SOUL OF A BOOMER
His Second Chance Records offers a relaxed environment for classic rock fans
Classic rock fan Cody Brockway, who has been collecting records since he was eight, is owner of Second Chance Records in Caledonia, where artist Lacie Williamson did the album artwork on the wall and his mother Terri-Lynn Brockway helps with the books. Graham Rockingham tells Brockway’s story inside on
CALEDONIA — Most 21-year-olds likely wouldn’t know what to do with a compact disc if you handed one to them, let alone a vintage piece of black vinyl from the early ’70s.
Cody Brockway is an exception. The first thing he does after turning on the lights in his shop is reach for an album and place it gently on the turntable.
Outfitted in a Dweezil Zappa T-shirt, Cody likes to test his encyclopedic knowledge of classic rock with just about anyone who enters his store.
It would be an “OK, Boomer” moment if Cody wasn’t just four years out of high school.
“Do you know what’s playing?” Cody asks the visitor from The Hamilton Spectator. The song is definitely familiar, reaching back almost 50 years. But no, the visitor is stumped.
“Alice Cooper, ‘Love it to Death,’ 1971,” Cody proudly asserts. He’s beat the boomer at his own game.
A discussion ensues about whether the chicken Alice threw off the stage at one of his early concerts was real. Cody’s mother, Terri Lynn Brockway, joins in with an inspired question: “Do you think Alice knew that chickens can’t fly?”
It’s a typical morning at Second Chance Records at 20 Argyle St. in Caledonia. Cody is the owner and operator. Mom helps out with the books.
Last month, Cody moved his store from a lower profile location around the corner to its present much bigger digs just north of the Argyle Street Bridge and three doors south of Jones Bakery.
Second Chance has an impeccable collection of new and used vinyl, as well as CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes, T-shirts, guitars, stereo components, custom clocks, vintage magazines, original artwork and mounds of memorabilia. There are records priced at $5 and others as high as $400.
What sets the store apart from many others, however, is the incredible art work.
Cody commissioned Dunnville artist, Lacie Williamson, to fill the walls with rock-themed murals.
There’s a Beatles’ Yellow Submarine floating on the wall behind the counter. An opposing wall is completely given over to Pink Floyd. There’s also a Grateful Dead flying eyeball and a Genesis Foxtrot. Another wall bears the frightening face of King Crimson.
It’s like entering classic rock heaven.
Cody can’t even estimate the size of the inventory he has on display. His mother figures there’s more than 20,000 used vinyl records in the shop, including the thousands of unsorted ones stored in the basement. Cody’s personal collection of 5,000 remains at home (yes, he still lives with his mom and stepfather).
The amazing thing is, Cody has done it all on his own — no bank loan, not even a few bucks from his parents.
“We’re supporters,” says Terri Lynn, who grew up on Hamilton’s East Mountain. “We help him out in every way, but not financially. We would if we needed to, but we haven’t had to.”
Cody has been collecting records since he was eight, combing through crates at flea markets and checking out the stores in Hamilton and Toronto. Before he finished high school he was selling and trading at local garage sales.
At the age of 17, he opened his first Caledonia store, then moved to a bigger location before finally settling into the Argyle location on Feb. 1. Initially, he kept his business afloat with the money he earned working at a nearby Tim Hortons. Now Cody is full time at the store. Business has been good since the move. Opening day was packed and Cody says he gets regular customers coming from as far away as Toronto and Niagara Falls.
“I think most of our people come from outside of Caledonia,” he says “I think it’s cheaper here and it’s a better environment. People like to chat. Some people stay for hours.”
Cody comes by his love of music honestly. His father Chris Brockway, who also works at the store, was a professional bass player with artists such as Lee Aaron and Rik Emmett.
Cody himself is a drummer and has played with local Caledonia bands.
“This kid was born with music in him,” his mother says proudly.