Along Lake City Way NE in north Seattle, Hex Enduction Records and Books runs on a simple, three word promise: buy, sell, trade. The shop deals in both new and used vinyl records alongside a curated selection of books and zines, giving Lake City neighborhood shoppers a reason to dig through crates in person rather than rely entirely on algorithm driven recommendations from streaming services. Named after the Fall’s 1982 album Hex Enduction Hour, a nod that signals the kind of record collector sensibility running the place, the shop occupies a storefront at 12330 1/2 Lake City Way NE, a stretch of the neighborhood known for independent, small footprint businesses rather than big box retail.
Because the store both buys and trades stock directly from customers, its shelves stay in constant flux, restocked by the same local record collectors, downsizing music fans, and estate cleanouts that keep any good used record shop unpredictable in the best way. Shoppers looking for a specific pressing or an out of print title can also track the shop’s rotating inventory through its Discogs storefront under the username HexEnductionRecords, giving remote collectors a way to browse and buy pieces of the collection without a trip to Lake City, while local browsers get the tactile experience of flipping through bins in person. A separate Big Cartel storefront extends that same buy sell trade philosophy to shirts, accessories, and other merchandise tied to the shop’s identity.
The books and zines side of the business sets Hex Enduction apart from a typical single format record store, giving the shop a browsing experience closer to a small independent bookstore that happens to share floor space with crates of vinyl. That combination appeals to a crossover audience of readers and listeners who might not otherwise find both interests served under one roof, and it reflects a broader trend among independent Seattle record shops of diversifying beyond music alone to stay relevant as a physical destination. Customers with questions about current stock, upcoming acquisitions, or selling a record collection can reach the shop directly by phone or email, a level of direct access that is increasingly rare among larger, corporate owned entertainment retailers.
Sitting at the edge of the Lake City business district, the shop benefits from a customer base that includes longtime Seattle vinyl collectors as well as newer residents drawn to the neighborhood’s still relatively affordable rents compared to the city core, giving Hex Enduction a mix of regulars and first time browsers on any given day. For music fans hunting for a specific used pressing, readers looking for zines and books alongside their records, or anyone with a record collection to sell or trade, Hex Enduction Records and Books offers exactly what its name promises: a Lake City Way storefront built around buying, selling, and trading new and used vinyl, books, and zines to Seattle’s north end music and reading community.
