The Music Ends for Innsbrook Area Piano Store

A local piano store has played its last note. Piano Gallery, a West Broad Street retailer that has sold pianos and taught piano lessons for 11 years, will close Sunday. For the next few days, it’s having a going-out-of-business sale. “We had done well up until two years ago, when the recession started to take hold,” owner Buddy […]

March 31, 2011; 8:14 AM • by Amy David

The company sells new and used pianos and has eight employees.

At one time, Piano Gallery had eight stores in the Mid-Atlantic region. Parker first opened in Newport News, then expanded to Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Fairfax and Maryland.

He wouldn’t disclose exact figures but said the company wasn’t selling pianos like before the recession.

“It’s a high-priced item, something you can do without,” Parker said.

“A year and a half ago, we pulled out of D.C. The recession was hitting us hard,” he said.

He said he was forced to close the three stores in Fairfax, Sterling and Maryland. And now Richmond is closing.

“The Richmond market seemed to be hit hardest by the recession,” Parker said.

The stores in Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake will remain open.

For the past three weeks, the Richmond store has sold the pianos for 30 to 50 percent off.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the traffic we’ve had,” he said.

They’ve sold 22 pianos and have about 21 left to go before they close their doors this weekend. The ones that aren’t sold will be divvied up among the three remaining stores.

“A lot of people wait and buy when it’s a deal,” Parker said.

Parker said he owns the building and is looking to find a tenant. As for reopening Piano Gallery, Parker said it’s something he’s considering.

“If we get out of the recession, it’s a possibility we’ll be back in Richmond.”