Austin is the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world, and it supports a large and varied music scene with over 40 record stores, according to a 2023 report by the Texas Music Industry Directory. Waterloo Records, one of the most recognized independent Austin vinyl stores, has been a part of the local community for 43 years, and it recently relocated right down the street to a new, larger location.
Louis Karp originally opened Waterloo Records on South Lamar in 1982. John Kunz, the co-owner of Waterloo Records since the same year of its opening, has operated the store on the corner of West Sixth and North Lamar for 35 years, and he became sole owner in 1987. In 2019, the building was acquired by Endeavor Real Estate Group, and the store was forced to move. To keep the historical store open, Kunz found a new location and handed ownership to Caren Kelleher, owner of Gold Rush Vinyl, and Trey Watson, CEO of Armadillo Records. While Kunz is no longer the sole owner, he continues to be involved. Waterloo’s new location is 1105 North Lamar, and the new setting brings more than just a different address.
According to Waterloo employee Patrick Floyd, the new store is still a work in progress. He explained that the new location means the store is changing and undergoing development.
“The biggest changes are the things we’re just now hitting our stride on: the podcast studio, the Atmos editing bay, and the gold plating of records,” Floyd said. “Those are all things we just didn’t even have at all. If you look at the stage, the stage is way bigger.”
LASA student Charlie Gaventa, a frequent customer at Waterloo, commented on the size of the new space. He spoke about how this impacts the feel of the store.
“Before, it felt a lot more cramped than it is now,” Gaventa said. “It’s got at least 30 percent more space than they used to have. It’s a lot more open and breathable than it was before.”
The changes made to Waterloo have come with improvements to many different aspects of the store. They also come with changes to how the store runs, the layout, the size, and the management.
“We were always reimagining while we were there, but it kind of changed to a slower pace,” Floyd said. “Then recently, moving here from the old store is kind of like the biggest reimagination that we’ve had since I’ve been at Waterloo. There’s gonna be more people who’re making it a point to get back, so I think that’s a reintroduction for some people who haven’t been in a while.”
The change of location and the way the store will operate will bring new opportunities for the business. The larger store space brings in new people who may be interested in what Waterloo has to offer, according to Floyd.
“Our regulars, who have been coming once a week or more, have made it here already, and they’ve checked it out,” Floyd said. “It just feels like music, if that makes sense. It’s like it feels real, like real artists would feel inspired and creative.”
As Waterloo Records settles into its new home, its role as a cornerstone in Austin’s music scene remains unchanged. The store continues to represent the city’s creative spirit and appreciation for artistry through its curated nature.
“This is a collection. This is a selection of music where people who are in Austin for a long time, buying for Austin, have put together, so I think it’s a portrait,” Floyd said. “It’s kind of like a road map in a way.”
