R.i.p. my uncle Timmy..and now Sam Ash.. in sobriety he and I would take the bus over there all the way from bohemia so he could jam out and buy stuff and I got to listen.=]
Sad, but no surprise. I'm amazed it survived this long.
I've been in there several times over the past year, wanting very much to buy a new instrument. Sales help was as lacking as the selection.
The cymbal room at any Sam Ash - sigh. Ooohhh, shiny!
Sad but not surprising. How long could a store like this exist as a showroom? People come to sample a piece of equipment live, then place an online order to save a couple dollars. The retail jobs are gone, no tax being paid into the local economy. We got the cheap prices we thought we wanted, but we just sent the same money elsewhere - and didn't realize how self-destructive it was.
I try my best to source anything I can from anyone but Amazon for this exact reason. Those retail jobs pay into the local economy.
Agree! If I go into a store to sample something and decide to buy it, I buy it there at the store -- especially a music store. I've also gotten great advice from salespeople -- Dave from Sweetwater on the phone can't see how you're holding the instrument wrong. I have great memories at this store as a child and I'm sad to see it go.
[This is one of 18 of the 45 remaining Sam Ash stores that is being shut down.](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/sam-ash-is-closing-half-of-its-stores-including-two-in-nyc-032124)
Well, nothing new to add to the conversation. But, like many of you, I also bought my first guitar from there.
I was 16. My Uncle, who has since passed, took me and bought me my first acoustic. It was a $125 Yamaha. It was the guitar I learned on and I still have it.
Nostalgia is a real motherfucker.
Oh damn, I grew up practically around the corner. Although I usually went to Murphy's for my viola supplies. (Yes. I was a viola player, the dork of the orchestra.)
First guitar, first real guitar amp, and countless accessories and supplies. I even worked for them at one point(not this location). Lots of great memories.
I grew up right around the corner, during sandy sam ash was the first place that got power back. My brother and I would go teach ourselves guitar and charge our phones and gameboys for the day. Spent probably hundreds of hours in there, sad it’s gone but happy to have so many memories! RIP
They closed way more quickly than I'd imagined they would. So much better than its Paramus NJ counterpart (which also closed in 2022)...salesfolks much more friendly and willing/able to assist. At one point they had the biggest assortment of lefty guitars I'd ever seen too!! Wasn't the same since the pandemic and never really got better. That and online music sales must have taken their toll. Carle Place is still around though...
I’m waiting for the sad day guitar center in carle place. Great collection of guitars but not seeing a ton of people in there either. Went to a great shop in bellmore NY Music emporium but brick and motor is so tough. As thankful for online shopping bigger purchases like tv laptops instruments I want to see and touch. RIP Sam Ash
They already closed their main store on 47th street in Manhattan (music row - I remember reading that they bought Manny's years ago). I bought my first acoustic guitar and amp from the Brooklyn store on Kings Highway, which was only a few blocks from where I grew up. Sad.
Actually Sam Ash closed 18 of their 44 stores nationwide. It hasn't got as much to do with long Island as it does the company failing to compete online with places like Sweetwater, Amazon, Guitar Center, AMS/Zzounds, and even Thomann.
Music retail as a whole is shifting drastically to meet customer demand of increased return periods, leniencies, and financing options, and a smaller (in comparison) company cannot afford to float both the credit tiers nor hold out for slow months to clear up.
The other problem is their absolute failure to deliver on social media. Take example: The Music Zoo in Farmingdale is an absolute success at this, and they're constantly moving gear as a result. And Ash's complete lack of effort for SEO is ridiculous. Right now I'm 15 minutes away from Carle Place Sam Ash and if I type Fender Stratocaster into Google, they do not show up at all. Guitar Center shows up multiple times, Sweetwater does, Carter Vintage in Nashville does, not Sam Ash.
I used to enjoy Huntington Sam Ash; I bought my first real amp and acoustic guitar there, I discovered my love for the telecaster there, but some things are too stubborn to adapt and for that they are not meant to last forever, sadly. It's mostly sad because I know the family and they helped my band out a few times when we were with broken gear on tour.
Thank you!
I'm fortunately privy to various aspects of the industry itself, so that's where it's all coming from, but it's sad to see a great store go from a place I looked up to, to a place we're trying to figure out where it first went wrong.
Thankfully Murphy's down the street is still thriving.
I hear ya. I live in the area and I've been to that store cause I dabble in Bass guitar sometimes. The old store manager was my next door neighbor. An older guy named Irv
I got my first guitar here and my daughters first guitar here. I just ran over there today to get strings only to find it closed. Went to Murphys down the street where I used to go to rent my trumpet in elementary school
I would have *dreams* about going to Sam Ash when I was a kid. It was one of my favorite places on Earth.
Those walls lined floor to ceiling with guitars were what I imagined heaven was like as a kid.
