Kismet Creative Center

Kismet Creative Center Record shop

We are located inside The Wink incubator in Dutchtown. After 4 years it became apparent we could no longer afford to keep the space open.

Kismet Creative Center started as a record store and art gallery best known for its use as a venue for small acts touring the country. Together, my partner and I provided a space to foster creative pursuits and support local artists. Approximately 2 years later, I came across a small record store not far from where Kismet used to be and found the owner in need of more stock. From there, I built a

friendship with the owners and began my consignment. Although it was a downsize from what Kismet used to be, it felt good to reconnect with my passion for music and be able to share that with the public, particularly on Cherokee Street. Kismet ran in that location from 2019-2023. In April, 2023, Kismet once again moved it's operation from Cherokee to Dutchtown, where our business currently resides. We are located inside of The Wink incubator space at 3302 Meramec. Some of what you will find in our store will be new or reissued shoegaze, psych-rock, library music and soundtracks, slowcore, strange or experimental releases, and indie albums. We pride ourselves on being more focused on what inspires us at any given moment rather than on a certain genre, and we hope you can get a taste of that passion when you come and shop our store. Now, we have access to a venue around the corner to our shop where we've begun the process of booking shows again. If you have records you're ready to part with, please come see us for cash or trade.

Sundays are strange in Dutchtown. The street is a ghost town. My neighbors in the incubator game take Sundays off like r...
08/16/2026

Sundays are strange in Dutchtown.

The street is a ghost town. My neighbors in the incubator game take Sundays off like reasonable people. The rest of the block is pretty vacant, too. Even Urban Eats is empty.

I'm the only one left on Sundays.

The good news: plenty of parking.

Today is the last day to catch us before we take off for the week to get some bills paid.

Plenty to peruse, and if you're looking to dig around in a low-key atmosphere with room to navigate, today is a pretty good day to do it.

Here till 5.

Inside The Wink Incubator space, all the way at the back.

Fumbling through the warm hug from a good friend that is Mojave 3’s Excuses for Travellers. Pretty sure we’ve got their ...
08/15/2026

Fumbling through the warm hug from a good friend that is Mojave 3’s Excuses for Travellers. Pretty sure we’ve got their entire discography—or at least all the studio full-lengths—in the bins right now.

Sometimes the only way to change the environment is to pick a new record. A new song. I read a quote somewhere that said listening to music is more than entertainment—it’s a free pharmacy. Well, sort of free. Lol.

I like that perspective: Feel bad? Turn it up.
Music as a balm. Music as a reset. Tap in and see what happens.

If you’re looking for something that might help you cope, drop by and check out our medicine cabinet.

Here till 5.

Inside The Wink Incubator Space,

all the way at the back.

Starting to enjoy the quiet. Like, not hiding that things are slow. Not racing to secure the sale. Letting the customer ...
08/14/2026

Starting to enjoy the quiet. Like, not hiding that things are slow. Not racing to secure the sale. Letting the customer do what he does and not getting in the way of it.

Not trying to fill the air. Not excusing the emptiness. Not worried the music is wrong.

Just taking it all with a grain of salt.

Sometimes quiet is ok.

(Now Listening:  Kiasmos II Reworked)

New stock is in for Friday, 8/14—and most of it is City Pop. 🇯🇵 DJ Notoya• Tokyo 1980s Victor Edition• Tokyo 1980s Victo...
08/13/2026

New stock is in for Friday, 8/14—and most of it is City Pop. 🇯🇵

DJ Notoya
• Tokyo 1980s Victor Edition
• Tokyo 1980s Victor Edition Vol. 2

Anri
• Timely!!
• Heaven Beach

Charanjit Singh
• Synthesizing: Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat

Tatsuro Yamash*ta
• For You

The DJ Notoya titles are limited to one copy each, so first come, first served. Notoya is also behind Tokyo Glow (sold out here) and Tokyo Pulse (which we wish we'd been able to get).

Inside The Wink Incubator Space, all the way at the back.

Sunday. Super quiet street. Almost no one parked along the block. 80s New Romantics blasting onto the roadway. Inside, N...
08/09/2026

Sunday. Super quiet street. Almost no one parked along the block.

80s New Romantics blasting onto the roadway. Inside, Natural Information Society’s Perseverance Flow takes the ambience in a strange and hypnotic direction. Just what I need.

