Jay and Sara Simpson have been married for more than 27 years and are proud parents of three sons and three dogs in Rock Hill, South Carolina. You have probably seen them around town with a smile, often wearing tie dye and always supporting the local arts scene.
As the owners of Ramble On Records, they have turned their shared love of music and creativity into a beloved local record store. What began at The Hickory Post has grown into a full brick and mortar location on Caldwell Street, which opened in 2025 in the heart of Old Town Rock Hill.
Their passion for art, live concerts, galleries, and discovering new music has shaped the welcoming space they have created. Ramble On Records is more than a shop. It is a place to connect, explore new sounds, and add something special to your record collection while supporting local.
Rhythm & Roots in Rock Hill.
Jay and Sara Simpson’s story began in the Buckeye State of Ohio, where they both grew up but did not know each other. Their fathers worked together for many years, and eventually both families relocated to the Carolinas for work. After Jay and Sara graduated from college, they moved from Ohio to the Carolinas, where their dads introduced them.
"We like to (jokingly) tell people we had an arranged marriage. We both grew up in Ohio, but didn’t know each other. Our dads worked together for many years. Sara’s dad got a job in Charlotte in 1996 and, soon after, he hired Jay’s dad. We both left college in Ohio and moved to the Carolinas in 1997/1998. Since we were new to the area, our dads recommended we meet so we could have a friend. We were married in November 1998. Best decision ever." - Jay and Sara Simpson
They quickly connected over their shared passion for the arts. They spent their time attending concerts and art events and were artists themselves. You have probably seen some of Sara’s work around town. She is a talented fiber artist whose pieces always catch the eye.
"Sara has a lengthy and varied art journey through the years. We both are always looking for new music to share with each other. Jay loves to research anything related to music and his favorite bands, so we have plenty to talk about at all times. We have done many art shows and had a small tie-dye business together for a few years." - Jay and Sara Simpson
Now, in Rock Hill, they’re bringing that shared creativity and hard work to life.
"We are big dreamers and idea people. We always knew we wanted to own our own business. We just needed time to figure out exactly what that would be." - Jay and Sara Simpson
Spinning their passion for music and art into community.
Vinyl has been around since 1948, and the resurgence of vinyl sales has been skyrocketing, especially since the 2010s. Heck, even the person writing this has been collecting since a young age.
For a while, Rock Hill was missing that piece of the music scene. Most people had to shop online or drive to the Queen City to get their vinyl needs met. That is where Jay and Sara came into play, seeing the gap in a growing community and stepping in to fill it.
"In 2020, Sara began renting an art studio in the Hickory Post. We were collecting records but always having to go to Charlotte for record stores. Over time, we got to know Sarah Vining better and she was always so supportive of our endeavors. Towards the end of 2021, we asked her if we could put a bin of records in the shop just to see what would happen. Well, they took off pretty quickly. First it was one bin, then two, then three. We eventually rented a small space in the basement that, over the three years we were there, turned into three spaces." - Jay and Sara Simpson
The small space at The Hickory Post eventually led to the Caldwell Street location opening in 2025, where you can now stop by and find all your record needs in one place.
It is not only a space for music, but also home to the Goodle Daze Art Gallery, located right inside the store. There, you can explore rotating exhibits and attend special events throughout the year. If you are an artist, you can even sign up for their newest exhibition, All Killer, No Filler.
"We learned that there are a lot of people in the area who were also tired of driving to Charlotte for records. The community has been so supportive and engaged. We are very community-minded and care for our customers. We have always wanted to create a safe, fun space that people can come to talk about music, art, and have fun discovering new favorites."- Jay and Sara Simpson
Vinyl & Vows.
Many people in a relationship love their partner dearly but could not imagine working together. Even running a business might seem like a nightmare. For others, it means more time with their best friend. That is exactly how it is for Ramble on Records.
"The most rewarding part is being together every day. We have always spent a lot of time together - we spent the last eighteen years working from home. We support each other and there’s nothing more fun than showing up to work every day with your best friend."- Jay and Sara Simpson
Q&A With Ramble On Records
What’s your go-to date night in Rock Hill/York County?
"We love to support local businesses when we go out at night. You can find us a lot at Rock Hill Brewing, Slow Play Brewing, the Courtroom at the Gettys for concerts and art events, and supporting local restaurants like Rock Taco, Elk Avenue Tavern, and Burgers and Barley.
We have gotten to know the community at these places and made new friends."- Jay and Sara Simpson
If you had to pick the perfect record for a date night what would you pick?
Sara: For a fun, upbeat night, Billy Strings ‘Highway Prayers’ or Grateful Dead Europe 72. For a more romantic night, Mazzy Star ‘So Tonight That I Might See’ or Ray LaMontagne ‘Ouroboros’.
Jay: ‘Stiff’ by White Denim is 35 minutes of honky-tonk funky time! Also, the self-titled album by Ista is energetic psychedelic disco funk. So fun. - Jay and Sara Simpson
In the next five years, what are you hoping for the store and the surrounding area?
We want to possibly expand our space at some point. We also want to expand our support of local visual and musical artists.
We also daydream about a cool music venue in Rock Hill. - Jay and Sara Simpson
