Turntables & Trails

Turntables & Trails is exactly what the name says: records, audio gear, nostalgic media and toys, plus outdoor and camping gear under one Lake City Way roof. The shop moved into its current spot in 2022 and sits in a small Seattle corridor with other repair, music, camera, food, and DIY-minded businesses nearby.

Record and gear floor.

Interview with Turntables & Trails

You'll buy almost anything. How did you land on that open-door approach?

We try to stick to the fun stuff. Things that bring joy to your life and benefit you. This is why we do a lot of nostalgic toys and games, along with the older media formats, but also camping gear. We don't do iPads, Computers. Cell Phones, Tools, etc. that are commonly stolen items.

Turntables & Trails is a great name. Is there a story that ties the records to the trails?

Honestly the name was just a literal explanation of what we sold. I picked it so that people driving by had to ask "wait, is it really a combination of those things?" Plus it's incredibly memorable, some people forget the exact words, but call us that "audio & outdoor store" or "the hifi and hiking shop" which all get the point across and pull us up in google results.

Punk, blues, jazz, rock, hip-hop, and R&B are what you move most, while classical and early pop vocalists sit slow. Does that match what Seattle's actually asking for?

I think in general this is accurate. We do actually sell a lot of classical, but there is just such a sheer quantity of it available, and so many customers don't know which orchestra they want, or which soloist, or which version of that soloist etc. it gets complex.

Main aisle and bins.

You're up on Lake City Way, a bit off the main Seattle circuit. Who finds their way to you?

After 10 years of business we have a huge following. About 35% of our customers are repeat customers each month. I've had customers drive here from Northern California, Canada, and Montana before to pickup special pieces. More commonly we get people from Renton to Marysville, and obviously tons of local Lake City Residents for the media. The gear and equipment and media change so regularly that it's totally worth checking out often.

Turntable rack.

When someone brings a collection to you, what makes it an easy offer?

First of all just a note, Dave doesn't work here anymore, though we do partner with him on running shows in the area still. Honestly for collections of gear or vinyl the easiest ones are when you see the staple albums or brand names: Beatles, Miles Davis, Marantz, McIntosh, etc. besides this it's also really easy when people bring us woodgrain turntables and bookshelf speakers, everyone want's woodgrain right now and oddly most companies selling new equipment don't seem to have caught on yet.

You'll happily point people across the street to Hex Enduction too. What's it like having another buying shop right there?

Moving to this location in 2022 was heavily influenced by the fact that Dean was so positive about having us as neighbors. I live just a few blocks from the shop, and made sure he thought we would be a net beneift for Hex Enduction rather than a competitor. I definitely find it to be a win-win for us. Just like piling a bunch of antique stores near each other gives more reason for you to go visit a neighborhood or antique mall, having two record and gear shops across the street really helps draw traffic. We also have a ton of crossover with the Shot on Film camera store down the way!

What's the record that surprised you by selling faster than you expected?

The Mac Miller Tiny Desk Concert album on Vinyl. Every time I buy it for the shop thinking I'll get a copy for myself, but they sell out before I can take one home!

Audio gear wall.

For someone who's never been in, what's the best reason to make the trip up Lake City Way?

We have a great stretch of small businesses, we often hear people say that this stretch of Lake City Way feels like "old seattle". Between the Fish Store, Shot on Film, Blooms & Twine, Hex Enduction, ReUse Commons, We Fix Old Stuff and the Refugee Artistan Initiative we have a really cool group of fixer, DIY, and hobby shop spaces. Plus we've got a TON of locally owned and operated resteraunts like Toyoda Sushi, Thai One On, Lil Tiger Ice Cream, Jaded Bagels, SeaTango, and a ton more I can't list. Lake City Way doesn't have a lot of chain or national stores, which makes it unique, local, and awesome.

Camping and gift section.

Last updated: 2026-08-07