Below, New Times dives into the record stores in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. With some driving, it's possible to hit them all in a single weekend. Happy digging!
Connect Record Shop
710 NW Fifth Ave., Ste. 1021, Fort Lauderdale954-368-8630
connectrecordshop.comWhen beloved, longstanding Fort Lauderdale music store Radio-Active Records announced its closure last year, its absence was quickly, blessedly filled by this new store just north of the city's downtown, owned and operated by two veterans of the older shop. Mick Ford and Natalie Martinez have stocked Connect with vinyl aficionados in mind. Sections dedicated to vaporwave, yacht tock, and Japanese city pop are nestled alongside indie rock and a varied selection of dance music genres. Opened with the intention of providing a community hub for Broward music fans, the shop often hosts DJ sets, sound healing, and other events. Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Found Sound Records in North Miami offers a selection of expertly curated vinyl.
Photo by Douglas Markowitz
Found Sound Records
1654 NE 123rd St., North Miami786-360-4934
found-sound-records.comThis cozy shop in North Miami always impresses with a curated selection of rare vinyl. Japanese jazz reissues and Nigerian Afrobeat compilations cohabit with more familiar rock, pop, hip-hop, and soul releases. Dig into the bins, and you'll be sure to find something impressive: jazz and funk from Roy Ayers and Alice Coltrane, rock and grunge from Lou Reed and Alice in Chains, and rap classics from Clipse, Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang Clan. Once, I dug up a first edition of Durutti Column's debut for Factory Records, complete with its famous sandpaper sleeve — it was very expensive. Wednesday through Saturday 1 to 7 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
Fruit Fly Records
430 S. Dixie Hwy., Ste. 205, Coral Gables619-565-4262
instagram.com/fruitflyrecordsOriginally started out of an office park in South Miami, Fruit Fly Records now occupies a second-floor retail space in a strip mall just off US-1 in Coral Gables. Quality is the name of the game here, with only high-quality vinyl hitting the shop floor. Records of all genres, from rock and pop to classical and global sounds, can be found at Fruit Fly, but jazz is the primary focus, with classics from Coltrane and ECM always in the bins, and the selection of Latin music is also fairly extensive. It also stocks refurbished turntables and stereo equipment, hosts DJ sets and music-making classes and displays a pretty impressive collection of rare Daft Punk memorabilia. Daily noon to 8 p.m.
Lucky Records
143 NW 23rd St., Miami833-735-5929
luckyrecordsmiami.comHolding it down in the darkest depths of Wynwood, Lucky Records is a tiny but friendly shop at the front of the Asian-themed food hall 1-800-Lucky. Though it carries a range of genres, jazz, funk, soul, disco, hip-hop, and R&B are the mainstays. Hip-hop heads will be able to find Kendrick Lamar's latest as well as the reissues of classics from MF Doom and Wu-Tang Clan. Dig in the bins for classic dance labels such as West End Records and TK Disco. And feel free to grab a snack from the bodega-style checkout counter once you're done. Daily noon to 10 p.m.
Sweat Records has called its space in Little Haiti home for two decades.
Photo courtesy of Sweat Records
Sweat Records
5505 NE Second Ave., Miami786-693-9309
sweatrecordsmiami.comSweat Records could be considered an archetypal example of your friendly neighborhood record store. The shop has been providing Miamians with their vinyl fix for two decades, having celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year. While they sell used records, their real strength is in new releases and reissues, covering a wide range of music from recent pop and indie to hip-hop and R&B to classic rock and soul and obscure music from around the world. It's the place to grab Lucy Dacus' new record or a Charli XCX remix album, Tina Turner and Of Montreal reissues, a Peruvian disco compilation you didn't know you wanted, and everything in between. Sunday through Tuesday noon to 5 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday noon to 8 p.m.
T Bag Records
212 N. Miami Ave., Miamiinstagram.com/t_bag_records_miamiFittingly for a shop that caters to night owls, this destination for DJs and dance music aficionados doesn't even open until 4 p.m. most days and is closed completely on Sundays, presumably because most of its customers are either in bed or still partying. You'll find sections dedicated to venerable labels like Underground Resistance, Nervous Records, and Dark Entries, as well as smaller outfits you've never even heard of. Owner Taimur, a beloved local DJ himself, always makes sure to stock up on rare cuts of house, techno, synthpop, ambient, bass, and plenty of other genres, with discs from Nicola Cruz, DJ Hell, Jeff Mills, and more making appearances in the bins. Famous selectors such as Satoshi Tomiie and Juan Atkins have been known to stop by for Q&A sessions, DJ sets, or to dig around, with the shop's Instagram page providing regular updates on new arrivals. Tuesday through Saturday 4 to 9 p.m.
Technique Records carries an extensive selection of vinyl.
Photo by Chris Hill for Technique Records
Technique Records
880 NE 79th St., Miami786-717-6622
techniquerecords.comTechnique remains the gold standard among record stores in South Florida. Its selection is deep and diverse, ranging from rock and soul to Latin and Brazilian music to avant-garde and experimental sounds. Dance music is well-represented, with extensive sections for house, techno, disco, and Miami bass. Alt-rock and new wave favorites are also easy to find, and the shop always stocks a decent amount of punk and metal for heavy music fans in addition to new pop, hip-hop, and R&B releases. DJs and musicians, ranging from Thurston Moore to Egyptian Lover, often stop by for special sets and events, while the shop often holds sales and open decks to keep the community engaged. Monday through Thursday 1 to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Yesterday & Today Records owner Evan Chern keeps his shop well stocked.
Yesterday & Today Records photo
Yesterday & Today Records
9274 SW 40th St., Miami305-554-1020
vintagerecords.comThe oldest shop on this list, Yesterday & Today has been holding it down in Westchester for over 40 years. So yes, it's not the most pristine or luxurious retail experience — the shop is small and a bit musty — but its classic, stuck-in-time charm and the peerless musical knowledge of owner Evan Chern, make it a beloved community fixture, one that gets decently busy on the weekends. For vintage rock records, especially obscure subgenres like garage and prog, it's one of the best spots in the county to dig around. Extensive stacks of jazz and Latin records also make a detailed visit worthwhile. Tuesday through Thursday noon to 7 p.m., Friday noon to 8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4:30 p.m.
