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IT is a sad day for musicians in one state as the last location of one trade store is closing down for good.
Sam Ash Music in New Haven, Connecticut, is the last store of its name in the state, and come late May, it will shutter its doors for the last time.
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Eric D’Eugenio confirmed with CT Insider that the location would be closing in the Spring.
While the corporate office did not give a reason as to why the location was closing, D’Eugenio was able to shed some light on the direction of the company.
He said that multiple other locations across the country are expected to close this coming year.
An employee of a Florida Sam Ash location that has recently announced its closure revealed that the company plans to close 18 stores total, as reported by The Patch.
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The company was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1924, eventually growing to 45 locations in 16 states; soon to be only 15.
As the location prepares to close, they are running storewide sales, that have left some customers wanting.
“I was a musician — not anymore. I still like to go in and look,” explained Bob Mansfield.
“But they don’t have much.”
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Most items are currently only marked down by 5%, with some more specialized items reduced by up to 20%.
Patrons of the store are sad to see it go, wondering where they will go now that their local store will be gone.
“I think it sucks,” said Mike Merrill, who had just bought an acoustic guitar just two weeks prior, reported the New Haven Register.
Merill is unsure where he will go to now, as physically testing out his instrument before buying it is integral to his creative process.
“If I’m going to buy an amp, I want to be able to play through it,” he said.
Jack Libero of Goldie & Libro’s, who is active in the local music scene is devastated to see the establishment close.
“It’s a situation where I don’t think it’s going to get better. I think it’s just the beginning,” he said of music shops closing down.
“It’s the effect of the economy, the effect of online buying,” said Libero, whose own establishment has only survived by selling through school systems and joining the nationwide Music & Arts conglomerate.
