Lost & Found

Lost & Found sits in downtown Salisbury with vinyl, vintage items, consignment pieces, and the kind of alleyway location that rewards people who like to wander into something unexpected. Iain Rocco describes it as part record shop, part discovery space, and part reflection of Salisbury's small-town-but-big-scene energy.

Interview with Lost & Found

Lost & Found is a perfect name for a record shop. Is there a story behind it?

It was on a short list of names in the early planning stages. I try to jot things down when I get inspired, & the phrase Lost+Found kept popping up. I thought it would fit, as we also have vintage items & do consignment as well as vinyl. I kept coming back to it & when my said it was her favorite that kind of locked it in. I always say “naming things is hard”, it’s gotta be right. You have to live with it, & Lost+Found just fit everything we were trying to do & be.

Record bins and vintage pieces inside Lost & Found, matching Iain Rocco’s explanation of a shop built around more than vinyl alone.

Salisbury sits between Charlotte and the Triad without belonging to either. What does that in-between spot mean for who walks in?

People meet up in Salisbury from all over. Someone comes from Greensboro to meet their friend from Charlotte, or someone from Raleigh will meet their friend from Rock Hill. It’s wild, they have lunch & wander around our downtown. That’s great for us, we’re kind of off the beaten path. The shop sits in an alley, so right away you have to be a little adventurous to discover it. Out of towners are already exploring so they just come right in. We love it. Salisbury is a cool, weird little town that takes folks by surprise. We have a really robust music scene, 3 live theaters downtown, big on the arts & a lot of great food. We’re pretty spoiled, we’re a small town that thinks it’s a big city. People come & come back.

Customers gathering inside Lost & Found, the kind of cross-town meet-up energy Iain describes for Salisbury.

What do Rowan County regulars ask for most — and is there anything that sells here that wouldn't in a big-city shop?

There’s not really anything that gets asked for the most by our regulars. I think people want variety, classic albums but also new stuff. For a small town our folks have really good taste in music.

Which section has surprised you by quietly taking off?

Probably our local music section. I’m surprised by how willing our customers have been to take chances on new music & supporting local bands. Looking to expand it.

When someone wants to sell records, what's the best first move — photos, a call, just bringing a box in? And what makes you lean in once it's open?

Either a call or a text to the shop number. I’m not in the shop every day, so calling to either set up a time to come in or a time when I can come and look at the records is great.

What condition issues come up most in collections that have spent decades in North Carolina attics and garages?

Well, attics and garages aren’t the best storage places. Any variable temperature space can be bad for the vinyl. Heat can warp the discs and mildew can get to the sleeves. That’s usually the biggest issues. I had a guy recently bring in some really good records that had been in a damp basement. The covers were moldy and were sticking to the vinyl. You hate to see that

What's a find or a customer moment that stuck with you?

Just recently we had a guy at our open mic, he was here from out of town and one of our regulars brought him in. The whole night he would just randomly say how much he loved the vibe and he couldn’t believe this was here (in this small town). Eventually he got up and played a few songs, saying he hadn’t done that in years but he felt inspired. It was great to see, like I said we get spoiled with the talent that’s here & can forget how special it is until we see it through new eyes. I haven’t stopped thinking of that & how thankful I am to be in this scene & supported by such good folks

A cozy corner of Lost & Found, showing the discovery-space feel behind the shop’s name and customer stories.

First visit to Lost & Found — where should someone start flipping?

Oh wow. I have no idea. The space is really packed with weird, interesting things beyond the vinyl. I forget how overwhelming it can be on first visit. I recommend just wandering around & try to take in as much as you can. Stop & look at anything that draws you in. Then, after a lap, go to the “this just in” section. That’s where the new stuff lands

Last updated: 2026-08-01