Darkside Records Relocates to Downtown Poughkeepsie
The interior of Darkside's first floor at their new location on Poughkeepsie's Cannon Street. Photo by Caitlin Bombassei '28
Poughkeepsie record store Darkside Records has moved from its location at 611 Dutchess Turnpike to its new building at 32 Cannon Street in downtown Poughkeepsie.
The official reopening of the store on Nov. 21 invited the public to the new location to browse, shop and see how this beloved Poughkeepsie spot has taken their business to new heights.
Darkside’s signature bright green walls and endless selection of records, CDs, cassettes, merchandise and much more have found a new home in this upgraded space, marking a new era for Darkside, and one that brings it closer to the community.
Darkside Records, which originally opened in 2011 with its first-ever location on Poughkeepsie’s Main Street, moved to Dutchess Turnpike about five years later.
Darkside Records co-owner Justin Johnson explained how Darkside acquired this new location and that the store was ready for a move from its former location on Dutchess Turnpike.
“We moved to the 611 address, and we were there for the last ten, and we were outgrowing that. The building had all sorts of problems, and we were sick of it, so we started looking for a place to call our own. We finally found this place, and a year and a half later, here we are,” said Johnson.
The new store, which is much larger than the Dutchess Turnpike location, was formerly a church that was built in 1845. 50 years later, the Masons took it over, transforming it into a Masonic temple, which it remained for over 100 years.
In more recent years, the space was converted into a wedding venue, and in 2023, it was sold to Darkside and underwent the process of renovation to make it what it is now.
The building is unique, with Roman columns out front, exposed brick and stained glass windows in the interior and a soon-to-be running bar and event space on the second floor.
With its distinct character and its historical roots, Darkside’s new location at Cannon Street is one that aims to bring more buzz to downtown Poughkeepsie.
“It’s really awesome. I’m glad to be in the city. There are bars and restaurants around here, but there’s not a lot of retail, so I’m hoping that we can be the catalyst and get some more retail and foot traffic down here,” said Johnson.
Darkside, which is neighbors with Kings Court Brewing Company, is nearby to many other restaurants, such as pizza spot Hudson & Packard and Handsome Devil BBQ PK. Darkside now joins this group of businesses that is breathing new life into the city of Poughkeepsie.
“It feels like we’re a part of this sort of burgeoning revitalization that’s happening down here. So I’m happy that we’re kind of contributing to that in some way,” said Johnson.
Darkside’s relocation not only signifies a new chapter for their business, but it also serves as a space to foster a greater sense of community. The move to 32 Cannon Street benefits not only music lovers and collectors of physical media, but for all to visit and be a part of this "burgeoning revitalization," as Johnson put it.
“I like that it’s in the city,” said Johnson. “It feels more – it feels like we belong here. Not that Dutchess Turnpike is the outskirts by any means, but it’s not really in the heart of Poughkeepsie, and now here we are.”