The independent shops we send people to in Uptown & Lyn-Lake. Part of our full independent shops guide and the Uptown / Lyn-Lake neighborhood guide.
The largest independent bookstore in the Upper Midwest, with a serious used-book program in the back. Strong staff picks, consistent author events, and one of the better magazine racks in the city. A reliable Saturday afternoon.
A deep, crate-digger’s record store on Nicollet that has been moving used and rare vinyl since 1987. Knowledgeable staff, fair prices, and the kind of bins you lose an hour in. A Record Store Day fixture every April.
A record store tucked next to Jon Clifford’s leopard-print rock-and-roll hair salon on Hennepin. Get a cut and flip through vinyl in the same visit. Small, tightly chosen selection that leans rock, punk, and soul. One of the more genuinely Minneapolis rooms in the city.
A small, colorful vintage shop on West 38th Street with carefully curated clothing, purses, housewares, and one-of-a-kind finds from the 50s through the 90s. The owner has an eye, and the selection turns over fast enough to reward a regular drop-in.