Musician creates retail store with more

The Music Man has returned. To be accurate, John Guilbeault never really left Salmon Arm, though it’s been a while…

New addition: Owner John Guilbeault in his newly opened music store The Music Man located at 248 Shuswap Street.

New addition: Owner John Guilbeault in his newly opened music store The Music Man located at 248 Shuswap Street.

The Music Man has returned.

To be accurate, John Guilbeault never really left Salmon Arm, though it’s been a while since he’s had a music store in town. The owner of the former Blue Water Music set up shop last summer as The Music Man in Sicamous. He’s since moved that business to Salmon Arm, on Shuswap Street (where  Superb Donair was located), and he opened his doors Aug. 16.

Guilbeault has been playing music (guitar in particular), since he was 14, and has more than 30 years experience in retail – working at or operating music stores.

Like other music stores, The Music Man offers lessons, rentals, repairs, sales and more. There will be a studio set up in the back for recording, as well as space to demo instruments and amps.

With the large space up front, Guilbeault also has plans for weekend live entertainment.

“Once I start it, then it’s going to be ongoing,” he says. “It’s not going to be a shot in the dark thing and then go, ‘oh, it didn’t work.’ It has to be ongoing.”

Coffee will also be on, with tables and chairs available, for those looking for a place to socialize and maybe listen to music. Guilbeault says the music-store-and-more approach is a matter of keeping up with the times.

“That was an ’80s game, fill the music store with music stuff and wait for the people to come in – in the ’80s you could do that, today no way. That’s why the entertainment, that’s why the coffee shop… who knows what else I’ll bring in,” said Guilbeault.

The Music Man, at 248 Shuswap Street is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more info, visit http://www.musicmansalmonarm.com.

 

Salmon Arm Observer