Daddy's Junky Music closing all stores

[davidjbass]

I quess its a sign of the times but I will miss this chain.

By Doug Most, Globe Staff


Daddy’s Junky Music, a small, but beloved New Hampshire-based chain of music stores with shops across much of New England, has closed all of its stores for good. The company’s website says simply: “Daddys Junky Music Stores inc has ceased operation as of close of business on October 26th, 2011. Thank you for a wonderful 39 years.”

The chain was started by Fred Bramante in 1972 and grew to become one of the largest music retailers in the U.S., with stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont. Its walls and floors were stocked with new and used electric and acoustic guitars, drumsets, keyboard instruments, amplifiers and more.

Only a few weeks ago, Bramante was quoted saying the chain was closing some locations, but not all. “We will provide better presentation in markets where our experience tells us brick-and-mortar presence still works for Daddy’s.” But a report Wednesday night said legal issues had forced Bramante to close all the stores.

[dalkowski]

This sucks. For a chain, they were A-OK in my book.

Wonder if they're going to have a liquidation sale...

[leegreenman]

Sad to see. I live in the NYC area so I've only had a few opportunities to frequent their stores.

[Roscoe East]

Wow. I still own a couple of basses that I bought at Daddy's over the years.

[dangnewt]

Same here, my #1 bass (Peavey USA Millennium) was bought new but shopworn as a Manager's Special at the Daddy's in Dedham and a couple of months ago I bought a pair of used Peavey PA speakers. I was caught by surprise by the closing since Daddy's had recently moved (last summer) the Dedham store to much nicer space 1/2 mile up the road and started to carry Lakland Skyline basses.

This will be difficult for the staff as there didn't appear to be any warning, not even a going out of business sale.

I was always treated well and will miss checking out the used gear.

[LAPetrarca]

That sucks!

When they closed the one in RI back in August, I wrote them and asked if they might reconsider reopening in a different location....maybe someplace with a lower rent and focus more on used gear. No reply......

Too bad. I actually used to enjoy doing business with them. Bought LOTS of used gear as well as new gear from them. Their trade up guarantee on used gear was pretty hard to beat sometimes.

Just tried their website........no luck. It appears (at the moment) to be down!

[mp40smg]

On the news this morning, Daddy's out of business as of last night.

All stores closed up. Out of business.

[loend68]

This is sad news. I know people from the warehouse, the stores and right through to Fred Bramante himself. Good people and always took great care of me. They gave better trade in values and deals than GC ever did.
I now know many people out of work. Good luck to everyone there.

[Epidrake]

That stinks. I was going to go up to New Hampshire to visit family and check out there store later in the year. This economy is really bad.

[Clark Dark]

Near me in Philly 8th street music closed its doors years ago. Their clientele included most if not all of the philadelphia orchestra as well as musicians at large. What I've seen was these stores close then open eBay stores so watch for DJM to probably do the same.

[LAPetrarca]

They've had a presence on ebay for a while. Lots of "project" stuff.

[MisterFabulous]

Say it ain't so!

[BagelBruin]

Monday I will be in Massachusetts for the first time in years, and I was looking forward to checking out one of the stores. Oh well...

[pasta4lnch]

Bummer - I remember them from when I was at Berklee . . .

[jlane72t]

wicked bummah

[JoshuaTSP]

How are they liquidating their inventory?


That's too bad....I've always had good customer service experience with them.

[aguacateojos]

I just saw that too... is it bad that my first thought was "great, and I don't have any spare money to score a deal"?

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by Epidrake

This economy is really bad.

It is, although there's also a fundamental shift in buying pattern that will never change, regardless of the economic condition. People will be buying their stuff on the internet when they can, more and more, from about 5 years ago on. Brick and mortar presence will be dominated by large chains that also have a strong internet presence.

One-off boutiques will be able to survive with the right location and set of circumstances, but regional brick and mortar chains like this one are caught in the middle. Their model doesn't work nearly as well anymore and they are expensive operations to run.

It's unfortunate for the people who lost jobs and who had their money tied up in the business.

[wagdog]

That's too bad because that's where I got all my used gear. They always had something interesting to look at.

[hifibass]

Apparently there may be some legal issues that need to be sorted out before they can do anything with the inventory. All the stores are locked with the inventory in place.