Meet the New Owners of Waterloo Records and Find Out What’s Next for Its New Location
Austin’s iconic music store, now under new ownership, is moving this spring, with plans to double its size and introduce upgraded facilities
A cornerstone of Austin’s music scene since 1982, the iconic Waterloo Records is preparing to move to a larger location and transition to new ownership. The iconic record store will relocate five blocks north to 1105 North Lamar Boulevard this spring, offering 50% more space and updated facilities. The move ensures the store’s long-term future after its original property at West 6th Street and North Lamar was sold to developers in 2019.
Alongside the relocation, longtime owner John Kunz is stepping back, passing ownership to Caren Kelleher, founder of Gold Rush Vinyl, and Trey Watson, CEO of Armadillo Records. Kunz will remain involved as Chair Emeritus, offering guidance to the business he has led for over four decades. “I always wanted the store to live on and have a life beyond me,” Kunz said. “With this transition, all my boxes are checked: a larger home, talented local music industry partners, and the preservation of Waterloo’s traditions.”
Larger space to expand offerings
The new location, a former Whole Foods office, provides room for expanded offerings, including a state-of-the-art performance stage, improved parking, and a layout designed to enhance both customer and performer experiences.
“We feel like we’re going to create an experience that is just a more encompassing attraction that Austin will hopefully embrace the same that it did with Waterloo 42 years ago,” Watson said. “We’re pretty confident that we’ll have something that will be a flagship record store, but also a flagship music hub and activation center for people to do more than just buy vinyl.”
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Kelleher emphasized the growing interest in analog formats like vinyl and CDs as part of the store’s enduring appeal. “It’s wild to me that vinyl and CDs have had the comeback that they’ve had,” she said. “I think it speaks to our desire to have more human connection, to really be engrossed in music. And it’s a good time with all of that happening for us to take Waterloo and think about it not just as a retail experience, but a place where people can convene and bond over music and experience music in a different way.”
Honoring Waterloo’s legacy
For Kelleher and Watson, preserving Waterloo’s legacy is as important as preparing it for the future. “Each record has a story to it, and it gets passed down from generation to generation. To enable those experiences, those memories for people in a store is a really special gift for Austin,” Kelleher said. She added, “It’s really special to be hearing from those musicians, big and small, that have played the Waterloo stage and are thrilled that this is moving forward.”
Watson echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the store’s cultural significance. “Austin has a soul about it that attracted me to move here over 25 years ago and continues to draw people here today,” he said. “Since 1982, Waterloo Records has been a large part of the fabric of that soul as a small business and as a place where people gather as a community to celebrate music. I’m honored and grateful that John Kunz has entrusted our team with guiding Waterloo into the future. We have great things planned for all to experience.”
Waterloo Records will celebrate its new chapter with a community opening event, with details to be announced soon. Reflecting on the transition, Kunz expressed his optimism. “Waterloo is my baby—I always wanted the store to live on and have a life beyond me, and it is happening with these new partners,” he said. “I am confident that the new energy and innovation from Caren and Trey, along with the entire Waterloo Records & Video crew, will fulfill the dreams I have always had.”
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