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Though Electric Crayon Records now sits mostly filled with tunes, turntables and a TV, the owners plan to add a couch and provide coffee from the Caffeinery, so people can be comfortable and discuss music free of charge.

Jordie said all are welcome at Electric Crayon Records. She doesn’t want people to come in and be ashamed of their tastes if they are more “mainstream.”

“Everybody is accepted no matter what music you like. You’re not going to get made fun of for not knowing a band or liking a particular band,” Grant said. “If you like Taylor Swift, that’s who you like … I don’t think we get to choose what music we like.”

Grant said you can find out a lot about a person or what they’re going through based on their music choices, but he doesn’t like it when they are scared to walk into a record shop because of “music snobs.”

Right now, Electric Crayon Records has between 2,500 to 3,000 records, mostly in “dad rock,” and ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s rock. They also have country, alternative, punk and death metal music. Records ranged from Rush to Sleep to Bob Marley to George Michael to Billie Eilish.

The store is looking to get more records, so if they don’t have a record someone is interested in, they’ll order it for them or refer them to another record shop.

Electric Crayon Records wants to use their platform to support other shops like Locked Groove Records, Savage’s Ale House, Elm Street Brewing Company and other local businesses.

Thorpe said the businesses can help each other because with Locked Groove, the owner there carries a lot of what Electric Crayon Records lacks.

“It’s 70,000 people, but we all know each other,” Thorpe said. “It’s not [a small town], but it feels like it.”

Thorpe invites young people to come in and hangout, whether they’re new to records or have been listening for years.

Electric Crayon Records offers Ball State students 10 percent off at their store on Wednesdays with a student ID. This goes for everything but their “offensively-priced shelf,” a ledge filled with records costing high amounts, with a HIM set going for $850.

While the Butlers warned beginners to stay away from Crosley and Victrola, Thorpe said the equipment listeners use in the beginning doesn’t really matter, it’s about finding the music.

“Kind of pick an artist or two that you like, start buying and then just ask questions,” he said.

“Obviously, we don’t know new stuff as well, but we can point you to a band … You can kind of expand your knowledge from there.”

More information on Electric Crayon Records can be found on their Facebook and Instagram pages. They are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. six days a week and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays.

Contact Lila Fierek with comments at lkfierek@ bsu.edu.