Picture this: Inside the new retail space on Saturday during grand opening festivities, we find Music Street owner Zach Haltvick. Long-time Main Street staple Music Street had a remarkable event as it held a grand reopening on Friday and Saturday. After moving just a block over from its previous location to the old Note Gallery space, it almost doubled its square footage.

History and Move

Music Street was started by Lon Wright in 1985 and moved into the old 212 West Main location in 1986 after about two years in the Market Street Mall. Now, after 38 years, it has relocated to 356 West Main. This move was a celebration in itself, especially as part of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. The store hosted a grand reopening, serving hot chocolate and cookies and offering a giveaway drawing that included a guitar and a ukulele.

New Space Advantages

The idea of a new space for the store had been in the air for some time. When the Note Gallery decided to close and the space opened up, Haltvick saw it as a golden opportunity. The new space not only had a larger area but also came with an acoustic room. This room allows customers to try out instruments in a quiet environment away from the noise of other customers and the nearby road. It also eliminates the irregular sound reflections and reverberations that can occur in a large room. The size of the new space gives Haltvick the chance to host live music regularly. He hopes to see "whoever wants to play and whoever can" at the store, without any limitations on musical styles.

Owner's Journey

Haltvick became the owner of Music Street just last year. He never imagined himself working at a music store, let alone owning one. He was working at a car dealership in town but met Lon Wright through various music events in the area, including playing in the local band Route 68. When one of Music Street's employees left, Wright offered him the job in fall 2016. However, the desire to own the store soon grew on him. Born and raised near Rochester, he grew up in a musical family and started playing the saxophone early. As a young teen, he switched to the guitar. Throughout high school, he played in a rock band and they began recording their own music. This interest in recording and live sounds continued into college when he attended Moorhead State to study music and recording. He found that he "liked the behind the scene stuff... not playing as much as helping others who are playing." This is crucial in owning a music store where aiding musicians is the main focus.

Customer Connections

One customer during the reopening was Kim Howard. She started going to Music Street at the old location when she was in middle school with a flute. Now, she's here with her daughter, Asia, getting a new string and rosin for her daughter's violin. She was excited that the store has more space as the previous store was quite cramped. Music Street's primary market is local schools. It services instruments and provides rentals through its rent to buy program. This past summer, it serviced "over 300" instruments, taking them apart, cleaning and oiling them, and replacing pads and keys when needed. The store also hosts teachers to provide lessons in their space, including for voice, guitar, and piano.