Entry No. 17 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: records
Trolley Stop Record Shop
Housed in the restored Penn Theater — an old movie house that sat closed and was used as a junk shop before its rebirth — this shop stocks vintage vinyl, 78s, 45s, cassettes, 8-tracks, even VHS, plus music memorabilia. Owner John Dunning is the laid-back, deeply knowledgeable presence behind the counter, and the space hosts live shows.
The story
Long before it held crates of obsolete audio formats, 1212 N Penn was the Penn Theater—a 1920s neighborhood movie house that eventually went dark, sat abandoned, and degraded into a junk shop. When owner John Dunning reclaimed the building for Trolley Stop Record Shop, he didn't strip out its history. He cleared out the junk, kept the high ceilings, and allowed the old cinema space to do what it was originally built to do: fill a room with sound.
Most record shops squeeze you down claustrophobic aisles where you're constantly dodging elbows. Trolley Stop feels wide open and cavernous. The inventory extends far beyond basic vinyl reissues into physical media that most shops abandoned decades ago—crates of shellac 78s, shelves of 8-track cartridges, cassettes, and VHS tapes stacked beside vintage music memorabilia. Dunning is a calm, deeply knowledgeable presence behind the counter who will walk you through obscure pressings without any of the typical record-store elitism.
The room's layout isn't just for easy browsing; the floor doubles as an active performance hall with a stage set up right among the bins. On any given week, the space shifts from a retail hub into an event hall hosting open mics, monthly jazz jams, local band sets, and oddball community meetups like all-instrument jams with the Oklahoma Theremin Society.
What it's like
Look for the boxy theater facade and vertical marquee set back from North Pennsylvania Avenue, then park along Penn. Inside, the room is spacious and unpretentious, with the faint scent of aged paper sleeves and magnetic tape. Give yourself at least an hour to dig through the deep-cut 78s and 8-tracks, and check their event schedule before you head over so you can pair an afternoon of crate-digging with a live night set.
The move: Crate-dig for 78s and 8-tracks inside a restored 1920s movie theater, get format recommendations from the owner, and circle back for one of the in-store live shows.
📍 Before you go Find it at the NW 12th & Penn corner of the Classen Ten Penn district, just southeast of the Plaza District — the boxy old theater facade with its vertical marquee is your landmark, set back from the street with parking along Penn. Weekends reward the live-music angle: the shop runs a regular open mic and a monthly jazz jam, so check the current calendar before timing a visit around one. Make an afternoon of it by walking a few blocks north to the Plaza District on NW 16th, where murals, galleries, and bars cluster within a short stretch.
- 📍 Ten Penn (NW 12th & Penn)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1212 N Penn, Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Hours: Check current hours; live shows are event-based
Pair it with
- Dig It — Walk half a mile north into the Plaza District to pair vintage record hunting with cult VHS, zines, and retro clothing.
- The Sanctuary — Follow up a crate-digging session inside a converted cinema with an all-ages show at an underground, floor-level punk space four blocks away.
- Monkey Feet Music — For a strange OKC record-store double header, contrast this converted 1920s movie hall with a shop operated out of a working law office building.
- Beloved Bones — Trade vintage audio formats for oddities, taxidermy, and wet specimens just four blocks north in the Plaza District.
Good to know
How do I find the shop?
It sits at NW 12th and Penn in the Ten Penn neighborhood, just southeast of the Plaza District. Look for the 1920s Penn Theater building and its vertical marquee set back from Pennsylvania Avenue.
What media formats do they carry?
In addition to standard 33s and 45s, Trolley Stop carries vintage 78s, 8-tracks, cassettes, VHS tapes, and music memorabilia.
Do they host live music?
Yes. The shop doubles as a venue hosting live shows, an open mic, a monthly jazz jam, and gatherings like the Oklahoma Theremin Society jams.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: travelok.com · kfor.com · Instagram · 405magazine.com
last checked: 2026-06-06