Sam Ash New Haven closing

[Brad Little]

"As we navigate new challenges and opportunities, we are announcing the closure of our New Haven location. This bittersweet decision brings a unique opportunity for fantastic deals during our store closing sale.

Looking ahead, we're excited to welcome you at our White Plains, NY location, where an even more incredible selection awaits to fulfill all your music gear needs and dreams. And, of course, samash.com is available 24/7 with fast, free shipping to your door."
Too bad, liked them better than GC (also it was much closer). Nearest store I liked recently moved from 15 minutes away to about an hour. May have to bite the bullet and use GC for some things.

 

[Uke]

Only bought one major item from Sam Ash -- a late 60s Fender Deluxe amp. I learned one of my life lessons with this purchase: NEVER buy a vintage tube amp unless you are very knowledgeable about old tube amp electronics . It was a cool amp, however, when it was functioning. No reflection on Sam Ash -- always liked going in their stores.

 

[GAD]

I’m amazed they’re still in business. I was recently in the Sam Ash location in NJ and the big sign in the doorway said, "Follow us on Vine!"

For those without 20-something kids, Vine was the predecessor to Tik Tok which stopped being a thing in 2017.

 

[Rocky]

It's looked like it's been going out of business for years. I think I was in there last summer, and there was barely anything there then.

It's been a long, steady decline since Brian sold the place.

 

[twocorgis]

The Huntington NY store is closing too, after many years. The place was mostly deserted the last few time I was there.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I used to go to the White Plains store a lot. Glad they're keeping it, just for sentimental reasons.

 

[chazmo]

The Huntington NY store is closing too, after many years. The place was mostly deserted the last few time I was there.

Oh man, bummer. That was a fixture during my youth, Sandy.

 

[twocorgis]

Oh man, bummer. That was a fixture during my youth, Sandy.

Not so much for me util I moved further east, but I bought both my '72 P-Bass and '73 D50 from the Sam Ash when it was still in Hempstead (later moved to Carle Place). It is sad to see the place go, but it looks like Murphy's Music is soldiering on nearby.

 

[hearth_man]

Yep, I received a similar email that their King of Prussia, PA location also closing. I'll have to say I haven't been there in years.

 

[Brad Little]

Partial list from talkbass.com
This is a partial list, haven't found a full list, maybe soon in the NYT or WSJ:

02, Huntington, NY
07, 34th Street, NYC
13, Edison, NJ
20, Lombard, IL
33, Miami Lakes, FL
42, Clearwater, FL
60, City of Industry, CA
63, Atlanta, GA
56, Orlando, FL

I know there were rumors that some in the family wanted to sell and others didn't, don't know if that has any bearing on the closings.

 

[Brad Little]

It's looked like it's been going out of business for years. I think I was in there last summer, and there was barely anything there then.

It's been a long, steady decline since Brian sold the place.

Haven't seen him a years, maybe he'll want to get back in business! Don't even know if he's still in the area.

 

[Rocky]

Haven't seen him a years, maybe he'll want to get back in business! Don't even know if he's still in the area.

Brian had a small shop across the parking lot for a while, but now he's got a large boutique shop in Cheshire.

 

[Brad Little]

Brian had a small shop across the parking lot for a while, but now he's got a large boutique shop in Cheshire.

Not the same Brian, I went in there when they first opened and asked. They're connected to G-Guitars, a store that was on East Street. Owner is Brian Giampietro, not Brian Cohen.

Oh, and just for grin:

 

[twocorgis]

Partial list from talkbass.com
This is a partial list, haven't found a full list, maybe soon in the NYT or WSJ:

02, Huntington, NY
07, 34th Street, NYC
13, Edison, NJ
20, Lombard, IL
33, Miami Lakes, FL
42, Clearwater, FL
60, City of Industry, CA
63, Atlanta, GA
56, Orlando, FL

I know there were rumors that some in the family wanted to sell and others didn't, don't know if that has any bearing on the closings.

It's sad the see the West 34th Street location on that list, but I'm sure the rent was massive on that place. It's where I first met Larry Hartke (who's there almost every day), and eventually got a great deal from him on a L-1000 head. Larry is a great guy who really believes in (and stands by) everything he makes.

I think a lot of this was prompted by Sammy Ash's recent passing. I got to know him and his father fairly well, as we frequented the same restaurant that was owned by a good friend. Sammy also graciously donated the whole backline for the Ukraine benefit that my band did with Elliot Easton before he got sick back in 2021. That was the last time I saw him. I'm sure there was a pretty major upheaval in the family reserve after Sammy passed. So many not great things happen when people die, and there's a lot of money left behind.

 

[GAD]

Partial list from talkbass.com
This is a partial list, haven't found a full list, maybe soon in the NYT or WSJ:

02, Huntington, NY
07, 34th Street, NYC
13, Edison, NJ
20, Lombard, IL
33, Miami Lakes, FL
42, Clearwater, FL
60, City of Industry, CA
63, Atlanta, GA
56, Orlando, FL

I know there were rumors that some in the family wanted to sell and others didn't, don't know if that has any bearing on the closings.

I have fond memories of the store in Edison.

 

[GGJaguar]

I have fond memories if the store in Edison.

I bought my first good bass guitar there.

 

[Rocky]

Not the same Brian, I went in there when they first opened and asked. They're connected to G-Guitars, a store that was on East Street. Owner is Brian Giampietro, not Brian Cohen.

Didn't realize that. So, they're just trading off somebody else's old name.

That does make sense, though. The inventory is much more similar to the old G-Guitars than the old Brian's.

That place that used to be across the parking lot from Sam Ash - "One Flight Up" or something. Was that Brian G or Brian C?

 

[Brad Little]

Didn't realize that. So, they're just trading off somebody else's old name.

That does make sense, though. The inventory is much more similar to the old G-Guitars than the old Brian's.

That place that used to be across the parking lot from Sam Ash - "One Flight Up" or something. Was that Brian G or Brian C?

Not Brian C, so probably Brian G. I think it had a connection to G-Guitars. Brian's Guitars opened first in Mt. Carmel, the little strip mall that has Fat Robin and the UPS store.

 

[crank]

Sorry to hear. I like the New Haven store better than WP.

 

[DrumBob]

The Ash store in Paramus, NJ closed a couple of years ago. It seems as if they're liquidating in preparation for going online only sales. The Paramus store had been going downhill for a long time. It was also located at a very dangerous spot on Route 4, where cars merge from an entrance ramp. Every time you tried to make a right turn into the parking lot, you took your life in your hands. I almost got hit a few times.