What's new
By:
Filters
Drummerworld Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Sam Ash is closing 18 stores: UPDATE-Now closing all stores

BobC said:
Sam Ash's Paramus, NJ store closed a couple of years ago, but no surprise, as it had been going downhill for years. The store looked shoddy, and the drum room had a lot of low end junk. It was also in a very dangerous spot on Route 4, just past an entrance ramp next to the Garden State Plaza Mall, so it was very difficult to get to the right to pull in the lot.
Click to expand...

You didn't like the NASCAR pit-stop like challenge of getting in and out of that parking lot?
 
bermuda said:
Seriously, it's a hazard exiting the lot. There are two driveways, I recommend taking the southern-most one to get a few extra feet of warning on cars zooming around the curve from the left. At night you might have the advantage of seeing headlights coming. I'm a very assertive driver, but I'm always extra careful when I leave that store.

I don't know how the delivery trucks make it out safely.
Click to expand...
I just thought the 'burn rubber' comment was funny.
 
jeffwj said:
You didn't like the NASCAR pit-stop like challenge of getting in and out of that parking lot?
Click to expand...
Hello no, it was harrowing getting in and out, even though I did it for years, but with a few close calls. Route 4 in Paramus in general is very dangerous and hectic at certain times. The last time I was in the Ash store, it just looked and felt like a morgue; Very little activity, lots of cheap gear, ambivalent salespeople, and I remember the rug in the showroom was threadbare and worn out. I had a feeling it wouldn't last,
 
BobC said:
looked and felt like a morgue; Very little activity, lots of cheap gear, ambivalent salespeople, and I remember the rug in the showroom was threadbare and worn out. I had a feeling it wouldn't last,
Click to expand...
Exactly how I would describe most Guitar Centers.
 
BobC said:
Hello no, it was harrowing getting in and out, even though I did it for years, but with a few close calls. Route 4 in Paramus in general is very dangerous and hectic at certain times. The last time I was in the Ash store, it just looked and felt like a morgue; Very little activity, lots of cheap gear, ambivalent salespeople, and I remember the rug in the showroom was threadbare and worn out. I had a feeling it wouldn't last,
Click to expand...
If I'm correct, Paramus still has blue laws (where malls and other shopping centers are closed on Sundays). It was probably for religious reasons at first, but they kept it to have one day of lessened traffic.
 
DrumEatDrum said:
They have long since closed the store nearest me.

I visited the Hollywood store a few months back and it was a ghost town. Years ago they had so many drum kits you could barely walk through the store, but on this last visit you could hold a dance party in there, it was so barren.

I was looking to potentially buy a new crash cymbal, but they had so few cymbals, I didn't even see anything worth listening to.

I really think brick-and-mortar retail for the music industry is dead.

I live in Los Angeles where Guitar Center is based, and their local stores aren't much better. Most of the stores are converting a portion of salesroom space to lessons, repairs, and other things GC would never have considered in the past.
Click to expand...
AudioWonderland said:
That may be the point. They have them, but are not selling them
Click to expand...
I just left the Sam Ash Hollywood Drum Shop, and here’s how it looks as of today, March 9. There may be slightly fewer kits than in months past, but it’s hardly a ghost town, especially when it comes to cymbals. And it’s mostly high end stuff, which is why I found it incredibly hard to believe that they had so few cymbals that there wouldn’t be much to even try out.

I found a few cymbals I want, but right now the discount is a measly 5%. They’re going to be open through the end of June I believe, so I may wait it out until the discounts get bigger.

IMG_4934.jpeg
IMG_4935.jpeg
IMG_4936.jpeg

IMG_4932.jpeg
IMG_4937.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4929.jpeg
    IMG_4929.jpeg
    654 KB · Views: 3
  • IMG_4930.jpeg
    IMG_4930.jpeg
    794.3 KB · Views: 5
My nearest Guitar Center is such a ghost town, I am amazed they are even trying to stay open. There must be some legal or tax reason where keeping a big box store in a Weekend at Bernie’s situation is worth the cost of overhead.
 
bermuda said:
Clearwater is closing? Grrr... that was always a favorite stop when playing Ruth Eckerd Hall just around the corner. :(
Click to expand...
It saved my butt on a Bowzer gig or two. Forget a strap or a bass, boom…covered.
 
I am happy to say our local drum shop has outlasted both Sam ASH and GC...
 
bongoman said:
My nearest Guitar Center is such a ghost town, I am amazed they are even trying to stay open. There must be some legal or tax reason where keeping a big box store in a Weekend at Bernie’s situation is worth the cost of overhead.
Click to expand...

This one was loaded with equipment, until Christmas when it was wiped of a quarter to 1/3 of the guitar and bass inventory. It isn't back to fully stocked still.
 
Last edited:
jeffwj said:
If I'm correct, Paramus still has blue laws (where malls and other shopping centers are closed on Sundays). It was probably for religious reasons at first, but they kept it to have one day of lessened traffic.
Click to expand...
Yes, the blue laws are still in place in Paramus, and that's unfortunate for store owners who would like to open on Sundays. There's a LOT of retail business in that town, given Rts. 4 and 17, where most of the stores and malls are located.

