Good People, Good Places. Sofa Records, Lyon.

This autumn, Universal Works arrives in Lyon. Created with the team behind Dope Store, the new shop is the result of a relationship that has grown naturally over time, built around a shared outlook and a mutual appreciation for good product, good people and independent retail.

You will find the store in the northern part of Presqu'île, a neighbourhood full of character and shaped by the businesses and individuals who call it home. It didn't take long for us to understand why the area means so much to the people who spend their time there.

As they get ready to open the doors, we asked the Dope team to show us around. They introduced us to some of their favourite local businesses, the people behind them, and the stories that make this corner of Lyon what it is.

This is our introduction to the neighbourhood around UW Lyon.

For over 20 years, Sofa Records has been introducing Lyon to new sounds. Beyond an expertly curated selection of new and used records, its shelves cover everything from soul and funk to hip-hop and soundtracks. It is the shop's curiosity for world and avant-garde music that sets it apart and its in-house label follows the same path, bringing lesser known releases from around the world to new listeners.

Pierre, Sofa Records Co-Owner, tells us, “When Sofa Records opened in 2000, it was a small 30-square-meter shop. Three years later, 50 metres down the street, we took over a space which allowed us to almost double our floor size. Around 2015, JP joined me, primarily to launch our website dedicated to world and non-Western music, driven by our shared passion for West African sounds, among others. We then expanded our selection until Simon came on board to help us create our own label and reissue forgotten or overlooked music on vinyl.”

The team personally curate the selection, and it is clear that they genuinely love music and want to share it with others.

“Streaming gives you access to everything, but it also feels a bit impersonal. In an independent record store, someone has made choices, built a mood and created a point of view. You are not just consuming music, you are stepping into someone’s world. This kind of experience is really hard to replicate digitally.”—Guz, Dope Store. 

Pierre echoes this, “Having a physical space remains absolutely essential to us. It's what allows us to put faces to names, share different vibes, spark discussions, and foster a real sense of community and spontaneous encounters.” 

Keep an eye out for our next instalment of Good People, Good Places: Lyon.