I Visited 5 of the BEST Record Stores in Southwest Florida

🎧 Spinning Through Florida: A Southwest Gulf Coast Florida Record Store Tour

This weekend, My daughter Bella and I hit the road on a musical adventure—five stops, three cities, and so many vinyl treasures. From Sarasota’s neighborhood favorite to St. Pete’s funky indie shops, here are the highlights from our trip.

📍 Salty Dog Records – Sarasota, FL

2178 Gulf Gate Dr, Sarasota, FL 34231
If you’re looking for a friendly local shop stocked with new releases, best-selling titles, and classics, this is a must-visit. Salty Dog brings that hometown vinyl vibe you can only find in independent stores.

📍 Mojo Books & Records – Tampa, FL

2554 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33612
This place is more than vinyl—an eclectic mix of books, records, CDs, and even a coffee & tea bar makes this a destination stop. We loved the relaxed pace and the thrill of digging through stacks by genre.

📍 ARTpool Gallery & Vinyl – St. Petersburg, FL

2030 Central Ave & 2000 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Part record store, part vintage clothing boutique, ARTpool is rich with character and history. Open since 2008, it pairs curated fashion finds with vinyl treasures under one roof. The vibe is fun, funky, and perfect for browsing without a plan.

📍 Daddy Kool Records – St. Petersburg, FL

2606 Fairfield Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
A local favorite since 1985, Daddy Kool mixes new and used vinyl, CDs, music DVDs, merchandise, and even community events. It’s a cornerstone of St. Pete’s music scene and really worth the stop.

📍 Planet Retro Records – St. Petersburg, FL

226 Dr. MLK Jr St N, St. Petersburg, FL
Independent and inclusive, Planet Retro is all about used vinyl, CDs, and cassettes with a flea-market-meets-record-store culture. It’s perfect for crate-diggers who love discovering unexpected gems.

🎵 Final Notes

Every shop had its own personality—from the Gulf Gate neighborhood charm of Salty Dog to the creative energy of ARTpool, Daddy Kool’s legacy in St. Pete, and Planet Retro’s community vibe. My daughter and I had so much fun exploring and sharing these spaces. If you love music, supporting local spots like these is such a rewarding way to connect with culture and community.