About Waterloo

Our history:

When Waterloo Records first opened its doors on April 1, 1982, Austin was still a smaller, quieter town. The live music capital of the world was not yet on the map, South by Southwest was years away, and even Stevie Ray Vaughan hadn’t released Texas Flood. Still, Austin’s music scene was vibrant and distinctly Texan—shaped by legends from The 13th Floor Elevators to Willie Nelson. Waterloo was born in the middle of it all.

The original store was just 1,200 square feet, but what it lacked in size it made up for in soul. From the beginning, Waterloo catered not to the music consumer but to the music lover—because we were music lovers too. Customers could listen to any album in the store before buying, a nearly forgotten practice in the era of shrink wrap. Our return policy was equally radical: ten days to bring back a record for any reason, no questions asked. These ideas weren’t a marketing gimmick—they came from a deep trust and shared passion between store and customer.

Over the decades, Waterloo Records has grown in size and reputation, voted Best Record Store in the Austin Chronicle Readers Poll for 42 years. But more than accolades, Waterloo has become a cultural landmark. Our in-store performances have hosted everyone from rising local artists to global icons, turning shopping trips into unforgettable concerts.

Our shelves carry one of the widest selections of music anywhere—across every genre, every era, with a special reverence for Texas artists. And our staff, true music devotees, are as passionate about guiding someone to their first record as they are about helping a lifelong collector track down a rare pressing.

At Waterloo, we’re more than a record store—we’re a community hub, a gathering place, and a living piece of Austin’s music history.

In 2025, Waterloo entered its next chapter with new owners and a new home just five blocks up the road at 1105 North Lamar Boulevard. What hasn’t changed is the team behind the counter and the values that shaped us from the start—access, respect, community, and a love of music. Together, they remain the heart of Waterloo Records, just as they have since 1982.