The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON -- When Mi- chael Waiblinger was a boy, he begged his father for his first record – a copy of KC and the Sunshine Band singing “Keep It Comin’ Love.”

Inside the 1979 vinyl shop, a Black Sabbath album was playing. “I thought, ‘this is really cool,’” Waiblinger recalls. And he convinced his dad to purchase both.

“At the counter, the sales- man looks at me and the two records on the counter, and he says, ‘You’re going to play music someday, kid.’”

That day unlocked a new world to the now 44-year- old Waiblinger; a world into which he plans to invite resi- dents and visitors of Dayton beginning this Halloween.

At 11 a.m., October 31, The Inner Groove opens at 236 E. Main Street in down- town Dayton. The eclectic music store will throw open its doors with much ado, featuring live music, as well as several DJs, catered food, and a musical costume contest. The festivities will continue until late in the evening.

After the grand opening, Waiblinger plans to be open Wednesdays through Satur- days from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., as a combination record store, vintage/consignment shop and musical hangout.

Patrons can expect not only a large selection of vinyl from Waiblinger’s per- sonal collection, including everything from a reading by Earnest Hemmingway to Waylon Jennings, but also vintage clothing, inex- pensive paperback books, instruments for sale, such as a ukulele, several acoustic guitars, an acoustic bass, harmonicas and percussion instruments. Guitar strings, picks, and record players will also be for sale.

Waiblinger hopes to offer minor instrument repairs in the future, which could be a popular feature for locals who currently have to travel to the Tri-Cities or Lewiston for instrument repairs. He does not plan to offer wood- wind repair, however, and he won’t offer or stock many CDs.

“Let’s be honest, most people will order those online anyway,” he said. But he will place special orders for customers if they request it.

The former Walla Walla resident also envisions The Inner Groove as not just a store but also a safe place for kids and adults to hang out, listen to and talk about music, play music at monthly jam sessions, and learn to play music. Waiblinger, who plays several instruments himself, offers guitar lessons for young and old.

“I want this to be a place where anybody can come in and not feel intimidated or annoyed,” Waiblinger said. “I want it to be a space where parents feel their kids can come to have fun in a safe, low-key setting.”

He plans to offer youth a place to play chess or checkers, check out old Atari vid- eo games, and relax out back and talk music by the alley in seating Waiblinger hopes to set up by next summer.

And anyone passionate about music will find good company with Waiblinger, who “knows something about all kinds of music” and loves to share it with others.

That’s how Waiblinger made friends with Dayton resident Eric Seoane. “He’s the man,” Seaone said. “I can talk to this guy for hours and hours about music.”