It was fitting that on this long, long road trip, our last stop was Boo Boo Records, the store that popped my cherry. Boo Boo Records was the first record store I ever went to and, as far as I was concerned, was the only record store in the world until I graduated from high school. There was something about this store that just drew me in. Even as the vinyl revival was starting to really kick into high gear in 2016, records still didn’t feel that popular. Sure, they were starting to sell Crosley record players at Urban Outfitters, but it was still very much a novelty to most people my age. Something to put on the shelf in your room to look cool.
But Boo Boo wasn’t like that. It felt real; it wasn’t a place you went to be seen; it was a place you went to be around music. We didn’t have live music venues or a music scene to be a part of when I was 16. When you’re a teenager on the Central Coast, there are only so many things to do when you aren’t in school. Either you get high in the back of your friend’s car, you go to In-N-Out, or you go to downtown SLO. It was on these angsty trips to the only cool place to hang out for miles that I started popping into Boo Boo Records.
What to Expect from Boo Boo Records
Boo Boo Records is the greatest record store in the world, and it’s located right in the heart of Downtown SLO. Within spitting distance of the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, this is the humble, mighty shop that made me fall in love with record stores.
Record stores in heavily foot-trafficked areas can be a little hit or miss. Many stock record selections more akin to an Urban Outfitters than anything else. Sure, there’s good music to be had there but nothing you can’t get at any Target or shopping mall across the country. Boo Boo stocks enough new records to please the tourists that flood Higuera street every summer, but they also have the best selection of used records for at least 100 miles.
Selection at Boo Boo Records
Boo Boos stock is about 50% records, their other half is made up of a large selection of CD’s and your usual record stereo knick-knacks: T-shirts, mugs, slip-mats, etc. As far as records go, there are tons of used records here. There might be a shop or two around the central coast that has a larger selection of used records but no one has anywhere near the quality of selection. Basically, Boo Boo records is the only shop that will politely decline the box of records you found in a storage unit. This results in a very high quality selection of unique records that will sit in the bins that will actually remain in the new arrivals bin for more than a few minutes. There are a good amount of budget records here, but this isn’t a dumpster diving situation where you walk away with a stack of random crap for $10.
There are a decent amount of new records available but not a ton. Expect most of the stock to be used records here but the very biggest releases will still be on the shelves.
Prices at Boo Boo Records
The less record stores to compete with, the more wonky prices can get a some record stores. During this trip I went to all manner of record stores and I found Boo Boo to be about dead center. There are defintley cheaper ways to acquire many of the records available here, but I didn’t see anything that felt egregious or overpriced.
My Thoughts on Boo Boo Records
Boo Boo is the record store of my youth. It is the record store that introduced me to the hobby; it’s where I took my senior photos, it’s where I bought my first record. As far as I am concerned, Boo Boo Records is perfect in every way.
Selection – 6.5/10
Prices – 8/10
Vibes – 10/10
Records Purchased
Funeral- Arcade Fire
Music of Greece
Address: 978 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Website: https://booboorecords.com/