Taking A Vinyl Break at Breakaway Records (@Breakaway Austin)

I first discovered Breakaway Records when it was on Fifth Street in East Austin. That was my first long-term visit to Austin, and my first South By Southwest ever, about five years ago, and the store, tucked into a shady grove beside a small cafe was a welcome find. The place was a treasure trove of rare 45’s, not only from Texas, but from Louisiana, Memphis and elsewhere. If the selection was surprising, so were the prices, shockingly low considering the rarity and quality of the records. East Austin’s ever-spiraling rents probably motivated the move to North Loop, but nothing else has really changed at Breakaway. The tastes still lean toward funk, soul and jazz, there are still headphones and turntables to try records out before you purchase, and the prices remain far below peer stores in the Austin area. The main differences (good ones) are the increase in available parking, and the proximity of Epoch Coffee, because there’s nothing like a good cappuccino after an hour or so of vinyl digging. Breakaway Records is at 211 W North Loop in Austin, Texas. Their phone number is (512) 538-0174.