Urban Lights Music
Overview
By Mecca Bos
Tim Wilson, the near-30 year veteran owner (he bought the store in 1993) of Urban Lights, Minnesota’s only Black-owned record store, and one of only 32 in the nation. The lifelong DJ and Fortune 500 salesman (the store is a labor of love, not money) says that his high school locker was “literally a record store,” so he was always destined for the job.
Even if you’re not into vinyl (maybe you’re just not interested in feeling super cool) Wilson fills up iPods and MP3’s too, curated to fit a party or even a mood (I got mine: H.E.R, Phabo, Hidden Beach, Unrwapped 8, BJ the Chicago Kid, Snoh Alegra, Airplane James, Doja Cat, and Sky Zoo, for those who wanna know).
The store is also “an open house for creatives,” and hosts a rotating schedule of events from open mics to block parties to DJ events every Saturday. The dark, evocative, scene-y space is also used for photoshoots and music videos.
Urban Lights Music
Address
Urban Lights Music1449 University Ave W
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104
Amenities
- Electronics and Music
