T-Bones Records & Cafe — Restaurant in Hattiesburg

Very neat and I loved the idea to have a cafe with food that looked amazing inside a music store to help keep the music store open as my generation were the last to experience the days when I grew up as a teenager and looked forward to saving up my allowance to purchase my HUGE music collection (that I still PROUDLY have) collected all from music stores! However, as a truck driver from Pennsylvania hearing and learning about the history between Afroman and T-Bones Records and Afroman being the ONLY reason I heard of T-Bones, I was VERY disappointed when I went out of the way in a commercial truck and had a hard time finding a place to park it just to stop and show my support to a local record store that is still in business selling physical copies of music and see AT LEAST ONE PICTURE (MAYBE even with a autograph) on the wall of Afroman at T-Bones Records from the early days and I even thot I may have been at the wrong place! I was VERY surprised not to see ANYTHING!! Didn't even have a Afroman cd that I WOULD have purchased to add to my special even prouder personal "Golden Record Collection" just to say I got it from the original store that sold his music before anyone else did, but saw other cd's that I wouldn't of and don't have personally in MY collection!! I understand that was a long time ago and when I confirmed to the man at the counter that knew something was awkward about me that I stopped in because I heard the place was famous and I wanted to check it out, he was very kind but seemed bothered or had a flashback like maybe he was there at a time when the place may have been so busy he couldn't wait to go home or maybe he was continuously bothered by fans or media at the time as it was happening and thot the days were over that someone like me would be there or maybe I just surprised or caught him off guard. I am Someone that enjoys history and seeing and learning about where the seed was planted for the roots of something as it is and that it did to take off for a nobody as they say. I enjoy hearing about and seeing where and how it happened to others that were just a unknown person the same as I still am! I purchased a hat that I am proud to know where it came from that I showed my support to and later learned on my receipt the man at the counter gave me a discount on and he gave me 2 stickers that I'm giving one to my friend that is responsible for me hearing the story and learning about T-Bones Records & Afroman!! I would have gave 5 stars, but NOT 1 piece of history disappointed me and was the only thing I wanted to see with my own eyes in person from the original place where it started from. Congratulations on 25 years in business and Best Wishes from a truck driver from PA that stopped by as I was passing...

Honestly, I love 90% of everything about this place. The food, atmosphere, and music are great. I used to absolutely LOVE hanging out here. Now I only go occasionally because it still has my favorite coffee in town. The reason I'm giving it only 3⭐️ (and considered lower) is because the owner has made me (and his staff) uncomfortable. Once I was using the restroom and he banged AGGRESSIVELY on the door because he suspected I was an employee he was looking for. I swear, y'all, it was such a loud and hard several bangs that my poop crawled right back in my butt. 😭 No apology was made even though I yelled "someone in here" angrily, and the employee on duty was visibly shaken when I left the restroom. I know it was the owner because when I asked the employee, they were reluctant to say. I pressed the subject and let them know I'm no friend of his, and they finally relented and told me. That employee no longer works there, and they expressed how glad they are that they left when I last saw them. His employees are visibly nervous around him, save the couple dudes who've been there forever (who are awesome). Several employees have worried about talking to me for too long because they "might get in trouble", even though they were actively selling me records at that moment! That makes me feel uncomfortable and on edge when I am shopping at a small business, especially one that sells music. They should be able to give me recommendations and talk bands with me. I wasn't taking their attention away from other customers either, as I was the only one at the time. I've also learned from several past employees that the owner treats staff poorly, from not allowing them to talk amongst themselves in the kitchen, to not allowing them to talk to customers they know for more than a few brief seconds, to saying racial slurs such as the N-word to white employees (but of course never around black employees because he doesn't wanna face those repercussions). They changed their hours after covid, cutting out what seemed to be a very successful Sunday brunch and shortening daily hours, and I can't help but think it has something to do with their inability to keep staff. All in all, it's difficult to openly support a business with practices like this, no matter how much I love everything else about it. I'll still get an occasional coffee or sandwich there, but I don't give them my money weekly like I would have 6 years ago. I no longer sit for hours reading or writing, ordering multiple drinks throughout. I also no longer recommend them to others, and I actively warn friends not to work there. Treat your employees better, and you'll be able to keep more staff and customers. Happy employees make for...

There is nothing else Like T-Bones!!

You can fill your void with Vinyl, CDs and good grub.

A unique, one-of-a-kind place local to Hattiesburg and conveniently on Hardy street heading towards the reviving downtown.

You walk in to a full fledged record shop. Albums, records and music for all genres. New, used and mystery packs are available. Shop the merch; hats, T-shirts and stickers among other paraphernalia.

Good sandwiches, salads, breakfast items and desserts.

Order at the counter, pay, get your drink and find a table. The soothing sounds of whatever the DJ is spinning will fill your ears until your dinner is served.

Today we had the club sandwich and Havana ham. It’s was toasted in a panini press, piled with the meats and dressed the way you want it. Chips, Mac and cheese or a salad.

The chicken salad on croissant is good. It’s actually warmed and served with cheese. A unique experience.

The cheat code here is to order the Havana Ham sandwich on a toasted croissant 🥐!

The hummus is good and served with pita toasted on the flat top.

Soft drinks and teas abound.

Good service, good food, it’s not fast but it’s...