Lloyd and Sheree Thoburn embarked on a harmonious journey, seeking to establish a Hagerstown venue as a prominent stop on the regional music roadmap. Now, with their dynamic Hub City Vinyl business, they accomplished that goal. Combining hard work, a productive re-development partnership with Washington County, and an intelligent business plan- and mixing in their passion for music – these entrepreneurs created a hybrid space in Western Maryland all music lovers can enjoy.
Officially founded in 2020, Hub City Vinyl’s roots started years earlier when the Thoburns acquired a collection of vinyl records through another business. They sold that venture but kept the records. During the next few years, they gradually evolved from selling vintage albums, contained in only a few bins, to creating Maryland’s largest record store. The establishment of a sister business, a live music venue, which now seems an inevitable partnership, soon followed.
The husband and wife partnership had strong faith in Hagerstown’s potential, with its downtown brimming with impressive but underappreciated architecture. When an opportunity to restore an old Ford dealership building on Baltimore Street appeared, the Thoburns seized the opportunity. “Washington County has been a dream to work with,” Lloyd said, referring to the incentives and cooperation the County provided to help them bring that building back to life.
With their experience redeveloping other Hagerstown buildings and their fast-growing knowledge of the vinyl record industry, the duo went to work. The interior restoration was extensive, but all the right ingredients came into place. Outside, the site also had the advantage of ample parking.
From the early days of HCV, the couple shared a common business philosophy. “We wanted to serve the community in multiple ways,” Sheree said. Lloyd added that they envisioned Hagerstown as a city with untapped potential. “We wanted to bring people west,” he said, and by doing so, change a prior big-city mindset.
Today, thanks to Hub City Vinyl, traveling east to D.C., Baltimore or Philadelphia isn’t the only option to shop at a quality record store or experience live performances from award-winning musical artists.
At first, the vinyl side of their business was the Thoburns sole focus. Sheree would run it, and she mentioned her prior background as an elementary schoolteacher offered little retail preparation. “We started small. I had a small booth to sell records. Then I learned to grade the condition of vinyl records and album covers and how to find collections.”
With her guidance, the business grew steadily, and when the refurbished space on Baltimore Street was ready, it provided plenty of room for growth. “Eventually, we became known for our amazing record collection, and the business took off.” Today, HCV has a vast inventory of vinyl records (and related products) that are best appreciated when seen in person.
Like many people from her era, Sheree grew up listening to vinyl, but once in the record business, she found the modern industry evolved to other creative expressions. Today’s vinyl record lovers can purchase new discs that are transparent or offer multiple colors, ones that glow in the dark, or create a simulated movie when spinning.
Some music artists release individual albums in multiple visual formats, creating excitement for collectors who want to enjoy each version. HCV’s inventory is approximately 75 percent vintage albums (featuring classic black vinyl discs) versus the 10,000 new or sealed albums.
Prices range from $2 for a used disc to $200 for a new high-demand record. Sheree said many customers see this wide range of pricing, especially the lower end for older albums, as an affordable luxury. The store also carries CDs, cassettes, 45’s, posters, t-shirts and other music-related memorabilia. HCV also constantly buys music from the public.
Why do vinyl records enjoy staying power when the modern world has gone digital? Sheree believes spinning vinyl offers a nostalgic experience for over-40 listeners. Younger aficionados are captivated by simply collecting albums- some don’t even own a turntable and stream their music. Devoted HCV customers travel two to three hours (sometimes farther) to visit their store.
As the record store became profitable, the Thoburns initiated the next step in their business: live music. They began with small steps like before with their vinyl records. A small stage was set up in the retail store, and local musicians were invited to perform. These first concerts were informal and free to the public.
But the couple yearned to host richer live music experiences, inspired by urban clubs they visited in other parts of Maryland and the northeast. Lloyd, with his business acumen and devotion to that ideal, would run the new concert hall, created in the same building behind the record store.
From its inception, Lloyd wanted a first-class venue that hosted local music artists but also wanted to showcase regional and national acts as well. He became adept at booking bands and learned industry tricks for attracting musical acts that usually performed only at larger-city concert halls.
Thoburn also believed hiring quality people was a key component, first for the contractors who installed the lighting and acoustic elements for the new concert venue, and then also for the employees who worked at HCV. “I hire good people,” Lloyd said. “We have a talented staff, and that’s made a big difference.”
This business philosophy resulted in a steady stream of impressive concerts performed for enthusiastic crowds. Recent acts have included Grammy-winning artists. Hub City Vinyl presents original music from many genres, including Blues, Rock, Bluegrass, Country, Jazz, and also hosts talented tribute bands.
After attending many concerts at Hub City Vinyl, Waynesboro native Craig Trostle offered his opinion on the live music experience there. Trostle spent three decades in the music industry managing lighting and sound production. “Hub City Vinyl paid attention to every detail with the lighting and acoustics. There isn’t another venue that compares with it in this area, and the acts are outstanding.” A recent Trostle favorite performance at HCV was the “Fantastic Cats.”
The current venue is intimate – seating a maximum of 220 guests – but HCV has already sold more than 200,000 tickets. During most weeks, concerts are scheduled on weekend nights, with some performances presented on Thursdays. But like the vinyl record store’s growth, the Thoburn’s barely paused for a breath after achieving initial live music success.
An in-house addition to Hub City Vinyl’s live concert venue is now underway, with an anticipated opening next spring. This second concert space will have a capacity of 600-700 seats. A new commercial kitchen will also be included to enhance the concert hall’s dining experience.
The Thoburn’s attention to detail created momentum for their Hagerstown brand and quickly built its fan base. Their devoted record store customers, along with their hosted live performers and visiting concert-goers, appreciate the welcoming atmosphere innate at HCV. Lloyd and Sheree believe music is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and want to share that uplifting experience.
Intrinsic magic exists between musicians and people who enjoy their songs. This deep-seated connection is difficult to quantify, but creators and receivers recognize its power. Hub City Vinyl cultivates this invisible bond, sowing new vitality into Hagerstown and the surrounding area’s music scene.
The Thoburns envision new partnerships to host future events – Hagerstown’s new Meritus Park (home of the baseball team the Flying Boxcars) is a potential secondary outdoor concert venue – with capacity to draw larger groups of music fans from greater distances.
“We both love music,” Lloyd Thoburn said, when asked about Hub City Vinyl’s future. “By sharing our passion, we believe it brings multiple benefits to the community.” Sheree agreed, saying her experiences with Hub City Vinyl have enriched her life, giving fresh perspectives on music, an art enjoyed since her youth. “Music cues memories.”
Hub City Vinyl is located at 28 E. Baltimore St. in downtown Hagerstown. Readers may call 301-800-9390 or visit their website (hubcityvinyl.com) for info on their vinyl record collection or the schedule for upcoming concerts.
