TABA Records in Rippleside opens after death of previous owner Wayne Marshall

A pair of diehard music fans have reopened a Rippleside record store in honour of their late friend.

TABA Records co-owners James Harrison and Jack Robbins ahead of the store opening on March 7. Picture: Mark Wilson

A “music haven” in Rippleside has thrown its doors open after the family of the late previous owner asked some of his friends to take over.

Donning a fresh coat of orange paint, There and Back Again Records, or TABA Records, started trading on Friday.

Geelong residents may remember the space as the home of record shop Wayne’s World of Music and Excellent Stuff, owned by Wayne Marshall, who sadly died in October 2024.

After his death, Mr Marshall’s family approached his friends James Harrison and Jack Robbins to see if they would be willing to take over the store.

The duo, who already ran a vinyl stall at Mill Markets in Newcomb, did not take the opportunity lightly.

“It’s bittersweet losing a friend … we were good mates – I knew Wayne for 12 years,” Mr Harrison said.

“I’ve always wanted to run a record store so we decided to take the plunge … we are carrying on his legacy and hopefully he’s proud of what we’ve done.”

The duo, who both hail from Geelong, have been collecting records for more than 15 years. Picture: Mark Wilson

Mr Marshall was a beloved figure in the community, Mr Harrison said. “So many people were fond of Wayne … he was an instant pal with just about everyone,” he said.

Aside from vinyl, the store will also feature CDs, audio systems and instruments.

“We’ve spent the last two months working away in the shop, sprucing it up, and filling it with a lot of records,” Mr Harrison said.

“It has been mayhem but we are so excited to open.”

The pair have been involved in Geelong’s music scene for more than 15 years and played in a number of bands that have toured Australia.

Mr Harrison said it was important to them to be more than just a shop and engage with music fans.

“We are also keen to have album launches and gigs and really support the community,” he said.

Originally published as TABA Records in Rippleside opens after death of previous owner Wayne Marshall