Philip Rollins – Photograph taken by: Brent McQuillin Standing in front of the old location: 151 Wesley Avenue in Jxn

Philip Rollins, AKA DJ “Young Venom,” has spent the last eight years cultivating and curating art for Offbeat, an alternative culture store, which he owns and operates, in Jackson, Miss. Rollins, 38, recently moved his store from Midtown, a neighborhood just north of downtown that visitjackson.com describes as “diverse” and “up-and-coming.” It has relocated to North State Street amid downtown Jackson’s government buildings, museums, restaurants, hotels and residential growth. Nine years ago, Rollins attended the Mississippi Black Leadership Institute where, at its conclusion, participants proposed projects that would have a lasting impact on the community. He recalls being in a room full of councilmen, aldermen, lawyers and doctors who would go on to run for office and start private practices. He chose to set his sights, however, on the arts. Since he wasn’t sure a stand alone art gallery or record shop would survive, he incorporated a variety of “alternative” art into one store. Enter Offbeat. Opened in 2014, the cozy, quaint culture store is a haven for fans of Japanese anime, designer toys, comic books, vinyl figures and, of course, vinyl records. Records you didn’t even know you were looking for can be found at Offbeat. It has also served as a venue for showcasing the talent of local independent musicians, sculptors, painters and poets. The store’s inventory might explain why its consumers are so diverse. Sixty percent are black or brown, 40 percent are white, and their ages range from 17-65.

Photo by Meredith Hairston

Louisa Whitfield-Smith, 42, is a library consultant. She frequents Offbeat and describes herself as, “… just a very happy patron.” She said, “[Offbeat] is a place to go get excited; see music that you’re excited about; a ritual; a space in the city to hang and to talk about what just came out.”

Photo by Meredith Hairston

Thirty-five-year-old Ryan Weary works for a non-profit organization in Richland, Miss. He said, “Offbeat is a pillar and when it first started in the arts district, it just made sense where it was.” While not even a Jacksonian himself, he said he came to enjoy what the store represented to the city and surrounding areas. Rollins believes location affects his business in a positive way. “There are comic book stores and record stores in the suburbs outside of majority black cities. So to put one in a city that is majority black, I felt it was very important.” While Rollins admits this was not an at-will move, he is looking forward to a new start. He said, “It is kind of freeing to see everything in a different way and how I am positioning stuff and repurposing the space for people to shop in and hang out in.”

Photo by Meredith Hairston

Offbeat’s new downtown location had a soft opening Saturday, Oct. 8. Customers stopped by to see the new place. Some chatted with Rollins and got new recommendations. Some looked for records and comics, while others caught up with old store friends. When asked what he thought of the new location, Weary said, “I think it gives a little bit more of a spotlight to it, but it still feels very authentically Offbeat.” Whitfield-Smith said, “There is no other Offbeat. It’s in the name. I’ll buy a comic the same day I’m buying a piece of vinyl…It’s just a force for good in our community.” Offbeat is now located at 109 North State St. in Jackson. The store hours are: Wednesday and Thursday from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. The store website is offbeatjxn.com.