Avid record collectors Johnnie Lomax and Mark McCausland often discussed the idea of opening their own vinyl shop as they toured the country visiting others.
The Co Tyrone men finally realised their dream in 2016 when they opened Boneyard Records in Omagh, which has now been placed on the map for vinyl collectors throughout the UK and Ireland.
Johnnie’s love of music was triggered when he heard Bob Dylan sing ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ back in 1966, while Mark comes from a long line of local music legends from the town.
Now the pair are glad to see the shop thriving with local music enthusiasts as well as those from further afield.
“Being avid vinyl collectors for years or in my case many decades, we often discussed the possibility of opening a shop on our many road trips visiting record shops all over the country,” Johnnie told MyTyrone.
“We’re both very passionate about a wide range of music. Mark’s lineage stretches back to Irish trad group the Moore Family of which his mother Liz was a member.
Since opening the shop on Market Street five years ago, Johnnie says business has been good and locals have taken to the space now nicknamed ‘The Bone’.
“Business has been good, but it’s really a labour of love, the locals seem to like what they affectionately call ‘The Bone’.
“It amazes me that people travel from all parts of the island to visit the shop."
Like many independent businesses in Co Tyrone and across Northern Ireland, ‘The Bone’ has had tough times in recent months with the pandemic, but Johnnie added it reinforced his idea that it was more than just a shop, but a social space for likeminded people.
“Like all independents Covid hit us, with the two lockdowns it wasn’t pleasant.
“Since reopening it’s been brisk, and nice to know people missed visiting, which is something I’ve always felt, that browsing in a record shop is a great social experience.
“The future looks bright as we’ve had many enquiries about the High Street voucher, which we are accepting.”
