The Small Business Spotlight: Spin Connection
In this "Small Business Spotlight," presented by American Bank, Austin Meek of Waco Business News highlights Stan Wojceichowski.
The exterior of Spin Connection, a local record store located at 3703 Franklin Avenue offering a wide variety of musical styles.
"Well, trying to get Waco...we don't have to be all huge and corrupted but get some fun in here, yeah?"
For the past six years, Stan Wojceichowski has given Waco music lovers as much fun as they can handle. On Franklin Avenue, near the Valley Mills overpass, Stan operates Spin Connection with his wife and son, who help run the record store and sometimes concert venue offering the most diverse music collection in town.
"Section of, like, foreign music, whether it be French, Greek, Chilean, Peru."
Stan has loved nearly every type of music he's come across but his first interaction with music set him on the course he's still following today.
"When the Beatles hit, that changed everything. That's probably what made me get into it for good."
Once his record collecting evolved from a hobby into a business and they had adequate space, the Wojceichowski's started opening their space for concerts by local musicians.
Stan says the greatest joy of running Spin Connection is supporting the artistic community in a tangible way.
"We enjoy the young people coming in here and, you know, kind of going nuts and having a great time and leaving with smiles on their faces. They were able to come to a place that didn't have drinking, didn't have fighting, you know, because it's not a bar or club. It's just supposed to be good, clean fun."
On Friday, October 25, Spin Connection will host its final concert, a halloween themed rager featuring seven bands, including a power pop trio called Uncle/Brother.
Jacob Green is lead singer of Uncle/Brother, and he says that "non traditional" concert locations like Spin Connection and others are stepping up to address the city's lack of viable venues.
Jacob Green and Katie Selman of Keep Waco Loud during an interview with Lindsay Liepman of KXXV.
"You've seen places open up their doors like Brotherwell. I mean, they're not a traditional...they are alcohol but it's all ages. Kids can go in there. Also, you see Milo All Day starting to do something which is pretty cool. I just think it's great. It's very important for a foundational music scene."
When he's not on stage, Jacob is busy running Keep Waco Loud, a music promotion company that books shows for local acts. His partner in the venture is his wife, Katie Selman. who says venues like Spin Connection fill a necessary niche in the city's music map.
"A lot of places like bars and where there's alcohol and stuff...my parents would not drop me off there. So it's allowing the younger generation, the younger kids, to have a place to be creative and unique and express themselves and have a good time."
An example of the records sold at Spin Connection.
As I thumbed through records, finally landing on a 1982 offering from Kool and the Gang, I heard Stan Jacob and Katie catching up, talking about their hopes for Waco's growing music scene. This trio of melophiles are hellbent on stirring up as much fun as possible, and they want to do it together.
"We're trying to have an effect also to join in with some other people to make it a good - more of a good music scene here. Because music brings a lot. People look forward to seeing some of their favorite bands or some of their favorite singers and if they don't have to drive an hour-and-a-half one way or the other, it's nice."
This "Small Business Spotlight,” co-produced by Waco Business News and KWBU, first aired on Friday, October, 19, 2019, in Episode 73 of Downtown Depot on 103.3 KWBU-FM Waco.