Whether it’s clothing, architecture or music, San Francisco strives to preserve the best from the past. Perhaps this is why we love our record stores. Records provide unequalled sound, a piece of art and a physical embodiment of the gift of, and expression that is, music. Here we highlight the best of the best stores, shops, nooks and crannies that provide a place where you can lose your sense of time and discover your next vinyl treasure.
101 Music, 1414 Grant Avenue and 513 Green Street
North Beach’s record mecca, 101, consists of two shops — one on Grant, and the other on Green — with everything for the music aficionado. The main store on Grant has vinyl, CDs, tapes and instruments, including an array of guitars. The Green locale stocks vintage music equipment and has an impressive basement of over 50,000+ records, all for $5 (except for jazz and world music, which go for $7). Upstairs, you can expect a lot of jazz, rock and a decent world-music section; downstairs you can find mostly rock, private presses, local music and rarer finds.
Amoeba Music, 1855 Haight Street
A list of the greatest vinyl stores in San Francisco wouldn’t be complete without the obvious but well-deserved choice of Amoeba. With enough records to fill what was once a bowling alley, including a good jazz section, probably the best selection of new and used hip-hop records in the Bay Area, reggae represses, world-music represses and compilations, and soul compilations, this is the mother lode of records.
Explorist International, 3174 24th Street
What’s better than one record shop? Two record shops in one! First, there’s Explorist. Their goal was to bring to the front those rare records that are usually stored in the back of most stores. Their focus includes jazz, international folk and pop, vintage and modern experimental, early blues and Americana. Then there’s Pyramid Records, which carries specialized selections like Anglo rock from the ’80s and ’90s and post-punk music. The selection across this hybrid locale is highly curated, esoteric and sans filler.
Groove Merchant, 687 Haight Street
You know you’re in for a cool vinyl-digging experience when the owner is known as “Cool Chris.” This well-curated Haight Street record shop is superb for finding rare records of all genres, with a focus on jazz, funk, soul, Latin and hip-hop. Interesting historical fact: Groove Merchant started out as a section within Rooky Ricardo’s Records (see below).
Grooves Inspiralled Vinyl, 1797 Market Street
Beyond the array of colorful, rainbow-hued records in the windows of Grooves lies even more vinyl to sift through. You’ll find a little bit of everything, especially obscure rock, Euro rock, an abundant soul and jazz section, and a whole lot of soundtracks.
Jack’s Record Cellar, 254 Scott Street
If jazz is your genre of choice, this is definitely the place to go. You’ll find a large selection of the genre, especially old jazz, in both LPs and 78s. Other likely finds? Country and bluegrass, soul, R&B, blues and a collection of rare, out-of-print 78s and 45s.
Originals Vinyl, 3150 18th Street, Suite #105
Tucked on a side street lined with small, artsy shops, Originals specializes in hip-hop and jazz records. Most of the vinyl is used, but every record is cleaned ultrasonically before being put out. New stock, more often than not, are reissues of rare and obscure stuff, like Italian library music, which would be expensive if it were bought as an original pressing. There’s a $1–$5 bin that, the owner states, is perfect for those who are just starting their vinyl collection, as they can take a risk without breaking the bank.
Recycled Records, 1377 Haight Street
Having opened first in North Beach in 1977, the remaining Haight location is still alive and kickin’. Shop for vinyl rarities, tapes and equally rare vintage collectibles, such as Beatles memorabilia, books and old photographs.
Rooky Ricardo’s, 448 Haight Street
If you’re looking for 45s, this is the place. There’s an especially good selection of ’50s and ’60s soul music, perhaps because Dick, the owner, was a dancer who learned all the eras’ groovy moves. New arrivals show up frequently, which you’ll want to listen to on the various listening stations.
Vinyl Dreams, 593 Haight Street
Dance music isn’t a section of this record store, owned by the former Amoeba electronic-music buyer, Mike Bee — it is the store. The aim of Vinyl Dreams is to be a home base for all the different dance genres under one roof. The selection is curated; new dance and electronic vinyl is the store’s specialty.
