Sad experience.

Gary Blanchard

Gary Blanchard

beloved, local musician
Carol is looking for a small electronic keyboard so she can do some background music as she reads her poetry, so we went to one of our local music stores. This is the same store that I bought the ESp Strat and LAG 12-string from. Two months ago they had two rooms of acoustic guitars,one larger room for cheaper acoustics and another, smaller, humidified room for upper end acoustics. They also had a variety of electric guitars in another room. Last night the large room was empty and the humidified room had cheap to expensive guitars. The selection of electrics was small. They already went from a regional 5-store chain to one store and I fear they are probably on their way out.

Bummer. :(
 
Oh no! Sad to a good store go. Did you ask them what was up?

My favorite guitar store, Buffalo Bros. had two floors of mostly acoustic guitars. The upstairs was higher end Martins and Collings, Dobros and mandolins. Last time I went, the had cleared it out getting ready to lease it out.
 
Oddly enough a new Guitar Center just opened up here late last year. Seems like stores like that are on their way out.
 
tgk03 said:
Oh no! Sad to a good store go. Did you ask them what was up?

My favorite guitar store, Buffalo Bros. had two floors of mostly acoustic guitars. The upstairs was higher end Martins and Collings, Dobros and mandolins. Last time I went, the had cleared it out getting ready to lease it out.
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The guy who waited on us is an employee; I tried to get some response by commenting on the empty guitar room, but he just gave a non-committal response. That company might do like my last employer and tell everyone at the end of a workday, "By the way, we're closing after tonight..."
 
We lost our best boutique guitar shop last year. The owner wanted to retire. Several independents around still, but his was the only vintage and high-end acoustic guitar shop. There's another guy who deals in mostly vintage electric guitars, but he's opening the doors less often now and moving more biz online.
 
the shop I got my first "proper" guitar from closed many many years ago.
many years later, the gal that ran the shop became a member at the church I worked at.
was nice to see her again, but I still kinda wish the store was around.
 
We had the exact opposite happen in my little town. Until November we had to drive into Santa Cruz where there are probably 5 stores. There was a pet supply store that went out of business (due to petco undercutting the market) and the owner was looking for tenants. One of his employees had a friend who owned a couple of music stores in the Seattle area, and they got to talking. Turns out he had enough inventory to fill another store...and so we now have a mom/pop local. Not the best selection but lots of unique instruments. A bit eclectic, but it fits our town. So far i have only picked up some strings and played a few of their acoustics and a resonator, but am eying a mandolin.
 
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