Noah Whitworth
palmettoreport@gmail.com

* Editor’s note: May is small business month in York County and this story is part of series of reports on local businesses in the community.

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — Rock Hill’s music scene is continuing to grow and a number of small business owners say their stores are playing a role to promote music in the community.

At the Music Go Round, which opened last fall on Celanese Road, employees say their goal is to make music more accessible to everyone.

“This store has a unique offering to the community,” said Mark “Bucky” Buckingham, the owner of Music Go Round. “It creates a lower barrier of entry for people who want to get into music. Someone who’s just starting to learn guitar doesn’t have to go out and buy a brand-new instrument at brand-new prices.”

Buckingham said his shop focuses mostly on preowned gear and that most of the equipment that comes in is still in great condition, which he said makes it easier for beginners to get started without spending too much.

Although, employees say the store is about more than just buying and selling equipment.

“You make a lot of connections working in a place like this,” said Finley Winbarger, an employee at Music Go Round who also gives guitar lessons. “You meet people, you figure out where things are happening, who’s involved, and where to go. You also meet a lot of like-minded people who are here for the same reason.”

Thus, the store can feel like a community center, as you can often hear music being played inside, especially when local artists are brought in for live performances.

Across town, Ramble On Records is trying to offer a place for people to get together and discover new music.

“The community is really important to us,” said Sara Simpson, the co-owner of Ramble On Records. “We’ve been in Rock Hill since 2000 and when we first got here, there really wasn’t much around. We used to go to Charlotte just to go to Target.”

Simpson opened Ramble On Records last year, on Caldwell Street in Old Town Rock Hill, with her husband Jay.

Since moving here, she said she’s really seen Rock Hill grow, especially in its support of the arts.

“Over the past five to 10 years, so much has changed,” Simpson said. “There’s a lot more going on now and we really love being part of it. This community is kind of the heart of everything.”

However, it’s not all positive news for small music businesses in Rock Hill.

In March, Woody’s Music of Rock Hill, on Cherry Road, announced that it would be closing after more than 33 years in business. Woody’s Tega Cay location will remain open.

“It has been our great pleasure to serve the people of York County and the surrounding area these many years,” the owners wrote in a Facebook post. “This is not a sad time, it is a celebration, as we look back on all the great music and all the great friendships we have made together through this place through these years. You have all been family to us, and we thank you all for all your love and support these many years.”

Over the years, Woody’s has also served as a community hub for local music fans and musicians. To date, the Facebook announcement has garnered nearly 200 comments, with many people expressing sadness or sharing memories.

“Woody’s was actually the first music store I ever visited,” wrote Raymond Frankin, a Rock Hill musician. “It’s been a staple for me over the years and it’s always a pleasure visiting. I got a lot of great gear there, but more than that I’ve formed some lifelong friendships there as well.”

Franklin said the store helped to cultivate a community that he was glad to be part of.

The final day for Woody’s Rock Hill store will be May 30.

In the future, as Rock Hill continues to grow, local businesses like these will likely continue to help support the local music scene, by giving people a place to find gear, discover new music and meet other music lovers.

* Joseph Kasko contributed to this report.

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