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City Heights · $ · Ranked in 1 list
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Folk Arts Rare Records is a City Heights spot ranked #2 of 5 in our Best Record Stores in San Diego list, scoring 89/100 in our Best Record Stores in San Diego. Order the blues, jazz, and pre-war 78s. The most serious crate-digging in San Diego, full stop.
We scored Folk Arts Rare Records 89/100 in our full editorial review.
Read the full Folk Arts Rare Records reviewFolk Arts Rare Records is in City Heights, San Diego. Give yourself a few extra minutes for parking on weekends — City Heights fills up early on sunny days.
Explore City HeightsOn our Best Record Stores in San Diego list, Folk Arts Rare Records lands at #2 of 5, just behind M-Theory Music (89/100) and ahead of Record City (86/100). M-Theory Music holds #1 with 89/100, so the gap is 0 points.
See the full Best Record Stores in San Diego rankingFolk Arts Rare Records scores 89/100 against a best record stores in san diego field that averages 87, running from 85 at the bottom to 89 at the top. That puts it 2 points above the category average and ahead of 3 of the 4 other places we scored. It lands 2nd of 5, and nothing in the category scores higher.
Judged criterion by criterion, Folk Arts Rare Records separates itself most on uniqueness (96/100 versus a 86.8 category average). Its softest showing is value at 80, 5.2 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for uniqueness, not for a clean sweep of every category.
| Criterion | Folk Arts Rare Records | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience | 93 | 89.2 | +3.8 |
| Consistency | 88 | 86 | +2 |
| Value | 80 | 85.2 | -5.2 |
| Atmosphere | 86 | 84.8 | +1.2 |
| Uniqueness | 96 | 86.8 | +9.2 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best record stores in san diego.
City Heights is dense enough that Folk Arts Rare Records rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored at least six other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Mama's Bakery & Lebanese Deli (92/100 in our best mediterranean restaurants in san diego list) or Tower Bar (90/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
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If Folk Arts Rare Records is booked or closed, these score closest at the same $ spend in the same list:
Yes, if you are in the neighborhood or nearby.
Folk Arts Rare Records scores 89/100 in our Best Record Stores in San Diego list (#2 of 5). It is strongest on uniqueness (96) and experience (93). The most serious crate-digging in San Diego, full stop.
Skip it if value matters most to you — that is its weakest category (80/100).
Folk Arts Rare Records is a good fit for record stores. Because it ranks #2 on our best record stores in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in City Heights rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: Hours are limited — check before driving over.
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Score 89/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Blues, jazz, and pre-war 78s · $
A specialist shop with genuine rarities in blues, folk, jazz, and early American music. The owner's knowledge is the real inventory.
Local tip: Hours are limited — check before driving over.
Scored with our ranking methodology — record stores.
Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.