Sam Ash Shutting Down Stores After 100 Years in Business, Offering Clearance Discounts

Electric guitars during a press visit of the Metal Diabolus in Musica exhibition at the Cite de la Musique in Paris on April 4, 2024. Alain Jocard/AFP via Getty Images

Musical instrument retailer Sam Ash is closing all stores beginning this month, with the company offering “great deals” as part of winding down the business.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that effective May 2nd 2024, all Sam Ash Music Store locations will begin store closing sales,” the company said in a statement. “This unfortunate news also presents a fantastic opportunity for great deals across our premium selection of musical instruments & pro sound equipment. We will also be offering specials on samash.com during this time. Thank you for allowing us to serve musicians like you for 100 years.”

On the website, Sam Ash announced that “everything must be sold,” promising buyers that they can get their dream gear for cheap prices.

According to data firm ScrapeHero, there were 44 Sam Ash stores in the United States in March, spread over 42 cities in 16 states and territories.

Florida had the most number of stores at nine, followed by California with seven, and New York with six. Ohio, New Jersey, and Texas had three stores each. North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Illinois had two stores each with one in Nevada.

In March, the music store had begun closing several of its shops.

As news of Sam Ash’s shutdown became viral, patrons expressed dismay at the closure, reminiscing about their purchases from the iconic store.

“My first drum set was from Sam Ash (parents bought) I’m a self taught drummer,” Jim LaPorta, verification producer at CBS News, said in a May 4 X post.

“Very sad news about Sam Ash closing all of its stores. I got my first guitar there over 20 years ago. Actually, I’ve gotten almost all of my guitars, basses and amps from Sam Ash. Real shame,” said author Edward J. Flora.

“Damn. I bought my first Stratocaster at a Sam Ash in Paramus, NJ in 1986. Still have it, too,” said Robert Talisse, a professor at Vanderbilt University.

“Unfortunate to hear that Sam Ash is closing,” media personality Tyler Jones said in a May 3 X post. “True story, @BucSidelineGuy & I called the C-USA Basketball Championship on radio 2 years ago & the equipment didn’t make the flight. We rushed over to Sam Ash, got what we needed to get on the air, returned it all the next day!”

David D. Tawil, the CEO of Centaurus Energy, cited Sam Ash’s closure with the hashtag #RetailApocalypse, saying that the shutdown was “a long time coming.”

Investor Tony Seruga reacted to the news by saying, “Once again, welcome to Joe Biden’s America!”

Growing Sam Ash, Final Sale

Sam Ash was founded in 1924 and became the largest family-owned musical instrument store chain in the United States. In addition to musical instruments, the company also sold DJ, lighting, recording, and professional sound equipment.

The business was established by a young couple—Sam Ash and his wife Rose Dinn, both immigrants. Mr. Ash came to the United States from Austria when he was 10 years old. Ms. Dinn came from Russia at the age of three.

Mr. Ash initially started out as an orchestra player. However, Ms. Dinn decided that a musician’s life was too financially insecure. As such, the couple opened up their first store in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924, pawing Ms. Dinn’s engagement ring for $400 to make a downpayment for the outlet.

Initially, the store mainly provided sheet music and violin repairs as the couple could not afford to stock musical instruments. They struggled through the Great Depression, keeping their business alive. In the 1940s, Mr. Ash began stocking band instruments in the store.

In the 50’s the couple’s son Jerry noticed that accordion was rising in popularity and began stocking various models. Soon, Sam Ash became a well-known leading dealer of accordion in the area. Later, the store started stocking electric guitars.

Over the next decades, the Ash family kept opening up several stores, with the third generation, Mr. Jerry’s sons, also entering the business.

Eventually, the fourth generation, Mr. Jerry’s grandchildren, began managing the enterprise, finally culminating in the recent decision to shut down.

With Sam Ash winding down stores, the company is offering its stock at big discounts.

For instance, Michael Kelly 1962 electric guitar, with an MSRP of $579.99, is sold at a discounted price of $249.77.

Yamaha nylon string acoustic-electric guitar with an MSRP of $1,178.40 is being offered for $619.99. The Yamaha MX88 88-key synthesizer costing $1,599.00 is being sold at $999.99.

While Sam Ash is selling items at large discounts, customers should note that all sales made after May 1 will be deemed as final.

“Beginning May 2, 2024, all sales are final and no returns are accepted except for damaged merchandise. If your purchase arrives damaged, please refuse the shipment and have it returned to us,” the company states.

“For obvious damage, just refuse the shipment and we’ll make it right. For hidden damage or defects, call our Customer Service at 1-800-472-6274 and we’ll send you a shipping label so you can return the item at our expense.”

For purchases made prior to May 2, the company’s “45-day satisfaction guarantee” still applies.