Visiting Female-Owned Businesses in the Arts District: Las Vegas Mixtape v5

2. Track #2: Analog Dope, Arts District

Looking for something different? Try the consciousness-raising Analog Dope. Owners Rachelle and Charlie describe it as a “Black-owned, woman-owned, and queer-owned bookstore and vinyl record shop.” They wanted to create “a diverse and welcoming safe space that amplifies literature and music from Black, African Diaspora, POC, LGBTQ, and cultural communities around the world.”

Stopping into the eye-catching red-and-black-painted shop on E Colorado Ave, I bought an essential vinyl compilation album, “When Women Sang The Blues.” It was in the bin alongside albums by Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye, plus vinyl pressings from contemporary R&B artists like Kaytranada, SZA, and Erykah Badu.

You’ll also find an array of books. The owners say, “‘The Four Agreements’ by Don Miguel Ruiz and ‘All About Love’ by [the lower case-identified author] bell hooks are among our best sellers.” Look for their proudly displayed “Banned Books” section—a clever slap-in-the-face to conservative lawmakers.

Analog Dope recently hosted a book signing for platinum-selling artist/hip-hop mogul Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins, and actor Hannibal Buress has dropped by with his friend Coco Jenkins, the local artist/founder of the “There’s Nothing To Do In Vegas” platform.