The music is about to die at Sam Ash.
The Hicksville, New York-based chain that describes itself as the largest family-owned music retailer in the United States, is shuttering its remaining 42 stores after a century in business. The firm has posted the news on its website and social media.
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce that all Sam Ash Music store locations will begin store closing sales," the company said. "Thank you for allowing us to serve musicians like you for 100 years."
The demise of Sam Ash — a seller of musical instruments and gear such as guitars, keyboards, amps, recording/live sound products, orchestra instruments and sheet music — is the latest retail casualty this year.
Several troubled chains, citing reasons spanning post-pandemic repercussions to competition from online sellers, are liquidating, including 99 Cents Only Stores, Rite Aid and Rue21. Others are slashing their retail brick-and-mortar footprints, including Macy's, Family Dollar and Express. Several have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
National Footprint
Sam Ash didn't immediately respond to an email from CoStar News on Monday seeking a comment.
Most of the retailer's stores nine, are in Florida, followed by California, with seven locations. The rest of its stores are in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, according to Sam Ash's website.
At one point Sam Ash had 44 stores and two office locations, according to CoStar data. At that time it was leasing 972,000 square feet of retail space, according to CoStar. But in March, Sam Ash signaled it was having financial woes when it said it planned to shut 18 stores. Now it said the remainder will be closed.
The chain's founder, Sam Ashkynase, was an immigrant from Austria who opened his first storefront in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, selling string instruments, horns and eventually records. He pawned his wife's engagement ring for $400 to make the down payment on that first store, according to the Sam Ash website.
Lessons and Repairs
The founder died in 1956, and the chain remained a family-run business and expanded nationally. Some Sam Ash stores began to offer lessons and instrument repairs, as well as monthly events including meet-and-greets, artist clinics, drum circles and open mic nights. The retailer's motto is "Come In and Play."
Sam Ash's Facebook page was full of comments lamenting the chain's demise and describing experiences buying instruments and listening to, and sometimes playing, music in its stores over the decades.
"Over the years I have worked, played and shopped at Sam Ash … it’s been a vital part of my life for as long as I can remember … a great family business, with a century’s worth of history supporting music and creativity and the arts … irreplaceable," one person posted.