Located in an old house on 504 North Maney Ave., local Murfreesboro book and media store Crying Cat Books and Records celebrated its 5th anniversary on March 22. People of all ages, races, genders and sexual identities traveled from across Tennessee to browse the store and admire the art created by local artists.

Right outside of the store, dozens gathered on the porch to listen to acoustic sets from emerging musicians Morgan Clonce, Erica Case, Felix Tandem, Aly Anomaly, Brendon Donoho and Madelyn Claire.

Local vendors were also invited to sell their unique items in the store’s parking lot. Items ranged from vintage clothing, custom cakes and handmade ceramics.

The true magic happened inside of the house, which was packed with book and record enthusiasts scanning the shelves. It was difficult to pass through any room without slipping out a “sorry” or “excuse me,” eager to see everything the store had to offer.

With the excitement of the day, Crying Cat owner Terri DeLong still made sure to greet and converse with every single person who walked in. It is this kind of welcoming environment that keeps people coming back, including longtime Crying Cat patron Brianna Guevara.

“Overall, I really like the atmosphere here,” Guevara said, “It’s relaxing, everyone feels very welcome. There’s something for everyone here.”

Nyosha Foster—one of the local vendors who sold re-worked denim, scrunchies, keychains and cups—describes herself as being “addicted” to the shop. She loves how openly political they are at a time when businesses tend to shy away from it.

“I think it is great with them being so open about their politics, that it’s openly a safe space, so everyone feels welcome,” Foster said.

Crying Cat’s commitment to standing up for their politics is intentional. Fritz Valentine, a trans illustrator, serves as Crying Cat’s manager who runs the daily operations during the weekdays, manages its social media and organizes all the events happening at the store. Valentine prides themselves on their integrity, and they and DeLong are committed to creating a safe space for everyone.

“I think if we backed down on stuff and didn’t stand up for stuff we actually care about, it would be obvious,” Valentine said. “It would feel really, really dishonest, and I don’t even know how to do that.”

This welcoming nature and commitment to creating a safe space for people of all backgrounds and identities is what makes Crying Cat stand out to musician Brendon Donoho.

Donoho, who has been a Murfreesboro resident for 9 years, consistently feels welcome at the store, even though he doesn’t get to contribute to them financially as much as he’d like to. To him, it feels like coming home and being part of their community.

“I think a lot of times, businesses come and go because it feels like they just set up and sell stuff, which is cool. But I think they [Crying Cat] are part of the community, and they fill a need and a niche in the community,” Donoho said.

For the latest from Crying Cat Books and Records, check out their website or follow them on Instagram.