Microgroove

Microgroove is a Seminole Heights record shop in Tampa, run as much like a neighborhood music hub as a place to buy records. Keith Ulrey describes a shop where collectors, musicians, and regulars can hang out, talk music, and still catch the newest used arrivals before they disappear into the bins.

Interview with Microgroove

Microgroove has become one of those neighborhood shops people bring up when they talk about what makes Tampa's local scene work. What's the store's role as you see it?

That's a very interesting question. I'd like to think we've become sort of a hub for Tampa's music culture. Whether it be buyers and collectors of vinyl/CDs, local musicians looking for a place to network or just a safe accepting place where anyone can come and hang out, shoot the shit about music and life.

A packed moment inside Microgroove, reflecting Keith Ulrey’s description of the shop as a Tampa music-culture hub.

Live music inside Microgroove, another piece of the hangout-and-community role Keith describes.

Seminole Heights has changed a lot around you. Has the crowd changed with it?

Well, from a customer perspective, not really. While we do service the community and its changes, a good bit of people are coming here from out of the area, so over the years, I would say our demographic has remained the same, meaning anyone and everyone of all lifestyles.

What do Tampa customers dig for — and what sells here that wouldn't in Miami or Orlando?

I don't know if I can exactly answer that. It would be easier to say we occasionally get people asking about DJ/dance music, EDM, etc which I tell them they'd get lucky in Orlando or Miami.

Is there a Florida music history — punk, soul, Latin, anything — that still shows up in the collections people bring in?

For sure. Speaking from a punk/indie background, I do see a good bit of records come through from FL's rich DIY scene. Lots of Gainesville punk, S. Florida and even locally here in Tampa. We have a quite nice local/regional section that people buy from and support regularly.

What's been quietly growing in the bins?

Over the last few years, I've shifted more toward used/secondhand records and less new/reissues. With that in mind, I don't know about 'quietly', but if i could have an everlasting stock of Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours' or Michael Jackson 'Thriller', i'd be more than happy. Pretty much anything classic rock from the 70s, ie. Queen, Boston, Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, etc. It's popular and in demand from all range of ages.

If someone wants to sell records, what's the best first move — and what makes you lean in?

We don't do appointments, we can pretty much do a buy at any time when I'm here (TUE-SAT). The best bet is to give the shop a call just to make sure Im here. We're really looking for clean, unscratched, playable records with jackets that aren't water damaged, split, etc. If the records meet those requirements, THEN we consider what the artist/genre is and whether it's a resellable, marketable album.

What does Florida humidity do to a collection over twenty years, from where you sit?

Oh man. A LOT. We often see collections that have been stored in a shed, a damp garage or even an old musty closet. Water damage, mold/mildew, jackets eaten by silverfish and so much more. Florida weather can be brutal to records.

First visit to Microgroove — what should someone flip through first?

I tell new customers often, no matter what store you're in, if they have a 'just priced' or 'just in' or 'recently priced' bin, ALWAYS hit that first. That's the stuff that has just come through the door and priced out before it goes into the regular bins. So many desirable titles go quickly direct from these bins before some people even get a chance to look.

Bright record bins inside Microgroove, a natural first stop for anyone coming in to dig.

Last updated: 2026-08-01

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