DJ sets, food, and pre-open lines. Wax Trax runs their own concurrent event. Check each shop's socials the week of for specific open times and exclusive stock.

Q: What neighborhoods have the most record stores in Denver?

Three neighborhoods anchor the Denver scene. Colfax Avenue has Twist and Shout. Capitol Hill has multiple Wax Trax locations. The Santa Fe Arts District has Recollect Records. All three are within a 15 minute drive of each other.

Q: Can I find record stores near Red Rocks Amphitheatre?

The three Denver anchors are roughly 25 to 35 minutes from Red Rocks by car. If you are in town for a show, hit Twist and Shout or Wax Trax in the afternoon and drive up to Morrison for the concert. Park the haul somewhere cool; Colorado summer days can warp vinyl fast.

Table of Contents

Mile-High Vinyl
Twist and Shout Records
Wax Trax Records
Recollect Records
Also Worth a Stop
Worth the Drive
The One-Day Denver Dig
Tips for Digging Denver
Denver Record Store FAQ

The best record stores in Denver have altitude going for them and not much else standing in the way. Three anchor shops, all locally owned, all within a 15 minute drive of each other. The flagship on Colfax. Colorado's oldest independent record store running since 1978 in Capitol Hill. A funk-soul-hip-hop specialist in the Santa Fe Arts District. If you are in Denver for a weekend, a Record Store Day stop, or a Red Rocks show, there is a record store route that fits in between everything else.

This guide covers every serious independent brick-and-mortar record store in Denver with addresses, hours, specialties, and a one-day plan that hits all three anchors without blowing the afternoon on parking. The elevation is real. The coffee is necessary. The vinyl is excellent.

Twist and Shout Records

2508 E Colfax AveColfaxFlagship

Address: 2508 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Phone: (303) 722-1943
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Web: twistandshout.com

Twist and Shout is the Denver flagship. A massive Colfax Avenue floor plan, serious new and used inventory depth, and a decades-long reputation as the shop that knows everyone. The new release wall is among the deepest in the Mountain West. The used section is genuinely overwhelming in the best way. Staff recommendations are solid across every genre.

Record Store Day at Twist and Shout is a full-event: DJ sets, food trucks, exclusive stock, and a line that forms before dawn. The shop's direct relationships with labels produce Twist-exclusive color variants regularly on major releases. Plan accordingly if you want first-pressing stock.

What to dig for: exclusive color variants, deep new release stock, used vinyl across every genre, and Twist-branded merch you will see on touring crews across the country.

Wax Trax Records

Est. 1978638 E 13th AveCO's oldest

Address: 638 E 13th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 831-7246 (New), (303) 860-0127 (Used)
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-9pm
Web: waxtraxrecords.com

Wax Trax opened in 1978 and has been Colorado's oldest independent record store ever since. The Capitol Hill footprint is unusual: a main new-releases shop at 638 East 13th, plus a separate used store across the street, plus a Northside location, plus Broadway Bazaar. Each has its own personality. The main shop carries the weight of the brand.

The tagline on the storefront is "In Your Ear Since 1978." It is not marketing copy. Wax Trax has survived the CD boom, the vinyl collapse, the resurgence, and every format shift in between. The staff carry institutional memory that newer shops cannot match. Friday and Saturday late hours (until 9pm) make the shop a legitimate post-show stop.

What to dig for: deep catalog pressings, Colorado artists on vinyl, alt and indie rock across every era, and the used wall at the CapHill used store where collections enter the wild.

Find More Record Stores in Colorado

Browse every independent record store we have mapped across the Centennial State.

Colorado Record Store Directory

Recollect Records

1255 Delaware StSanta Fe ArtsFunk / Soul / Hip-Hop

Address: 1255 Delaware St, Denver, CO 80204
Phone: (720) 542-8785
Hours: Thu-Sun 12pm-5pm, closed Mon-Wed
Web: recollectrecords.com

Recollect Records is the specialist. Funk, soul, hip-hop, breaks, and the kind of deep-catalog black music you cannot find curated like this at general shops. The Santa Fe Arts District location puts it within the cultural corridor of First Friday art walks, galleries, and cocktail bars.

The limited hours (Thursday through Sunday only) are a feature, not a bug. The shop operates on a focused schedule because the inventory is focused. When Recollect is open, the staff is engaged, the records are curated, and the vibe is DJ-friendly. Pair with a First Friday walk if you can time it that way.

What to dig for: rare 45s, deep-catalog soul LPs, breaks collectors chase, hip-hop classics on vinyl, and genre-specific pressings the other shops do not prioritize.

Also Worth a Stop

Beyond the three anchors, Denver has a handful of smaller shops that round out the scene:

Wax Trax Broadway Bazaar. Wax Trax's Broadway location, with a different feel and inventory mix from Capitol Hill.
Angelo's CDs and Vinyl. East Colfax used shop with turnover.
Invincible Vinyl. Newer indie shop.

