Vinyl stores in Las Vegas, Nevada*

Todd,

Thanks for the update. Did the owners move on to another site or did they just fade away?

 

Funniest thing...I thought I might be going to LV in February (the trip ended up being canceled) and did an online search for record stores. Needless to say, it didn't take long to learn about Wax Trax and its...shall we say interesting...owner. I quickly decided not to bother with going there. The thought of even meeting that guy sounded terrifying.

Just the other day, I stumbled across another mention of Wax Trax in which the guy said he used to have a store in Stroudsburg, PA.

I've been to his Stroudsburg shop.

And yes, the guy is more than a little bit difficult. While I was reading those reviews a few months ago, though, I never put two and two together and thought he sounded anything like the weirdo I knew back in PA. He sounded much worse than that. I still wouldn't recommend the place because, as others have said, his prices are ridiculous. (I did, however, get the only copy I've ever seen in person of Bob Seger's Brand New Morning from him for a not-unreasonable $25 - but only because he had carelessly not looked in the price book before naming his price.)

 

Just wanted to put out there that I visited the larger Eastern Zia store this past weekend and while they had a great selection of RSD Black Friday titles left the used vinyl selection was beyond poor. Lots of trashed covers and VG or less quality vinyl. Used cd selection was good. Biggest point I want to make though is that if your not driving yourself there you will have a heck of a time getting a cab to come collect you. Took me 90 minutes and tip bribery to get back to the strip. A Zia employee told me that this happens often because the cabs all work the strip and airport routes so anything off that grid unless it's a weekday Morning is hard to get cabs to get a pickup to you. He said usually people end up catching a bus or walking the three miles back to the strip to get out.

 

LOL, I had the same problem the time I took a cab there as well. I found that both Zia stores in Vegas had awful selections of used vinyl, and anything there that was any good was very overpriced.

 

I've already snatched all the good stuff from both locations, sorry

 

As lame as the stock at those stores looked, I am inclined to believe you, but you did miss on a few early pressing CDs that went home with me ;-).

 

Scary, Zia in Vegas/Saraha smells like its mold infested, yuck!!!

 

The owner was Bryan Snider and he was as good a guy as you would want to meet. I got to know a couple of his employees, the manager's name was Alex-super guy as well!

He actively went to the record swaps in the L.A. area (Pasadena Flea Market, Orange County Record Show in Buena Park, etc.) and would bring back boxes of product for the store. He was always buying new releases on vinyl. He knew how to run a business and turn over used product. he believed in turnover, and he did that with all used lps. Price it down after 3 months. Price it down again after 6 months. Price it down until it SELLS!!

He was located on So. Marilyn Parkway just north of Tropicana Ave. It was sad to see the store close, what's worse is he passed away a couple years later.

 

I am very sorry for OUR loss, he was also located originally on Maryland near Flamingo across from UNLV which he attended and got his degree.
Goodbuy Bryan.
I remember when ever Friday night he would groan about me wiping out his finds in California and would have to make 2 trips out to the back parking lot with records!

 

Agreed! Yes, I forgot to mention his original location. Wildchild, I'm sure you remember his parking lot sales, we probably struck up a conversation or two while holding a handful of product getting ready to cash out!

When I mentioned album turnover, that policy would be reflected in those sales. He never thought twice about going 25% to 50% off. With the CD's, they were generally 20% off, both used AND new, and I would always find some cool titles for road music back to the house. I remember the Las Vegas Review Journal had the store pegged as best music store in the area for a couple years in a row.

 

Bumping this thread as I'm going to be in Vegas next month to rendezvous with family, and I want to spend as little time in the casino as possible. Any updates on the record store situation? I find these four on Yelp that look promising: Record City, Moondog, 11th Street Records, Vegas Vinyl. Looking for mostly used (60s pop/country/folk/jazz/soul), and don't mind digging a little. Oh, and I'll have a car so will be pretty mobile. Thanks

 

I just came from Vegas not 1 month ago, and did the same thing as you.

I HIGHLY recommend 11th Street above all others - without question the best selection of new & used vinyl, and the people who work there are clearly music/vinyl lovers themselves. I wasn't looking for the genres you were, but they did have a LOT. Perhaps slightly on the high side of price, but I found their grading to be accurate and fair. They did have an ample "cheapo" bin area (<$10) that I didn't have the time to dig through.

I also went to the smaller of the 2 Record City locations (Sahara Ave), run by a mom & her daughter. Super nice lady! Easily the best pricing I've seen on used stuff (I probably walked out of there with 15 $5 records, all in incredible condition!). They also had a pretty sizable R&B/Soul, Jazz, etc. sections, separated out, so I bet you will be very happy here. To my understanding, their larger location (Charleston) is even more impressive but I didn't get there.

I also understand that Moondog has what another store described as "amazing inventory," but is the highest-priced and the worst-graded. YMMV.

Didn't visit Vegas Vinyl.

Hope this helps!

 

Yes, this is very helpful - thanks! I think 11th Street is the one I was planning on hitting up first.

 

just FYI, 11th Street seemed heavy on the punk/metal/alternative stuff...though that could simply have been because that's what I focused on (though I did snag Dylan Blood On The Tracks MOFI & a great copy of Superfly for solid prices). Really great bins though. Enjoy!

 

I like a bit of alternative as well

 

whatever you do, don't look at the albums on the walls! (you'll want them all and be able to afford none of them lol)

 

Just back from Las Vegas - my "review" over on the newer Vegas thread here.

Thanks for the tips

 

I miss Big B's.



Zia is pretty fun, though.