Central Coast Music: A hub for vinyl revival and enthusiasts
Sitting behind the front counter filled with miscellaneous items, Eddie Frawley exists as he did once before — a young boy in his dad’s pawn shop.
He grew up as a music lover and channeled his early experience in customer service to create a music store of his own.
With the revival of vinyl records in the music scene, Central Coast Music, the shop he once ran out of his small home off of Morro Bay Blvd., has had a surge in business with customers of all ages pulling dusty vinyl records off the shelf. Each one of his records, guitars and instrument pieces has its own unique story, reflecting years of collection and intriguing interest.
Frawley began this business in 1990, with just one lone guitar in the front room of his home. As his store expanded, the music mostly stayed the same. From The Who, to Steve Miller Band and Pink Floyd, the consistent music ensures a store experience never settles into static. In a time where most retailers embrace the wireless transaction of a glowing screen, Frawley operates his store with intimate interactions.
Frawley built the musical atmosphere around the customers.
“I love used equipment. My store is real hands on, you can come in, have fun, pick up an instrument and play it. As long as you’re not beating it up, I’m fine,” said Frawley.
While Frawley attributes almost all of his sales to items he has collected, traded and bought over the years. One portion of his store could not be completed without the help of an old friend, Curtis Miller.
Growing up in music stores across Los Angeles, Miller wandered into Central Coast Music almost 30 years ago in search of work. At the time, the shop focused its sales entirely on buying and selling instruments. But Miller and Frawley found an instant connection and capitalized on the opportunity by including vinyl records in the store’s inventory. This addition turned the once traditional instrument shop into a hub for all things music. Now more than ever, the smell of old cardboard fills the air as visitors graze their fingers down each row of vintage records.
Inside, years of history melt off the walls of one of the oldest buildings still standing on the crowded main street.
“It was the original movie theater of Morro Bay, there were only three buildings on this street back in the 1900s. This one was built in 1904,” said Miller.
Just above the entryway, a flight of stairs leads to an original projectionist booth that once controlled the lights and sounds of the theater stage. It now remains a crammed space covered in posters and paintings from the store’s 35-year journey.
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In this resurgence, both Frawley and Miller are grateful for the opportunity to share records as opposed to alternative forms of music, such as streaming. While the convenience of digital platforms remains a leading competitor, it lacks the ritual that vinyl collectors like Miller crave.
Frawley believes the new generation is starting to discover something that he and many others have known all along.
“People that get into vinyl, whether it’s somebody your age or my age, they realize it really does sound better,” said Frawley.
The presence of streaming once created lulls in the business; however, while vinyl continued to battle with the growth of streaming platforms, Miller emphasizes that some aspects of records cannot be replaced digitally.
“I was coming near the end of my drumming career, I’ve been a professional drummer for thirty plus years…when the vinyl resurgence came along it was just sort of a natural thing for me because I love music,” said Miller.
Just as the building itself stands the test of time, Miller said the idea of collecting vinyl has become a bridge between generations.
“Some of the people that are collecting vinyl are actually getting them from their parents, someone’s dad will go hey man here’s my favorite Stones album. It’s not like much has changed really, it’s just a circle of time going by,” said Miller.
After nearly 35 years in the making, Central Coast Music still remains a vital part of the local landscape of Morro Bay. Frawley and Miller continue to highlight aspects of music history that were once considered nearly extinct. They operate a business model that stands the test of time, adjusting to the ebbs and flows of musical trends as they appear.
