Can You Feel the LOVE?

Records are spinning, music is pumping, the disco ball is sparkling, heads are bobbing, and dozens of rows of vinyl and CDs are begging to be explored. This is what hundreds of customers experience when they enter Love Garden Sounds, a record store on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kan.

            Open since 1989, Love Garden Sounds has attracted customers from all over the country and is a hotspot for locals. This record shop contains music from all different genres and different eras, from Pink Floyd to Florence and theMachine. Love Garden Sounds sells vinyl, CDs and other memorabilia, and displays colorful and unique artwork throughout the store.

           Dolores Jones, a customer at Love Garden Sounds since the store opened, loves to revisit old records and loves the nostalgic atmosphere.

          “Everyone wants to come here,” Jones said. “[Records are] the best way to hear music and I love coming here to reminisce.”

           Not only is the music constant and the decorations abundant, there are two cats who live in the store, Sam and Mickey, who were rescued from the Humane Society. They patrol the shelves and keep customers entertained. Also, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about music.  

          According to Josh Berwanger, an employee, the store is his “home” and is happy with his job, and that’s “all that really matters.

          The city of Lawrence has been quite receptive to Love Garden Sounds according to Taryn Miller, who has worked there for four years, and thoroughly enjoys her job.

          “Even with the atmosphere … there’s more traffic because it’s a big storefront,” Miller said. “People not even coming for records will just come to hang out … I feel like it’s definitely a staple in town. Overall, it’s just a fun place and we try to have fun with everything we do.”

Not only do customers love visiting the store, listening to music and browsing the selection, but the people who work there are also very passionate about their jobs.

           Another employee, Jon Harrison, is a part-time high school teacher who also has a passion for music. Harrison has been at Love Garden Sounds since 1990 and has always enjoyed working with all the different co-workers he has had over the years.

          “I have absolutely adored everyone I have worked with here. I’ve worked with the nicest, funniest, smartest people ever,” Harrison said. “They’re geniuses, artists, amateur comedians … I’ve never worked with someone I wasn’t generally fond of. [The people] are the best part … everyone who is here wants to be here.”

           One can really feel the passion and feelings that this record store produces. Whether it’s the artwork, the music, the cats or the people, Love Garden Sounds really makes people feel like they’re where they belong.