Mood Ring Records Opens in Sugar House
The Salt Lake City record shop, which opened in March 2026, aims to create a welcoming and accessible music retail space.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Local Shops
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Mood Ring Records, a new music shop in Salt Lake City, opened its doors in March 2026. Owners Jesse and Denae Medina established the store in Sugar House to cultivate a relaxed environment for local music fans.
Why it matters
The shop aims to demystify the vinyl shopping experience by focusing on a welcoming atmosphere rather than traditional retail structures. By organizing inventory alphabetically rather than by genre, the owners hope to make the store feel less intimidating to visitors.
Located in a 1930s brick home at 130 E. 2100 South, the store operates from Wednesday to Sunday between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Consignors receive 50 percent of the final sale price for items sold.
The players
Jesse Medina
He is the co-owner of Mood Ring Records and moved to Utah from San Diego in 2025.
Denae Medina
She is a co-owner of the record shop who previously operated a music website for 10 years.
The details
Owners Jesse and Denae Medina moved to Utah from San Diego in May 2025 before launching their store seven months ago. They have cataloged the shop's full inventory for online viewing to improve accessibility for customers.
Timeline
The owners first met at the Desert Daze festival in 2015.
The couple moved to Utah from San Diego in May 2025.
Mood Ring Records officially opened for business in March 2026.
The store owners were photographed at the shop on October 29, 2026.
Culture Shift
Mood Ring Records is part of the ongoing independent record store revival that emphasizes curated, community-focused shopping environments. This shift reflects a move away from standard retail models toward intimate spaces that prioritize customer connection and discovery.
Customers can browse the shop's full catalog online before visiting the 130 E. 2100 South location. The store is open Wednesday through Sunday, allowing for weekend shopping trips to explore the alphabetically organized inventory.
The takeaway
The store owners hope to eventually occupy the entire home and construct a dedicated listening room for patrons. Residents can utilize the online inventory system to check current stock before visiting the Sugar House location.
Further reading
For more on the neighborhood retail scene, visit Local Shops.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Salt Lake Tribune.
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Do you prefer shopping for physical music at independent local shops rather than larger chain retailers?
