See you later, Alchemy Records

By Abby McAbe

Local Music Journalist

Following the announcement of their closing, we bid farewell to Alchemy Records, a beloved local gem and a crucial part of the San Marcos music scene. In true Alchemy fashion, the music community gathered for one last show with a killer cause as we partied hard, together. 

Alchemy Records Benefit for Trans Mutual Aid was a smash hit and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster with performances from Sulk II, Rose Ceremony, nexttojackiekennedy, and My Dad Died. The store was packed full to the brim, with people spilling out into the entryway, eager to pay their final respects and throw down like their life depended on it. 

While being shoulder-to-shoulder and sandwiched between others is usually uncomfortable, I had never felt closer to my community. As if all of us were grieving this loss together. You could even feel it in the music, the bands playing with a certain level of ferocity and emotion, you would’ve thought it was their last time performing ever.  

Yeah, it was hot, yeah, it was sweaty, and yeah, it smelled funky, but you know what? I wouldn’t have had it any other way, because that’s what it’s all about.  

Alchemy gave us a place to do that. A place to come together and be sweaty– celebrate live music and encourage local art, something San Marcos desperately needs more of.  

But you can’t thank Alchemy Records without acknowledging the heart of the operation, Walter.  

Walter opened Alchemy in 2021, originally out of his apartment, then later acquired the storefront in 2022. He’s worked at various record shops all his life, and even helped open a few, such as Groover’s Paradise and Superfly’s Lone Star Music Emporium. In short, Walter has always been passionate about records and isn’t happy about closing shop. None of the employees are. 

Walter: “I’m afraid that things are really gonna go south for people… and I think that records are a frivolous purchase. I love it, love records, I want this to thrive, but if your neighbors are hungry or can’t pay rent, I’d rather you help your neighbor before coming out and buying a record anyway. We’re not disappearing, we’ll be in storage, doing conventions and stuff, try to do pop-ups in town here and there, and then when the time’s right, and things stabilize, we’ll try to open back up again.”  

Angel: “I’ve been here since almost day one of us being in San Marcos. It was the first store that I ever stepped into when I came here for college, which makes it all the more tragic. We’ve all been through so much together as a business and also just as friends, which I think brought us close together, and it feels like we’re family at times. As sad as I am about this place closing down, I know we’ll still be there for each other.”  

As heartbreaking as it is to say goodbye to a place like Alchemy, its legacy and impact will live on forever in our hearts, never to be forgotten. Thanks for everything.  

See you later, Alchemy Records.