Hidden Gems: Meet Scott Freshour of Stereo Lab LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Freshour.

Hi Scott, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Stereo Lab has been a Columbus icon since 1970. In the 1980’s an investment firm purchased the store and grew it into a seven store retail chain. This chain closed in 1996 when three men from the service department started a company called Stereo Lab Service. This three man company operated at 4532 Indianola, Ave. mainly as a repair shop for vintage audio till 2019. I bought the company in May of ’19 and expanded the retail end of the operation.
We still do the repairs, as it is a major part of the business, the store is made to look like 1975, we sell a heaping helping of nostalgia with every stereo. Stereo Lab is known for high quality repairs on vintage gear and expert sales staff.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I had just opened in may of 19 when covid hit. We shut down and did curbside only, we actually doubled our business then tripled it the next year. In 2022 we rented the recently vacated space beside us and suddenly had a large showroom for used gear.
2025 has been the hardest year so far, with consistency being the problem with market uncertainty being a driver of slower retail sales.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Stereo Lab LLC?
We repair, restore and resell vintage audio gear. We are the largest and best equipped store of its kind in central Ohio. We specialize in pre-1980 home audio, think the big silver stereos from the ’70’s
We also repair and sell turntables, with the rise of vinyl sales, we are busy with the needs of turntable owners. We also sell turntable accessories like needles and cartridges.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
That we are still open.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stereo-lab.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stereolabcolumbus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stereolabcolumbus
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StereoLab-z2b