Black & Read Music, Books & Games
6655 Wadsworth Blvd
Arvada, CO 80003
(303) 467-3236

Hours:
Monday–Saturday: 10 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 7 PM

Website:

https://blackandread.com

About Black & Read

Black & Read is one of the most unique retail experiences in the Denver metro area. Located in Arvada, just northwest of Denver, it blends a record store, bookstore, movie shop, and collectibles market into a single sprawling space. Unlike traditional record stores that focus solely on vinyl, Black & Read is built around the idea of discovery across multiple formats. You can walk in looking for a used LP and leave with a stack of records, a vintage book, a rare DVD, or something you didn’t even know you were searching for.

For collectors, that unpredictability is the entire appeal.

Vinyl Selection at Black & Read

While Black & Read isn’t exclusively a record store, its vinyl section is substantial and constantly rotating. The used bins in particular are where most collectors spend their time digging.

Expect to find:

• Large used vinyl selection
• Classic rock, punk, metal, jazz, and soundtracks
• Budget-friendly LPs mixed with rarer finds
• Frequent inventory turnover

It’s not curated in a boutique sense – it’s curated by volume and variety, which often leads to unexpected discoveries. And the last time I visited they had a pretty large amount of bootleg albums. Which is pretty cool, so you’re almost guaranteed to find a record you’ve never seen before.

More Than Just Records

What sets Black & Read apart from most Denver-area shops is its sheer range of media categories.

Inside the store, you’ll also find:

• Books (new and used)
• DVDs and Blu-rays
• Video games and retro gaming items
• Comics and collectibles
• Posters and pop culture merchandise

This makes it a destination not just for vinyl collectors, but for anyone who enjoys physical media and nostalgia-driven browsing.

The Digging Experience

Black & Read is not a “quick stop” store.

It’s a place where you plan to spend time. Part of the experience is flipping through bins, scanning shelves, and stumbling across items you didn’t expect to find. Prices are generally approachable, which encourages digging without pressure. For many collectors, it’s one of the best “hunt-style” record shopping experiences in Colorado.

Final Thoughts on Black & Read

Black & Read occupies a very different space than stores like Twist & Shout or Wax Trax. While those shops are deeply rooted in Denver’s music culture, Black & Read feels more like a collector’s warehouse—part record store, part bookstore, part nostalgia archive.

For vinyl collectors, it’s one of the best places in the region to spend an afternoon digging without any expectations and walking out with something unexpected.