Utah is usually associated with Mormons and funky alcohol laws, but one thing most outsiders don’t realize is that Utah, particularly Salt Lake City, has a very robust music scene. Home to many cool, unique venues, like Kilby Court; Salt Lake attracts many of the most prominent musicians of every genre. If you’re unable to see a band live, if you’re just adding to your collection, or if you’re just visiting and looking for somewhere fun to spend some time, then these local craft stores in Salt Lake are some of the best anywhere. Keep in mind that many businesses are closed on Sundays in Utah, including the stores mentioned below.
Graywhale – Multiple locations
208 South 1300 East
Salt lake City, UT 84102
(801) 583-9626
4066 Riverdale Road
Ogden, UT 84405
(801) 399-0609
1658 West 9000 South
West Jordan, UT 84088
(801) 676-6010
1763 West 4700 South
Taylorsville, UT 84118
(801) 964-5700
256 East 12300 South
Draper, UT 84020
(801) 576-0999
Graywhale is a local chain of music stores offering new and used CD’s, cassette tapes, vinyl, movies (DVD and Blu-Ray), and games for almost every platform. They also have a loyalty program that allows you to purchase a discount card good on all future purchases. They have several locations around the Salt Lake area and have knowledgeable and friendly staff.
The Heavy Metal Shop
63 Exchange Place
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 467-7071
Peddlin’ evil since 1987. Located downtown in the shadow of the historic LDS temple, the Heavy Metal Shop is one of the oldest independent music stores in Utah. Their selection is limited to heavy metal and hard rock, but the owner is very friendly and has weathered many culture wars. They also sell clothing and stickers with their slogan.
Randy’s Records
157 East 900 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 532-4413
A haven for vinyl collectors, Randy’s has a great selection of nearly every type of music. They have a warehouse across the street that routinely has great sales and they stock all the essential supplies for new or experienced vinyl enthusiasts.
Groovacious
173 North 100 East
Cedar City, UT 84720
(435) 867-9800
If you find yourself in Southern Utah, be sure to stop in at Groovacious, in Cedar City. This fun local store has a good selection of music and they sponsor Groovefest; an annual local music festival held every year in June. Cedar City’s nickname is “Festival City USA” and Groovefest is one the highlights of the summer. Even if you’re from out of town, Groovefest is worth making a trip down.
This is by no means a comprehensive guide to local craft stores as t here are many other great local record stores in Utah, especially in the Salt Lake area. If you’re on a tight budget, be sure to visit the Main Branch of the Salt Lake Public Library. They have an incredible collection of music, books, and movies, and borrowing privileges are free to residents. Also, be sure to pick up a copy of SLUG (Salt Lake Underground) Magazine, available for free at many locations around town.
