When Jared Harvey looked around Jonesboro a few years ago, he thought the city was missing something – a record store. 

At the time, Harvey was an electrician in his 50s. Opening a record shop wasn't part of a lifelong business plan, but after years of enjoying music and collecting records, he decided to do something about the gap he saw in the local market.

“I just decided to take the plunge,” said Harvey.

That leap became Jonesboogie Records, a shop that has steadily grown into a destination for collectors, casual listeners and anyone who still enjoys browsing physical music. Harvey got his start selling records at flea markets around 2021 before opening a storefront in December 2024, giving customers a local place to hunt for albums both old and new.

A Jonesboro native and Nettleton High School graduate, Harvey grew up visiting local record stores such as Record Exchange and Hot Dog. Those shops helped shape his appreciation for physical music, and today he’s providing that same opportunity for a new generation of customers, as well as longtime vinyl connoisseurs.

Inside Jonesboogie Records, visitors will find shelves stocked with new and used vinyl records alongside CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks and posters. Harvey also offers special orders, which typically arrive within about a week. His musical tastes are as wide-ranging as the store’s inventory.

“I like a little bit of everything,” he said. “I like everything from bluegrass to heavy metal.”

That variety is reflected in what customers discover when they stop by the store. Whether someone is searching for a classic rock album, country record, hip-hop release or something more obscure, Harvey wants the store to offer choices that appeal to different tastes.

While streaming has made nearly every song available with a few taps on a phone, Harvey believes physical media still has a place. He doesn’t frame the conversation as a competition between vinyl and streaming; instead, he sees records, CDs and tapes as another way for people to experience music.

“Just personal choice, you know?” said Harvey. “I’m sure nostalgia plays some part in it, but I think it's cool.”

For collectors, there’s also something satisfying about building a library that belongs to them.

“I just always wanted a really nice record collection,” he said. 

Harvey said Jonesboogie Records adds something simple but meaningful to the community: “It’s a place for people to buy physical media.”

That focus has remained steady even as the business has changed. Three months ago, Jonesboogie Records moved into a new location after Harvey’s circumstances changed.

“I needed to find a cheaper location,” he said.

The move has turned out to be a positive one. Harvey said the new storefront gives the business greater visibility and more customers walking through the door.

“It’s cheaper, I get more traffic (and) I think I’m more visible,” he said.

Like any small business owner, Harvey said operating a shop comes with its share of challenges, though he doesn’t see his experience as unique. Ask him about the best part of owning Jonesboogie Records, however, and his answer comes quickly.

“People,” he said. “Hopefully I’ve made some lifelong friends, but there’s a lot of really, really good people.”

Looking ahead, Harvey’s goals remain practical. He hopes the business continues to grow and eventually reaches the point where he can hire someone to help on weekends.

For now, he’s content knowing the idea that started with a simple observation—that Jonesboro needed a record store—has become a place where music lovers can browse, collect and keep physical media spinning for years to come.

Jonesboogie Records is located at 3521 E Nettleton Ave. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. To learn more about Jonesboogie Records, call (870) 206-7073, visit jonesboogie.com or find the store on Facebook.