Nestled in the heart of Macon, Fresh Produce Records is doing more than preserving physical media and selling vinyl. It’s keeping the city’s rich musical heritage alive while fostering the next generation of local talent.
The store’s owner, William Rutledge, a lifelong music enthusiast, describes its mission as, “We love music. That pretty much sums up the whole experience.”
Over the years, the record store has become a treasure trove for music lovers.
“We’re as much a museum as a retail environment,” Rutledge said.
The store’s vinyl, CDs, and 8-tracks collection is meticulously built “one piece at a time,” Rutledge says. The collection offers an eclectic range of genres, displaying Rutledge’s passion for physical media.
“It’s still kind of hard to beat just the physical ownership, being able to walk over and know that you’ve got your copy of it,” he said.
But this store is more than just a music lover’s playground—it’s a cultural hub, curating space for community engagement and artistic growth. Fresh Produce welcomes local musicians to sell their professionally produced albums or host album release events.
“I tell people all the time, if you ever want to do an album release or something like that, that’s what we’re here for,” Rutledge said.
Macon’s historical role as a music mecca deeply influences the store’s ethos, as the city has always been a hub for fostering musical innovation. Once home to hundreds of recording studios, most famously Capricorn Studios, Macon gave rise to legends. According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, Otis Redding, the Allman Brothers, and Little Richard are just a few of the top-notch musicians to get their professional start in Macon, Georgia.
“Georgia is just a musical nexus… There’s so much musical history that exists here,” Rutledge says.
The store ensures that the lesser-known voices of the past are not forgotten, offering vinyl and CDs from local and regional artists alongside those from household names.
The store’s role in championing Macon’s musical legacy aligns with its community focus.
“We’re as much a museum as a retail environment,” Rutledge said
Fresh Produce Records plays a vital role in Macon, not just as a music store but as a space where history and creativity converge, ensuring the city’s rich musical culture remains alive and relevant.
