By: Contessa Hussong & Sarah Lozier

“I tell people that we sell memories.” 

These are the words of Tim Lee, the co-owner of Thrifty Sounds in downtown Hartford City. But in reality, his shop does much more than that. Filling up the open space with thrifted clothing and other vintage collectibles, Lee has made Thrifty Sounds a nostalgia destination for those who remember the days before the invention of online shopping. 

The small business also prides itself on carrying what Lee describes as “just a little bit of anything and everything.” 

Looking around the store, it’s not hard to see why. Old issues of Captain America comic books line a small bookshelf near the door. In the back, PEZ dispensers featuring members of KISS are displayed beside a shrine of the band’s memorabilia. Storm Trooper toys, posters, Godzilla figures, concert t-shirts, and an old Nick at Nite showtime guide are just a few of the gems hidden away throughout the storefront.

But the true prize – and the “Sounds” side of Thrifty Sounds – is the music itself. As customers step through the front door, Lee’s records play like an invitation to slow down and enjoy the time-warped trip down memory lane – a trip Lee himself has often made over the years.

“I’m more of a music cat because it’s my place,” Lee said. “My whole life is music-related something or other.”

Beginning his first career as a rigger for concerts, Lee worked with a multitude of bands over the years and, just as with running a business, wore a number of hats. 

Yet after routinely traveling across the tri-state area and working 32 years in the same career, Lee found changes in the industry didn’t align with his own values. So, walking away from the profession he’d been part of since high school, Lee set to work on a new endeavor: creating the business that would eventually become Thrifty Sounds.

Lee initially got started on eBay, then decided to take the start-up a step further after leaving his job. Relying on his own passion for music coupled with the thriftiness of his wife, Thrifty Sounds became a combination of memorabilia, clothing, figurines, and books.

“I love all this stuff,” Lee said. “You don’t see [record stores] too much anymore, not like when I was a kid, at least, not quite like this. But we were like, ‘What are we gonna do [about starting a business]? I don’t know.’ [But we decided] we’re just gonna give it a shot and see what happens. If we fall on our face, then we at least tried, you know? So, we’re still here.” 

Surprisingly, Thrifty Sounds’ biggest stream of revenue has been its record collection. As old music mediums have been reborn to the next generation, Lee has relied on vinyl to keep his business running — especially since the shop opened not long before the 2020 COVID pandemic hit the United States. 

Despite the difficult times, Thrifty Sounds remained strong, keeping its doors open even through its initial bumps and rough spots.

Lee continued, “Some days we’d come in for seven hours and at the beginning, we would make $0. Nobody would come in, and that was tough. But it’s worth it when a person comes in for this, or looks at that, [and we can] kind of get out our stuff.”

For Lee, it’s just as much about the business as it is about being able to share his passions. Working in the music and events industry for so long, Lee has always been serving patrons in one way or another. 

Still, with a simple shift in perspective, Lee found not only a new career, but a new way to bless his community.

“You know, when I looked at it like that, it was pretty cool [to hear] that they’ve been looking for this record for however long and all of a sudden they’re walking out with it,” he said. “That part’s been really cool.” 

After spending most of his life working behind the scenes, Lee is finally taking center stage, interacting with his client base face-to-face. 

While allowing patrons to relive old memories through VHS tapes and record players, the value of Lee’s passion project is far greater. After all, Thrifty Sounds sells a little bit of everything — and as the next generation of music-lovers and thrift shoppers passes through its doors, Lee hopes to not only provide them with the legacy of the ‘80s, but to offer new memories that will bridge the gap from one generation to the next.

Located on 113 W. Washington St. in Hartford City, Thrifty Sounds is open Wednesday through Saturday during select hours throughout the season. New and returning customers are always welcome, and old headliners and new bands are sure to be playing from the moment you step through the door.