Michael Gippetti of Oakdale has worn many hats: he’s a freelance lawyer, a snowboarder and the owner of Better Nature Records in Sayville.

But this record store is more than just… a record store. It’s a place to unwind with a large leather couch where often someone can be found playing Xbox. It’s a place to buy band merch, a guitar or a record player for the many vinyl’s available throughout the shop.

And, it will be a center for musicians to connect, play their music or even hold album release parties. There has already been three shows at this record shop.

“I would like to just thank everybody for being so kind,” Gippetti said of the opening process. “All these last few months as we try to figure everything out at the store, everybody’s been so welcoming and we’ve had so much good feedback. Everyone has been just incredible.”

Gippetti graduated from SUNY Oneata with a degree in economics and later went to law school out in San Diego, and later Brooklyn.

“I graduated in 2009 at the heart of the recession,” Gippetti said. “After that, most of my experience is in security law, stock market regulation type stuff. But I’ve done all types of stuff, like corporate law.”

After a serious snowboarding accident, Gippetti had to take some time off for work. During that time, he decided to become a freelance attorney.

“I fell in love with it,” he said. “It just gave me lots of free time in terms of my schedule, and the money is good. I’m not wearing a suit all day. I’m not stuck in an office all day. I absolutely love it.”

With all that free time, and plenty of passion for music, Gippetti saw a great opportunity to open up a record store in Sayville: a place he hopes to become more than just a record store.

“I thought I could add to it by adding guitars and guitar pedals, [among many other products,]” Gippetti said. “And Sayville has such a vibrant music community and Long Island is a huge vibrant artistic community… I just feel they don’t really have much out here to support the local artists.”

Gippetti hopes to fill that void by providing a space for artists. Better Nature Records will be hosting its first album release party on January 29.

“I want bands to kind of see Better Nature Records as the go-to place for album release parties like this, merch drops,” Gippetti said. “We have a chill out area over here, so everyone is more than welcome to come and play Xbox.”

And another unique addition to this record store will be legal services just for the artists.

“I’m in a unique situation where I can offer musicians and artists services that most record shops cannot,” Gippetti said. “We’re offering record label services… I think it’s a huge demand out there for musicians and artists on Instagram who don’t want to sign with a record label, but need record label like services, from helping with sponsorships or branding.”

Come check out Better Nature Records! They can be found at 56 S Main Street in Sayville.