Stinkweeds shaped my formative years. Really.
I started shopping at the (now gone) Tempe location when I was 15. I had a few older friends into independent music who introduced me to this record store. I begged my parents for rides and, when that wasn't happening, hopped on the bus for the hour-long trek. Totally worth it. 100%. I can't tell you how many awesome bands I began listening to just because I would browse the selection endlessly for something that looked interesting. If I needed something specifically, Stinkweeds would order it for me if they didn't already have it in stock. The staff was always welcoming and helpful, sometimes offering their own suggestions.
But it's just a record store, right? Wrong. Stinkweeds is the jewel of Phoenix, as far as I am concerned. Now that it's out in central Phoenix, I make it in far less. Total bummer!