The idea for Zzz Records was conceived in the late 1990s. After Archives Records closed its doors in 1995, Des Moines was without a vinyl-friendly independent store for many years. Convinced that there was still a market for records in Des Moines, we decided to open up a store that featured an eclectic mix of rock & roll, indie rock, electronica, jazz, country, and more.

On September 23, 2000, Zzz Records opened at its first location in the Masonic Temple at 10th & Locust. It was a small space with approximately 800 square feet, but perfect for our fledgling business. Our initial inventory consisted of about 2,000 albums, a few hundred tapes & CDs, and a handful of 45s and 12" singles.

Less than a year after opening, Des Moines city officials declared that many buildings in our area were in danger of being demolished in favor of a "gateway park". The idea for the park was pushed hard by Allied Insurance, who was planning a new headquarters just across the street from our store. This plan called for the removal of many historic buildings, including: the AIB building, the Masonic Temple, the Arlington-Hallett, among others.

Preservationists in the area fought the proposal and were able to help save some of the buildings in the area, including the Masonic Temple. However, local Masons decided to sell the building at the end of 2001; thus, we were suddenly scrambling to find a new home.

In 2002, Zzz Records opened in its second (and current) location at 424 Ea. Locust Street. The new store was relocated into an historic storefront -- the building was built around 1885 -- and allowed us to greatly increase our inventory. We were now part of the fledgling "East Village", which was starting to become an interesting collection of restaurants, old bars, and independent shops. Over time, we have seen quite a transformation in not only our neighborhood, but downtown Des Moines in general. Currently, our store hold about 15,000 items. We carry more used and new vinyl than ever, but also have significant sections for CDs, posters, tapes, DVDs, magazines, and much more.