Clock Tower Records

Clock Tower Records sits right behind the clock tower in downtown Grass Valley, and the shop's answers are short, direct, and very local. The picture that comes through is a small-town record store with regulars, tourists, and a strong used-record culture around Soul, Punk, Metal, Reggae, and classic staples.

Interview with Clock Tower Records

Grass Valley's got a different feel than big-city record shopping. Does the town shape what people buy, trade, or ask about?

Of course! All towns have their own vibe.

"Clock Tower" has a real old-town, historic ring to it — does the shop lean into that, or is that just the name?

We are right downtown directly behind the clock tower. The name pretty much just reflects the location

When used vinyl comes in, what tends to be the best fit for your regulars?

We have a ton of regulars so that would be hard to say. But, Soul, Punk, Metal, and Reggae remain ever popular here.

If someone in Nevada County's got a small or inherited collection, what should they figure out before reaching out?

I always recommend that they don't think too much about it, since we probably want different titles and artists than they might believe we would. It is a fine idea to get an idea of what things are worth beforehand, but sometimes when they look in the wrong places they get bad information. I also encourage shopping them around since I know that we pay very well for used collections.

What would make a collector choose Clock Tower over just ordering records online?

Humans

What's the story behind the name, if you don't mind sharing?

See question 2 above

Has the shop's focus shifted at all since you opened?

Yes indeed. When we first opened in 2011 the focus was almost entirely on used and vintage records. As folks have gotten back on the vinyl (and other physical media) bandwagon we have greatly expanded our new releases and reissues of both records, CDs, and tapes.

What's a record or artist that does surprisingly well with your local crowd?

Fleetwood Mac - Still sells great after all these years.

Is there a regular customer or a memorable sale that stands out to you?

We have so many great regulars that would be impossible to answer that question. We are extremely lucky to have such a fabulous music scene in this little town and the local's support of physical media and human art in all it's forms is tremendous.

What's something about Grass Valley itself that's shaped how you run the shop?

Grass Valley has increasingly become a tourist destination over the years, so I keep a lot of stuff in stock that the casual visitors might like to grab on their vacations.

FAQ

Where is Clock Tower Records located?

The shop is downtown in Grass Valley, directly behind the clock tower.

Does Clock Tower Records buy used collections?

Yes. The shop encourages sellers not to overthink the box too much, because stores often want different titles than sellers expect.

What sells well at Clock Tower Records?

Soul, Punk, Metal, Reggae, and longtime staples like Fleetwood Mac all remain strong with local customers.

Last updated: 2026-08-21

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