I'm a big fan of Dale's also, Jeff. I've been there a few times over the last year or so. Every time I go to Gettysburg, I make the trip to Dale's.
 
vyacheslav said:
This is a partial list:

Huntington, NY
34th Street, NY City
Edison, NJ
Lombard, IL
Miami Lakes, FL
Clearwater, FL
City of Industry, CA
Atlanta, GA
Orlando, FL
Cincinnati, OH
New Haven, CT
Hollywood, CA
Plus 6 others (I can't get a confirmed list)

This is sad, but not at all surprising. My local Sam Ash here in Cincinnati is an absolutely gigantic store that was never more than 1/3 full of product at any point. Drum wise, they have had zero high end drums for years and over the last few years never seemed to have any new inventory at all. Every time I stopped in, I was one of maybe two or three customers total.

Right now, there are discounts ranging from 5-25% depending on the type of gear.

Instruments: 5% off (applies to new and used)
Pickups/guitar electronics: 10% off
Guitar strings: 5% off
Gig bags/cases: 20% off
Cables: 20% off
Sheet music: 20% off
Orchestral accessories and reeds: 10% off

Discounts will grow as time goes on. All sales are final (you may be able to return items at another Sam Ash store that is still in operation) and no trade ins are being taken. No new gear can be ordered from the central warehouse; you would have to order online or from another still operating location. Affected stores should be open until the end of May or so.
Click to expand...
Wow. May is not far off. I cannot help in Cincinnati that they share a market with Badges Drum Shop where there is more/better inventory and an owner/expert.
 
TK-421 said:
I just left the Sam Ash Hollywood Drum Shop, and here’s how it looks as of today, March 9. There may be slightly fewer kits than in months past, but it’s hardly a ghost town, especially when it comes to cymbals. And it’s mostly high end stuff, which is why I found it incredibly hard to believe that they had so few cymbals that there wouldn’t be much to even try out.

I found a few cymbals I want, but right now the discount is a measly 5%. They’re going to be open through the end of June I believe, so I may wait it out until the discounts get bigger.
Click to expand...
Certainly more than when I was there 2 months or so ago.

Though still not as packed as it was back in 2014-15 era
 
Wow purchased my first kit around 1977 at the White Plains location.
 
My first drum gear came from Sam Ash in Hempstead Long Island NY age 11
Had pre paiste crash and ride , a pink sparkle Rogers snare gone long ago , a 60’s duco Ludwig bass drum destroyed long ago during house renovation 😢, a 68 Supra ( still have and use) ) , and a Ludwig speed king . Later( age 13) , parents purchased a 3 piece 70’s black pearl wood/fiberglass kit from a relative to which was added a set of 10 and 12 Ludwig chrome o wood concert toms and 10 and 12 chrome roto toms both purchased new from the Hempstead location and still have them as well . Friends and I spent a lot of time at the store as youngsters taking the bus once every two weeks to go spend a few hours looking at and playing the vast amounts of gear there .
Other gear I have from there over the ensuing years are 2 tama and a pearl single pedals , my 60’s zildjian 14” hats, a paiste sound reflections 16 crash all of which are still in rotational use .
Lots of memories made and musicians ( both famous and not) met at that location .
w42st.com

Legendary Sam Ash Music Store Closing After a Century of Harmonizing Manhattan's Music

One of the last reminders of Midtown's famed Music Row is about to play its final riff. The legendary Sam Ash Music plans to close its doors.
w42st.com w42st.com
 
Last edited:
TK-421 said:
I just left the Sam Ash Hollywood Drum Shop, and here’s how it looks as of today, March 9. There may be slightly fewer kits than in months past, but it’s hardly a ghost town, especially when it comes to cymbals. And it’s mostly high end stuff, which is why I found it incredibly hard to believe that they had so few cymbals that there wouldn’t be much to even try out.

I found a few cymbals I want, but right now the discount is a measly 5%. They’re going to be open through the end of June I believe, so I may wait it out until the discounts get bigger.

View attachment 144200
View attachment 144201
View attachment 144202

View attachment 144203
View attachment 144206
Click to expand...
I would not be surprised if they sold those sites out to a liquidator. It would make sense to move the good stuff to other stores though
 
BobC said:
Sam Ash's Paramus, NJ store closed a couple of years ago, but no surprise, as it had been going downhill for years. The store looked shoddy, and the drum room had a lot of low end junk. It was also in a very dangerous spot on Route 4, just past an entrance ramp next to the Garden State Plaza Mall, so it was very difficult to get to the right to pull in the lot.
Click to expand...

I'm down near ATL now but I grew up in northern NJ - that whole stretch of Rt 17/Rt 4 area by the mall is a death trap lol. I randomly visited that Sam Ash but was closer to and favored Ritchie's Music and to a lesser degree, Robbie's Music over on Rt 46 in it's heyday.
 
Trip McNealy said:
I'm down near ATL now but I grew up in northern NJ - that whole stretch of Rt 17/Rt 4 area by the mall is a death trap lol. I randomly visited that Sam Ash but was closer to and favored Ritchie's Music and to a lesser degree, Robbie's Music over on Rt 46 in it's heyday.
Click to expand...
I probably used to see you at Ritchie's. I've shopped there for decades. It's a newish owner, and they moved to an old bank building on Main St. Rockaway. George Sigler, the drum guy, left a few years back and works selling motorcycles now. AJ runs the drum department now. Jimmy Riccio has Parkinson's and moved to North Carolina a few years ago.

Charlie Robbie died a while back, and his daughter is gradually phasing the store out, with plans to sell the property. She owns all that property on Rt. 46 that also houses Red Lobster and a Dunkin.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top