003 SYDNEY BROWN
on Curating, Community, and Building Grandaddy Records
PHOTO: MAURIELLO
Inside Grandaddy Records & Vintage, nothing feels random. Records sit next to racks of worn denim and faded band tees, small objects tucked into corners like they have always belonged there. The space feels lived in, but also carefully put together. That balance is what Sydney Brown seems to enjoy the most.
Lately, she says creativity has been showing up through curating more than anything else.
“I’m finding a lot of fulfillment through curating. Whether it’s putting together a new collection of vintage items that complement each other, selecting records for our Vinyl Nights, or creating a group of rugs that share a similar theme. I enjoy the process of bringing pieces together in a way that feels thoughtful and cohesive.”
That instinct to put things together started early. Growing up around photography and painting, she was surrounded by work her grandfather made, and the idea that objects could hold meaning stuck with her.
“I was always amazed by the idea that you could create something to embody an experience and then live with it. Something you loved and could hold onto in your space.”
Around the same time, she was learning that if you wanted to find anything interesting, you usually had to go looking for it yourself. Thrifting, digging, searching for pieces that felt different from everything else. Music was always part of that environment too, and over time those things started to overlap.
“I think those experiences naturally shaped my love for curating and bringing pieces together in a thoughtful way. Pair music with all of those situations and you have a perfect creative setting.”
Her process still works the same way now. Most ideas start on paper before they turn into anything real.
“I usually start by writing things down. Lots of lists. That’s how I organize ideas and projects I want to work on. Inspiration really comes in waves, so I try not to force the creative process. If there’s something I want to create, I’ll sit with the idea for a bit and let it develop. Once something clicks, I’m all in.”
That same mindset carries into the way she searches for things for the shop. When she is digging through records or vintage clothing, the first thing that catches her attention is usually something small.
PHOTO: @GRANDADDYRECORDS
“The album artwork when it comes to records, and for clothing a good vintage tag.”
Grandaddy Records & Vintage grew out of that same way of thinking. She had been collecting vintage for years, and her partner Tyler had always talked about opening a record store.
“For a long time we thought of it as part of our retirement plan. But when the perfect space became available in our small town, it felt like one of those opportunities you can’t pass up. At that moment it just felt like a no brainer to go for it.”
From the start, the idea was never just to sell records. The goal was to make a space where people could spend time, discover things, and feel comfortable doing it.
“We wanted Grandaddy Records & Vintage to be an inclusive space where anyone could come and enjoy music and vintage. Being able to create a space where people can share, explore, and learn about music without limits or judgment was really important to us.”
Part of that has meant keeping the shop active beyond the racks and record bins. Along with running the store, Sydney also curates events and helps put together shows inside the space, bringing in artists, musicians, and friends of the shop whenever she can.
The nights change, the setup changes, but the idea stays the same. Find the right people, put them together in the same room, and let something happen.
That same momentum is starting to push the shop forward too. Grandaddy Records & Vintage is already preparing to expand, with plans for a second location set to be announced soon. For Sydney, it feels less like a big shift and more like a natural next step for something that has been growing from the start.
A lot of that approach comes from the artists who shaped the way she thinks about creativity in the first place.
“My top inspirations in vintage and fashion are David Bowie and Vivienne Westwood. Bowie really opened my eyes to the idea that fashion has no rules and can be completely gender fluid. Vivienne Westwood helped define punk fashion and brought a DIY, boundary breaking energy to clothing. Her designs weren’t polished on purpose. They celebrated imperfection and individuality, which really resonates with me.”
PHOTO: MAURIELLO
That idea of imperfection shows up in her own work too. The things she feels the strongest about usually come from moments that feel the most real.
“I’m most proud of the work that feels completely authentic to me. My most honest work tends to come out during the extremes. Either when I’m really down or when I’m experiencing a lot of joy. Those moments feel the most real, and that honesty naturally finds its way into what I create.”
Lately, the things catching her attention are small ones. Old squeak toys, pin back buttons, Cracker Jack charms. Objects that feel like they already lived a life before she found them.
Even the tools she keeps close are simple.
“A good pair of scissors and a tape measure.”
Inside Grandaddy Records & Vintage, those same kinds of details are everywhere. Records with worn covers, vintage tags from another era, pieces that do not match but somehow still belong together.
Nothing feels forced. Just the right pieces, finding their way into the same room.
