Grab your favorite album on vinyl — perhaps one you haven’t heard in awhile — and give it a spin, order a cold brew, pull up a seat, or play a game of pool, and kick back in the comfort of St. Augustine’s newly opened Vinyl Lounge on Anastasia Blvd.
At Hornski’s, the Horn family is sharing their appreciation of music and affinity for vinyl records with the community through a place of gathering in the form of a lounge-style record shop.
Hornski’s Vinyl Lounge was founded by brothers Rob and Andy Horn, along with Andy’s wife, Flagler and University of St. Augustine alumna, Sarah Szymanski Horn. “We decided a vinyl lounge would be perfect for St. Augustine and something we could really enjoy,” said Andy.
“Many people have met Rob who is usually in the shop. He has the big beard and knows the most about music out of the three of us.”
Andy acknowledges their family’s love of vinyl is supported by the community’s collective enthusiasm — between established local shops Tonevendor and Music Matters, the St. Augustine record fair, and neighboring establishments, like Nobby’s and Sarbez, that spin their own records regularly.
“Vinyl is back! And it’s doing really great,” said Andy. “It’s a hip thing, a collector’s thing. And then there are the old pros who never deserted the medium. St. Augustine has a strong community of vinyl lovers.”
RECORD SELECTION
Hornski’s Vinyl Lounge strictly stocks music in vinyl format, although many new releases come with digital downloads or CDs. As far as record selection goes, Hornski’s caters to those collecting classic records, as well as those on the hunt for new releases. Three quarters of the supply are used records and the rest are new.
Regardless of what you’re looking for, so you are sure to go home with something you love and will spin on repeat, there is a listening station in the back with headphones where you can give any used record of interest a listen. If you find yourself at a point of wanting to begin your own vinyl collection but don’t yet have anything to spin your records on, Hornski’s even has their own supply of turntables, both used and new.
MORE THAN A STORE
Still, Hornski’s isn’t just about selling records, hence the hybrid setup with a pool table, casual lounge area, and bar seating. “We wanted to build a record store that is a place people would want to hang out in, take a seat and unwind. We’ve stuck to the plan that it would always be half record store, half bar/lounge,” said Andy.
Of course, the two parts are naturally interlaced. “Everything is a fusion of music, quirky, and St. Augustine. Even the bar is partially built from old speakers,” said Andy.
As one might expect from a space rooted in sound, at Hornski’s, music is playing constantly. Not only do they keep their own selection of records spinning, they will play what you want to hear from their collection. “Customers can grab any of the used records and we will play a side,” said Andy.
A lounge wouldn’t be complete without beverages. Hornski’s offers coffee, wine, and has a cooler full of brewskies to choose from. Beer selections include those of local origins, like St. Augustine’s Ancient City, and Intuition and Bold City hailing from Jacksonville.
DETAILS
Hornski’s is both dog and kid-friendly, and free games of pool are offered every Tuesday. Hornski’s plans to add bar snacks to their lineup in the near future.
Hornski’s is located on Anastasia Island at 106 Anastasia Blvd. (next to Blackfly). For hours of operation, visit www.hornskis.com. To stay up to speed with new record arrivals and weekly happenings, follow along on Facebook.
photos courtesy of Hornski’s Vinyl Lounge
