Lucky for local retailers, when Bruce Springsteen came to town to record "The Rising" (2002) and his latest CD "Magic" (2007), he didn't stay holed up in his Four Seasons suite or Southern Tracks Studios, where he records. To the contrary — the rock legend has been known to pop up around Atlanta like a regular Joe. (Kind of). He and the E Street Band return to perform at Philips Arena this weekend, so we talked to a few people who had a past brush with the Boss:

Sonia Murray/AJC (ENLARGE)
Beau Nolen, the general manager at Smith's Olde Bar, met the Boss when Tom Morello, a.k.a. The Nightwatchman, played there.
Sonia Murray/AJC (ENLARGE)
Sean Bourne was the only employee working at Wax 'N Facts when Bruce Springsteen came in and bought several hundred dollars worth of records.
Sonia Murray/AJC (ENLARGE)
Bruce Springsteen first caught the attention of A Cappella Books employee Chris Fanning because he was wearing a leather jacket in 90-degree temperatures.
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IF YOU GO Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. 7:30 p.m Friday, Philips Arena, One Philips Drive. $65-$95 at Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400 or www.ticketmaster.com. RELATED LINKS: • Blog: Springsteen can't be missed • Photos: The Boss kicks off tour • E Street band member dies • Springsteen endorses Obama • Map:Atlanta's independent record stores • Find other concerts

BRUSH NO. 1

The place: Wax 'N Facts

The person: Sean Bourne

The brush: "What's funny is it was one of the rare days when I was the only [employee] in the store. He came in with [Southern Tracks'] Jeff Calder. And he was in here for a while before he finally just [reaches over the counter, extends his hand and says] 'Hi, I'm Bruce.'

"He asked about some Hendrix. Some punk — you know, Green Day. Said he was buying some records for his boys — and I'm guessing he meant his kids, because I'm sure [E Street Band member] Steven Van Zandt has no problem getting records. Anyway, he hung out for about 30 minutes. [Bought a few hundred dollars worth of records]. And by the time he left I'd say about 20 people came through here, and the only ones who recognized him were like two teenage girls."

BRUSH NO. 2

The place: A Cappella Books

The person: Chris Fanning

The brush: "You know, he first caught my attention because I remembered it was some guy wearing a leather jacket in like 90-degree weather," Fanning recalls. "And I though that was weird. Then I heard him talk. And I was like, 'that sounds like Bruce Springsteen.' Then, 'Well I'll be damned, that is Bruce Springsteen!'"

Fanning didn't walk up and introduce himself. ("I didn't want to be that guy," he said). And when Springsteen finally asked to look at some music books higher on the shelves, behind the register, "I talked to him about as much as you talk to any other customer."

See, Fanning doesn't describe himself as a huge Springsteen fan. "Some of his music's kind of questionable," he explains. "Then again, the '80s were kind of questionable. He's got some hot tracks though."

BRUSH NO. 3

The place: Smith's Olde Bar

The person: Beau Nolen

The brush: "Tom Morello's road manager came to sound check and said, 'Hey, there might be a special guest here tonight," recalls Nolen, the general manager. "And I knew that Tom was recording with [Atlanta producer] Brendan O'Brien, and Bruce Springsteen was, too. ... But all day long I'm thinking, 'Who could it be?' Finally's Tom's manager was like, 'All I can say is, it's the boss.' And I said 'Say no more.'"

So Nolen roped off a private table at the side of the stage. And just before Morello's show [as alter ego The Nightwatchman], "there he was," Nolen said. "But I heard him before I saw him. And I was like, 'Wow, that's Bruce Springsteen.' He was just talking about music with The Nightwatchman and Brendan, drinking some wine, kicking back. Three incredible musicians, poets, just the whole deal.

"I was a little like, '[nervously] Hey, Mr. Springsteen. How are you? I was starstruck for sure. ... But everything was real chill for the entire show. Nobody messed with Bruce. He went back[stage] afterwards and had another glass of wine, then he was out the back door. We had a car running the entire time — like the Batmobile."