StingRay Records is keeping the vinyl revolution alive in New Braunfels by offering a classic, nostalgic experience to customers.

An OB-GYN by day, founder Kevin Blair opened the store five years ago after collecting vinyl records for more than 30 years. Initially, Blair bought the property for additional parking for his medical practice but later decided to use the space to sell records “for fun.”

“When we first opened, about half the inventory was from my personal collection,” Blair said. “I wanted to recreate the classic ’70s record store vibe. People will come in and hang out and socialize. We encourage people not just to buy but to experience.”

For much of its history, StingRay Records has been run and operated by Blair and his wife, Kim, and their children. There are no plans to expand the business, but Blair is waiting for the year to conclude before making any decision on the business’ growth.

“It’s nearly impossible to run a business like this without another source of income, such as my career in medicine,” Blair said. “The first four years were a struggle, and we ended up breaking even most of the time. But this past year has been incredible. New Braunfels has seen impressive growth, and young people want to buy records.”

StingRay Records also hosts events, such as album release parties for local artists. The biggest event of the year is Record Store Day on April 21 when record companies release rare and limited works, such as live recordings or recordings from the vault.

“We have lines out the door on Record Store Day,” Blair said. “There’s a lot of obscure stuff you can’t get anywhere else except for in the store on that day. Country sells really well during this time.”

In addition to records, StingRay sells posters and turntable equipment. There is also space for customers to play chess and dominos.