Luna Record Shop

The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee, began its existence in 1929 as a production facility for Dortch Stove Works. It has changed hands a few times over the last century. After being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, it became The Factory in 2012. In less than ten years, it has grown into a Franklin cultural center, complete with shops, eateries, and events.

It is also home to the Luna Record Shop.

At Luna Record Shop it’s all about the joy and celebration of vinyl. Just ask Calvert McMahan, who opened the shop six years ago with her sister Brenna Gentry – “… there is an entire generation that has never experienced what it means to shop for and play a physical format,” McMahan says. “There are also a lot of people who never stopped collecting vinyl that are thrilled to have so many options at their fingertips that they did not before.”

McMahan and Gentry are 4th generation natives to Franklin, and, alongside their indispensable manager/curator Cedric Sissom, they have brought the love of vinyl to an entirely new generation. They sell both new and used records and, when you walk out of the store after adopting a pre-owned record, you’re in for a wonderful listening experience. “We clean and play grade all of the used records that go on our sales floor excluding bargain records,” McMahan is proud to say. That’s a lot of work! “When we opened the shop, we committed to our customers that they would never be surprised at the sound quality of what they have bought from us.”

Amazing.

That commitment includes the pleasure of getting to know their customers. “We could tell a million stories about some of our amazing customers we have become close with over the years. That means more to us than anything.”

A lot can be said about following one’s dream. Share that dream with others, and it grows. Especially when shared with those new to vinyl records. McMahan beamed when asked what advice she would offer someone not quite familiar with the format. “We would talk to them about the joy of discovering a physical format that you can touch, see the artwork as it was meant to be seen, plus the difference in sound quality.”

The Luna Record Shop isn’t only open to those in Franklin, Tennessee. You can browse new arrivals, both new and used, at their online shop, which is updated every Friday at noon for new releases, and at 1pm the day after posting a video of used arrivals. If you see something you like, you’d better act quick – Franklin patrons get first dibs. 

It’s worth the trip!