“Wax Trax distinguished itself as the center of the universe for a new kind of fan, obsessed with whatever was new and fashion-forward, and the people they hired fit the niche and met that public with a famous attitude.” -Westword (Nov. 2018)
Denverite: Cap Hill businesses want you to stay in the neighborhood all day this Saturday
By Sandy Battulga
August 13, 2026
Denver already has First Fridays in several neighborhoods like the River North Art District and Five Points. Now, a coalition of independent businesses in Capitol Hill on and near 13th Avenue want to create something similar for their own neighborhood.
They’re calling it “Third Saturdays on 13th.”
Do303: Denver's Best Record Stores
August 12, 2026
There's nothing quite like that feeling of digging up a record that's been waiting for you to find it. Vinyl popularity has seen a boom in recent years and we're so down for it. Join us as we spin through our favorite places to find these treasures in Denver!
Westword: Wax Trax is opening a “real store” at Stanley Marketplace
By Michael Roberts
June 23, 2026
Pete Stidman has learned firsthand that the Mile High City has a serious addiction to vinyl since taking over Wax Trax Records, a mini-chain that’s in the midst of expanding its kiosk at Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace to what he refers to as a “real store” set to debut next month.
LateNighter: After James Acaster Hyped Visit on Late Night, Denver Record Store Acted Fast to Welcome ‘Hundreds’
By Nick Riccardo
February 9, 2026
James Acaster’s decision to “hijack” his chat with Seth Meyers to promote a record store appearance paid off. Acaster’s recent visit to Late Night saw him repeatedly refer to a February 8 Q&A event at Wax Trax Records in Denver, where he would discuss his musical project Temps with one of his collaborators, Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp.
As a result, Wax Trax was swarmed by “hundreds” of visitors to see the English comedian on Sunday.
Denver7: Denver record store Wax Trax opening fourth location
By Shannon Ogden
Aug 29, 2025
In an interview with Denver7 anchor Shannon Ogden, Wax Trax co-owner Pete Stidman admits it's a scary time to expand but says he's optimistic there is enough vinyl market for a fourth location.
Denver Post: Wax Trax Records adding fourth Denver location as vinyl sales rise
By John Wenzel
August 29, 2025
Iconic Denver Record retailer Wax Trax will open a fourth location along 32nd Avenue in the West Highliand neighborhood next month with a promise to tailor its wares to locals.
The 51-year-old store, whose flagship is at 13th Avenue and Washington Street in Capitol Hill, at 200 S. Broadway in April 2024, known as Wax Trax Bazaar, and cited the success of its mobile retail unit as well as its semi-permenant pop-up at Aurora's Stanley Marketplace, as reasons to expand.
Denver Gazette: Record Store Day: When all the records are gold
By John Moore
April 10, 2025
For the record: People (still) love their records.
When Wax Trax closed for the night last April 19, there were already people snaking around the iconic brick building on the corner of 14th Avenue and Washington Street. They were fully prepared to spend the entire snowy night on the unforgiving sidewalk for the chance to be among those first to get back inside the next morning for Record Store Day.
9 News: Denver shop celebrates vinyl on National Record Store Day
By Alex Castillo
April 22, 2023
Wax Trax Records is sharing the love of vinyl with the next generation.
Westword: Where to Find Record Store Day Events, Releases in Denver
By Zachary Visconti
April 15, 2026
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, vinyl record sales surpassed $1 billion in 2025, increasing for the 19th consecutive year. For record collectors, Record Store Day marks one of the year’s biggest annual holidays, as artists roll out a wide range of special and limited edition pressings at record stores worldwide.
Westword: Wax Trax Pays Homage to Its ’80s Glory
By Jon Solomon
June 30, 2021
Pete Stidman began working at Wax Trax when he was twelve years old, alongside his father, Dave, who has owned the Capitol Hill record store with Duane Davis since 1978.
“My dad is working six days a week,” says Pete. “I’m working on setting things up so he can take it easier, but he loves the job and will be hard to pry out of here. My dad is responsible for how amazing the used store is. Probably one of the biggest collectible record brains this side of the Mississippi. Duane is using his days here to focus on the live music, social media, etcetera, and we’re hoping to build on that stuff.”
“If you were here before COVID and now, it’s completely different,” Pete says.
Colorado Community Media: After 40 years in Capitol Hill, Wax Trax still thrives
By Colorado Community Media
Jan 2, 2019
Dave Stidman leans back in an old office chair in the basement of Wax Trax Records, the music store he’s been running for 40 years with Duane Davis. The basement is littered with stacks of old vinyl and copies of “Waste Paper,” a local “fanzine” Wax Trax produced as a way to get the word out about new music in the 1980s.
Stidman and Davis are reminiscing over their four decades in the business: the changes in the music industry, what artists did well and the early days when Stidman lived in the back of the shop at 638 E. 13th Ave. But most of all, they talk about the tunes that have carried them through the years.
CPR: Looking Back On 40 Years Of Wax Trax, Denver’s Vinyl Record Mecca
By Xandra McMahon
November 28, 2018
Sometimes it still feels like 1978 inside Denver’s Wax Trax Records.
Maybe it’s the creaky wood floors, or the ever-present soundtrack of ‘70s-era underground rock that plays through the store’s speakers.
But a big part of that preserved-in-time feeling probably comes from the owners, Dave Stidman and Duane Davis.
Denver Post: Denver’s Wax Trax Records rocks 40-year milestone as new doc traces famed label’s Mile High roots
By Matt Sebastian
November 7, 2018
As Stidman and Davis celebrate their milestone, a new documentary is spotlighting the Denver origin story of Chicago’s Wax Trax! Records, the retail store and genre-defining record label that helped popularize industrial-flavored acts KMFDM, Ministry, Front 242, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult and more in the 1980s and early ’90s.
“Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records” screens Friday and Saturday nights at the Denver Film Festival.
303 Magazine: Wax Trax! Documentary Wows At Denver Film FestivalWax Trax! Documentary Wows At Denver Film Festival
By Kori Hazel
November 12, 2018
Wax Trax!, the longstanding record store off 13th Avenue in Capitol Hill has a little-known backstory of legend.
Punk heroes and heroines amidst an array of other outsiders found a refuge and community in Wax Trax! — a locale to explore their identities through the music that spoke to them.
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