I’ve been tasked with responding to some questions about myself and the shop from an interviewer I’ve worked with before. Always happy to oblige. Once it’s all online, I’ll link to it here.

Finally put the finishing touches on the piece I’ve been working on. Feels good to get it behind me. I can move on to the next thing.

The Shards is racing toward it's conclusion at this point.  I know I’ve said I’d finish it several times over, but hopefully I’m right this time.

It’s hot as hell out. We’ve got the AC on full blast and a ton of new and used stock to pick through.

If you’re looking for someplace special to land today, don’t rule us out. We’re here till 5.

Inside The Wink Incubator Space, all the way at the back.

It's Saturday at the shop. I'm finishing up the editing on the piece that's getting published. I've also somehow still n...
08/08/2026

It's Saturday at the shop. I'm finishing up the editing on the piece that's getting published. I've also somehow still not finished The Shards. Hoping I get through it today.

Inside: Tirez Tirez on the player for approximately the 10th time.

I feel a need today to reserve my energy for anyone wandering into the shop rather than anywhere else.  Saturdays are tipically the busiest and i want to be ready for that.  It's also the type of perspective that lends itself well to zoning out to music and getting reading done.

Besides that, I'll be sweeping the shop and cleaning some things. Making the place nice for whoever comes through.

If you feel like dropping by to find some stuff you didn't know you needed (or know you need!) and shoot the breeze for a minute, im here till 5.

--Inside The Wink Incubator Space, all the way at the back.

Another Friday.  I wanted to get out over the airwaves that we're open today before I start in on the last several chapt...
08/07/2026

Another Friday. 

I wanted to get out over the airwaves that we're open today before I start in on the last several chapters of Brett Easton Ellis's The Shards.  It's record shop first, reading second.

We're still sitting pretty on loads of new releases from last Friday--slowcore, r&b, indie, and on.

Manuel Gottsching currently on play mode inside Kismet.  Outside, Sade is giving the neighborhood some color.

I'm also putting the final edits on a couple of writing projects—one of which will be published soon.

If you're looking for something unexpected this weekend, you know where to find me.

Open till 5.

Inside The Wink Incubator Space, all the way at the back.




It's the Thursday, 3-hour commitment at Kismet today. Just enough time to get used to running the shop again after a few...
08/06/2026

It's the Thursday, 3-hour commitment at Kismet today. Just enough time to get used to running the shop again after a few days of side-gigging to pay down some bills.

No massive plans for the weekend, no huge order dropping. Just me, a playlist, and a little downtime before the weekend hits.

If you prefer a some extra room to stretch your elbows or a low-key atmosphere while you're digging, today's your day.

Open till 5.

Inside The Wink Incubator Space, all the way at the back.

August 2, the street is almost vacant.  Still, not unusual for a Sunday to surprise me. Happy End is on the player. I'm ...
08/02/2026

August 2, the street is almost vacant.  Still, not unusual for a Sunday to surprise me.

Happy End is on the player. I'm giving it a proper listen before filing it back into the Japanese music section.

I've also got Bret Easton Ellis's The Shards on hand. I was hoping to finish it before the series premieres this week. So far, so good.

As for what gets played next, that's still up in the air. I'll definitely be digging through the new arrivals: Shearwater, Thundercat, SML, Macha Loved Bedhead, and the L*D and the Search for God EP.

If any of that gives your ears a sense of anticipation, drop by.

Here till 5.

Inside The Wink Incubator Space, all the way at the back.

The streets a bit quiet this Saturday. Already got a Discogs order packed and ready to ship—Bark Psychosis and Earth out...
08/01/2026

The streets a bit quiet this Saturday.

Already got a Discogs order packed and ready to ship—Bark Psychosis and Earth out the door.

I'm often surprised what customers are hungry for online.  it's one of the things I love about Discogs: a worldwide audience at your fingertips.

Little River Band is going on the front player. At back we've got Future Island's most recent release. I'm still making my way through this week's new arrivals--very much a labor of love.

If you've been meaning to check out the latest arrivals, today's a good day to stop by. We're here till 5 pm inside The Wink Incubator Space, all the way at the back.

Address

3302 Meramec Street
St. Louis, MO
63118

Opening Hours

Thursday 2pm - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+13035245729

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