Worth the Drive

Colorado rewards a longer trip if Denver has been dug:

Boulder, CO (30 minutes north). Bart's Record Shop and Absolute Vinyl cover the college-town scene.
Fort Collins, CO (1 hour north). Records Collection and Spinster Records keep the northern front range covered.
Colorado Springs, CO (1 hour south). A handful of independents anchor the southern scene.
Salt Lake City, UT (8 hours west). Randy's Records and Graywhale if your road trip turns into a full Mountain West sweep.

The One-Day Denver Dig

The three anchors sit within 15 minutes of each other and fit a single Saturday:

10 a.m. Twist and Shout (2508 E Colfax Ave). Opens earliest. Budget 90 minutes.
11:30 a.m. Drive to Capitol Hill (10 minutes).
Noon. Wax Trax (638 E 13th Ave). 60 to 90 minutes. Cross the street for the used store if you want more time.
1:30 p.m. Lunch. Capitol Hill or on the way to the Santa Fe Arts District. Plenty of options.
3 p.m. Drive to Santa Fe Arts District (10 minutes). Recollect Records at 1255 Delaware.
3:15 p.m. Recollect. 45 to 60 minutes.
4:30 p.m. Stay in the district. First Friday art walk in season, or cocktails if it is any other day.

Tips for Digging Denver

Elevation is real. Denver sits at 5,280 feet and first-time visitors feel it. Drink water, take breaks, and do not blow through all three shops without pausing to eat. Altitude sickness turns record day into nap day fast.
Summer heat warps vinyl. Colorado summer can hit 95+ degrees with strong sun. A car parked on Colfax for an hour can cook records. Keep haul out of direct sun, roll windows down if parked, or hit the shops early.
Record Store Day at Twist and Shout is the largest event in the state. Line forms before dawn. Bring coffee and patience.
Recollect is only open Thu-Sun. Plan around it. If you are in Denver Monday through Wednesday, you miss it.
Protect your haul. See our vinyl storage guide for the basics on heat, humidity, and travel.

Browse the Full Directory

Every independent record store in the U.S., organized by state.

Record Store Directory

Denver Record Store FAQ

What is the best record store in Denver?

Twist and Shout on Colfax Avenue is the flagship with the deepest inventory. Wax Trax on 13th Avenue is Colorado's oldest independent record store, running since 1978. Recollect Records in the Santa Fe Arts District is the funk, soul, and hip-hop specialist. Serious diggers hit all three.

How many record stores are in Denver?

Roughly eight to twelve independents. Three anchors (Twist and Shout, Wax Trax, Recollect) plus smaller shops including Angelo's CDs and Vinyl, Wax Trax Broadway Bazaar, and Invincible Vinyl. See the full Colorado directory.

What is the oldest record store in Denver?

Wax Trax Records is Colorado's oldest independent record store, at 638 East 13th Avenue since 1978. Multiple Capitol Hill locations including a separate used store across the street.

Where can I find funk, soul, and hip-hop vinyl in Denver?

Recollect Records at 1255 Delaware Street in the Santa Fe Arts District is the Denver specialist. Thursday through Sunday only, so plan your visit accordingly.

Does Twist and Shout buy used vinyl?

Yes. Twist and Shout buys used vinyl and takes wide-ranging collections. Call (303) 722-1943 or visit. Wax Trax also buys at their dedicated Capitol Hill used store.

Are Denver record stores open on Sundays?

Yes. All three anchors. Twist and Shout 10am to 6pm. Wax Trax 11am to 7pm. Recollect 12pm to 5pm.

Do Denver record stores participate in Record Store Day?

Yes. All three anchors participate. Twist and Shout runs the largest event in the state with DJ sets, food, and pre-open lines. Wax Trax runs their own concurrent event. See our RSD 2026 guide for coverage.

What neighborhoods have the most record stores in Denver?

Three neighborhoods anchor the scene. Colfax Avenue has Twist and Shout. Capitol Hill has multiple Wax Trax locations. Santa Fe Arts District has Recollect Records. All three are within a 15 minute drive of each other.

Is Wax Trax Denver related to Wax Trax Chicago?

The name is shared but they are separate businesses. The Denver shop opened in 1978. The Chicago Wax Trax was a separate record store and label on Lincoln Avenue. Both became historically important in their own regions.

Can I find record stores near Red Rocks Amphitheatre?

The three Denver anchors are 25 to 35 minutes from Red Rocks by car. Hit Twist and Shout or Wax Trax in the afternoon before your show. Park the haul somewhere cool; Colorado summer days can warp vinyl fast. See our storage guide.

Altitude, coffee, vinyl. Denver earns the trip.

Photo CreditsHero image: Photo by Ryan De Hamer on Unsplash. Twist and Shout Records logo courtesy of Twist and Shout. Wax Trax Records logo courtesy of Wax Trax Records. Recollect Records logo courtesy of Re.Collect Records. Store addresses, hours, and histories sourced from each shop's official website and verified public listings as of April 2026.

The Best Record Stores in Denver

Twist and Shout Records

Twist and Shout Records

Wax Trax Records

Wax Trax Records

Find More Record Stores in Colorado

Recollect Records

Recollect Records

Also Worth a Stop

Worth the Drive

The One-Day Denver Dig

Tips for Digging Denver

Browse the Full Directory

Denver Record Store FAQ

Articles From The RSD