Murphy’s Vinyl Shack helps keep records relevant in Carpinteria
Kevin and Cecelia Murphy operate Murphy's Vinyl Shack in Carpinteria. SOE HAN THA/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Murphy's Vinyl Shack has been open in Carpinteria since 2016.
Murphy's Vinyl Shack has been open in Carpinteria since 2016.
chose looking to travel back in time through music and movies can take a stroll through Murphy’s Vinyl Shack in Carpinteria.
It’s run by Kevin and Cecelia Murphy, a couple from Oxnard who fell in love with Carpinteria’s charm. Mr. Murphy, who worked as a traveling salesman of a security hardware business, was also looking to settle down. The two moved to Carpinteria in 2015.
Two years later, Mr. Murphy has found his new gig: the vinyl store that sits at the corner of Carpinteria and Palm avenues across from the community pool. It was no surprise to their three children. After all, music has been an integral part of their lives before the children were even born.
Mr. and Mrs. Murphy frequented the vinyl stores in Orange County in the infancy stage of their relationship. The two have been married for 35 years.
With technology placing music at human fingertips, however, the social aspect of walking into a store and meeting new music and new friends may have declined, according to Mr. Murphy. “The record store was the place where you would go for the newest stuff…where you wonder,” he said.
But Mr. Murphy believes in reviving that “old feeling of going in a record store.” He said, “Everybody likes to have a record store in their backyard.”
And, Mr. Murphy may be right. As the two were speaking to the News-Press, a man walked in with a new record of folk singer Pete Seeger’s songs. Mr. Murphy and the owner of the record struck a deal that resulted in a trade: the record for $10 of store credit. The former owner of the record glowed with a smile and began skimming the records in the store.
With the tide and currents of life, the owners hope to be a buoy for community members to recharge on.
“Boyfriends and girlfriends come and go, but the music,” Mr. Murphy said pointing at his temple, “stays in here.”
The business is planning on stocking up more items to ensure the music stay in the minds of Carpinterians. In its fourth year of business, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy hope to expand within the current building by organizing.
