CONTRIBUTING WRITER – GUADALUPE AREVALO
ORIGINALLY PUBLISEHD ON OCT 4 2023
Local record shop, Brainwave Recods, was enjoying their summer and reaping the benefits of a growth in business until late one night in June a careless driver under the influence of alcohol crashed into the storefront window of the small shop in the middle of the night, greatly damaging their front door and destroying their recognizable logo.
Brainwave Records is a local shop located on West Woodlawn Avenue that specializes in selling classic vinyl records, cassettes, and both vintage and new sound equipment and memorabilia. The store shares the same building as the Fringe Complex recording studio and is managed by two employees along with Ryan McKnight, the store’s owner, who has been a record collector since 2003.
Since its inception in June 2022, Brainwave Records has become a beloved staple for San Antonio record collectors and curious audiophiles, rapidly gaining popularity over the past year. Despite the incident, McKnight is optimistic about the future of the store and is glad about its impact on the people of San Antonio. “It is great to see how it [the store] brings people together through music and art,” McKnight stated McKnight’s decision to open the store has been beneficial for his previously online-only business, enabling him to reach out to a larger clientele, but it has not been an easy path. The store was forced to close for a few days to make sure customers could enter the store safely, but the final repairs took months to finish. Thankfully the damages were minimal overall, and no lives were lost, however, the effect the incident had on the shop can’t be denied.
Brainwave Records is the perfect place for any collector. Although its modest exterior and missing logo may dissuade a customer at first, the store is full of life inside. When one steps in, they are greeted by a great selection of music that creates an energetic atmosphere that gives them the feeling of being transported back in time. The smell of the wooden shelves and vintage records is an indicator that they discovered a hidden gem. Besides the mixture of vinyl records and audio equipment, customers are welcomed by Paul, Will and Madison , a couple of humorous and easy-going guys who are happy to answer any questions clients may have.
Brainwave Records and Audio has extremely affordable prices that make it accessible to a variety of people. It’s conveniently located across from Crystal’s Café and near La Poblanita Bakery, two Mexican restaurants where customers can grab a bite to eat after they browse through the store. Some of the store’s stock is sourced from McKnight’s personal collection and has a wide variety of music available. One can find albums from country music artists, such as Dolly Paton, to heavy metal artists, such as Ozzy Osbourne. The shop has been open for a little over a year and welcomes all types of music lovers. Whether one is a vinyl enthusiast or looking for a fun day out, Brainwave Records is worth a visit.