Record shop gets Gainesville in the groove

Technology is always advancing, there's always something newer or better in the works. Typically, the new thing will surpass its predecessor, leaving it in the junk bin.

But vinyl records aren't seeing that same treatment. Spinning a record is once again hip, though collectors will remind you they never stopped.

"It's amazing how vinyl has made a comeback," said Moe Lyons, owner and operator of Moe's Record Shop on the Gainesville Square. "I think last year or 2019, they actually outsold CDs for the first time since like, '86 or something. It's still lagging way behind streaming, of course."

Lyons said there's new stuff every week, too, either new music from newer artists released, or old favorites re-released.

"I'm glad, because I had 13,000 albums in my basement," he said. Lyons began collecting vinyl in 1974 - his first album was a Rufus album - and had always wanted to open a record shop. He worked in music retail from 1985 to 2001, then for the city of Gainesville from 2001-2018, and decided to follow his dream once he retired.

"I was going to move back to Kentucky and open a store with a friend of mine and I happened to see this little spot in Flowery Branch that was available, so I decided to try and open the store myself."

Lyons was in the Flowery Branch location for about a year when he was contacted about taking the space on the Square from the former Imperial Records.

"They sent me a message last March, right before the pandemic, and said they were going to have to close the store and wanted to know if I wanted to rent this location," Lyons said. "That's how I wound up here, and it's like night and day."

Even with the construction on the Square - right in front of the shop, too? Moe said the customers are still coming.

"It's dropped off a little bit, but still it's doing pretty good. And once they finish all this its going to be very nice," he said.

Inventory at the store is a combination of Lyons' collection, new albums, and albums he's purchased from customers. He also is able to order many albums for customers who are looking for a specific sound.

Lyons has a variety of genres in stock, including jazz, R&B, and country, but the rock section is upfront in the shop for a good reason.

"Mostly I sell your classic rock, like The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac and stuff like that," said Lyons. "But occasionally I get people coming in for a few off the wall things I have, and people come in 'Oh, I can't believe you have this,' … but mostly classic rock is what the big thing is."

For those ready to dig in to stacks and explore the world of vinyl, Lyons had a little advice.

"First of all, get you a decent turntable to play them on," said Lyons. "Spend at least $80, $90 on a decent turntable. It'll make a whole lot of difference on how your records sound."

Lyons said look for name brands like Jensen or Crosley. If you're truly committed, spring for the stereo system. A cheap turntable, he said, can ruin your records in the long run.

Lyons is active on his shop's Facebook page, sharing new inventory, music he's selected to play in the shop that day, and upcoming events, like Record Store Day, which encourages shopping at local record shops. June 12th was the most recent Record Store Day, with another merchandise drop coming up July 17. You can also contact Moe through Facebook Messenger if you're looking for something specific or have a question.