Phat Tracks Books & Records
Phat Tracks isn’t your average bookstore: and that’s the whole point.
Born out of frustration with sanitized shelves, overpriced mediocrity, and the creeping corporatization of everything, Phat Tracks is a space for the curious, the loud, the weird, and the pissed-off. We’re a proudly independent book and record store rooted in punk values, dark lit, offbeat nonfiction, banned books, banned bands, and a deep love for art that means something.
We carry the stories most stores won’t touch, the music that doesn’t make the mainstream algorithm, and the kind of zines, merch, and local goods that remind you culture doesn’t come from brands, it comes from people.
We built this place ourselves –no investors, no safety nets– just stubbornness, caffeine, and a belief that we still deserve a space to think, read, listen, and get a little loud.
Whether you’re here for dark romance, underground vinyl, anarchist lit, DIY zines, or just want a good cup of coffee while you flip through something real: welcome. You belong here.
Stay sharp. Stay loud. Stay human.
Who we are
Thomas West
Thomas has been punk since before he knew what the word meant. Raised on rebellion, cassette tapes, and the kind of books that got you detention if teachers actually read them. He’s spent decades chasing curiosity across industries: He’s been a radio DJ, an ordained minister, a land surveyor, a company owner, and a chronic book-pusher.
He holds a philosophy degree but doesn’t flaunt it (unless you bring up ethics, Hume, or the slow death of third places). His love of loud guitars lives comfortably alongside a soft spot for crooners and dusty western ballads: the kind of music you’d hear in a bar where no one asks your name.
Phat Tracks is what happens when someone builds the kind of store they always wished existed — and decides to run it like a philosophy major with nothing to lose.
Tawn West
If you met Tawn on the street, you’d probably think she’s the sweetest person alive : soft-spoken, bright smile, probably into pumpkin spice and cute animals. And you’d be exactly right. But what you wouldn’t expect is her bookshelf full of dark romance, her encyclopedic knowledge of horror movies, or the way she lights up when heavy metal kicks in.
Tawn holds a Master’s in counseling with an undergrad in psychology, and she’s spent most of her adult life helping people navigate their own chaos with a mix of empathy, honesty, and well-placed sarcasm. She was diagnosed with Type 1b diabetes in her late 30s, a rare, late-onset form with a genetic twist, and she manages it with the same fierce grace she brings to everything else.
At Phat Tracks, Tawn brings the balance. She’s the one making sure there’s something for everyone, especially the soft-hearted weirdos who love brutal stories, broken heroes, and happy endings that are earned, not assumed.
