Lavender Vinyl

Lavender Vinyl is a queer owned record shop and third space on Ogden's historic 25th Street. The store is rooted in the local downtown revival, with a broad selection rather than a narrow niche, and a strong used recent-arrivals section for first-time visitors.

Interview with Lavender Vinyl

Lavender Vinyl has become one of the shops people mention when they talk about Ogden's downtown coming back to life. How does the store fit into that story?

Aw! That's such a nice thing to say about us! We definitely got started while we were young and therefore got to be part of a younger generation starting small businesses here in Ogden. I think that that's been a part of revitalizing and crafting downtown's culture here in Ogden. We're proudly a queer owned shop and third space in our town. We are very rooted in our community and try to support up and coming ideas, artists and other small business owners. Folks did that for us when we got started and we certainly want to pay it forward. We're participating in the type of culture we'd want to see and so creating some of that vibe is natural for us.

Ogden has its own identity — grittier history, mountain town, not Salt Lake. Does that show in what people buy?

Absolutely- Ogden truly has an incredible history- we actually reside in the former address of where the porters and waiters club on the historically black side of the previously segregated 25th street. Legendary jazz musicians played on this very ground! We are definitely not Salt Lake. Ogden has its own culture- our selection is diverse and we sell a huge variety of genres rather than super niche or curated collections.

Who comes through — locals, Salt Lake day-trippers, students?

We have a huge local following and we are so appreciative- they literally sustain us and keep us doing what we love. We get a lot of WSU students and tons of out of towners! Ogden's farmers market is legendary, and (usually) so is our snow. We see lots of tourists on 25th street, and everytime I get someone from LA they always make sure to mention how great our prices are.

What do your customers hunt for most — and what's been quietly growing?

We sell a lot of jazz at our shop and I honestly think that has been developing a lot more listeners. Jazz is so much more appreciated then it was when I was a young person collecting some of my first albums. We of course sell lots of pop classics and Taylor Swifts (which say what you will, but Taylor Swift has helped small shops like us sustain). One other genre I have seen a huge amount of growth in is city pop! Every time we get a Takanaka import in, they sell like hot cakes and they certainly aren't cheap.

What's a record that surprised you by how fast it found its person in Ogden?

Hahaha sorry to bring up Taylor Swift again, but literally this morning I sold the Record Store Day edition of 1989 to a local for 1300 dollars. That's a pretty penny.

If someone in northern Utah wants to sell records, what's the best way to start — and what makes a collection an easy yes?

We love to buy collections and will look at anything. Our process is super smooth- we will take in any amount at a time- we go through everything piece by so that we can pay you fairly, and then will call with an offer. For collections larger than 1000 we do travel/make house calls. We've got a text in phone line (385)240-0336 and we're also very responsive to all of our social media accounts.

What condition problems come up most in the collections you see?

Mold. It's a killer. Lots of old collections kept in basements or garages have been exposed to damp/moist conditions over the years and the records stick together and SMELL! When I see any mold it's an immediate hard pass haha.

First visit to Lavender Vinyl — what should someone check first?

Our used recent arrival bins are a must!!!

FAQ

Does Lavender Vinyl buy records from individuals?

Yes. People are welcome to bring records in, and the shop will look at any collection.

How long does it take to evaluate a collection?

It can take upwards of a week on average, depending on the number of records and the shop's current workload from other trades and evaluations.

What determines the value of records brought in?

Value depends on condition, artwork, specific pressing, current market value, and other factors.

Does Lavender Vinyl buy 78RPM records?

They generally do not buy 78s because they are fragile, but they are happy to look at collections overall.

What happens to records the shop does not want?

Records the shop is not interested in can be donated, or the customer can take them back.

Last updated: 2026-07-14