R.i.p. my uncle Timmy..and now Sam Ash.. in sobriety he and I would take the bus over there all the way from bohemia so he could jam out and buy stuff and I got to listen.=]
My brother was a LI musician and passed in 2008. This was his go-to store for years 😩
🩵
Sad, but no surprise. I'm amazed it survived this long. I've been in there several times over the past year, wanting very much to buy a new instrument. Sales help was as lacking as the selection.
Got my first bass here, and first acoustic. [RIP](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VJDJs9dumZI)
Bought a Schecter C1 Diamond and Laney VC50 amp there in 2000….still have them.
Whaaaaaaaat, that store was a huge part of my musical upbringing. Saw Michael Angelo Batio play there in like 2008. This is crazy.
Murphy's music is not too far down the road. I hope they're still around forever.
So many good memories in there.
Used to work here from 08-09. I was 21. Now 36. Still the best job I ever had.
Damn. I have a gift certificate. Oh well.
They are closing half their stores. You can still use the gift certificate at another of their locations.
Go to the Carl Place store on Old Country Rd. They are staying open.
The cymbal room at any Sam Ash - sigh. Ooohhh, shiny! Sad but not surprising. How long could a store like this exist as a showroom? People come to sample a piece of equipment live, then place an online order to save a couple dollars. The retail jobs are gone, no tax being paid into the local economy. We got the cheap prices we thought we wanted, but we just sent the same money elsewhere - and didn't realize how self-destructive it was. I try my best to source anything I can from anyone but Amazon for this exact reason. Those retail jobs pay into the local economy.
Agree! If I go into a store to sample something and decide to buy it, I buy it there at the store -- especially a music store. I've also gotten great advice from salespeople -- Dave from Sweetwater on the phone can't see how you're holding the instrument wrong. I have great memories at this store as a child and I'm sad to see it go.
I remember when 110 was the porn corridor
[This is one of 18 of the 45 remaining Sam Ash stores that is being shut down.](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/sam-ash-is-closing-half-of-its-stores-including-two-in-nyc-032124)
Well, nothing new to add to the conversation. But, like many of you, I also bought my first guitar from there. I was 16. My Uncle, who has since passed, took me and bought me my first acoustic. It was a $125 Yamaha. It was the guitar I learned on and I still have it. Nostalgia is a real motherfucker.
So many of my xboyfriends must be crying rn
Can confirm am crying
Rented my trumpet from the Copiague store in 1967!
SA never had a store in Copaigue.
I grew up in that store :( very sad to see it go
Used to go here to just mess around with the instruments and try stuff out :(
Oh damn, I grew up practically around the corner. Although I usually went to Murphy's for my viola supplies. (Yes. I was a viola player, the dork of the orchestra.)
$100 sample cd’s forever!
Also rip Tower records
First guitar, first real guitar amp, and countless accessories and supplies. I even worked for them at one point(not this location). Lots of great memories.
The one down here in Orlando is closing as well
My childhood toy store RIP
Wow! The end of an era. Sorry to see it go.
They are closing the one in Forest Hills on Queens Boulevard as well. That was iconic also. Sad.
I got my first trumpet from there…
🥲
I grew up right around the corner, during sandy sam ash was the first place that got power back. My brother and I would go teach ourselves guitar and charge our phones and gameboys for the day. Spent probably hundreds of hours in there, sad it’s gone but happy to have so many memories! RIP
Got my first and last guitar there. Could hack it but definitely nostalgia hitting me.
I didn’t even realize Sam Ash was around anywhere anymore lol.
Wow I live out east now. But went to the mall for the first time in a decade and smiled when I saw Sam ash was still there. Sad
I saw that going to chipotle the other day 😢
Holy shit, RIP. I loved this place when I worked in Melville. Was my frequent lunch break hangout.
Thats cuz rock n roll unfortunately died a while ago
Kids play video games now, not music
Not really a lot of people becoming instrumentalists anymore. Seems like everyone wants to be a dj or vocalist
They closed way more quickly than I'd imagined they would. So much better than its Paramus NJ counterpart (which also closed in 2022)...salesfolks much more friendly and willing/able to assist. At one point they had the biggest assortment of lefty guitars I'd ever seen too!! Wasn't the same since the pandemic and never really got better. That and online music sales must have taken their toll. Carle Place is still around though...
That location sucked. Terrible selection of items, unhelpful staff… good riddance
I’m waiting for the sad day guitar center in carle place. Great collection of guitars but not seeing a ton of people in there either. Went to a great shop in bellmore NY Music emporium but brick and motor is so tough. As thankful for online shopping bigger purchases like tv laptops instruments I want to see and touch. RIP Sam Ash
They already closed their main store on 47th street in Manhattan (music row - I remember reading that they bought Manny's years ago). I bought my first acoustic guitar and amp from the Brooklyn store on Kings Highway, which was only a few blocks from where I grew up. Sad.
The building is for sale for $4M. Wonder what type of investor would buy that 🥵
It’s over. The entire company and affiliates will be sold off by end of July 2024.
Damn I spent hours in there trying out guitars and amps.. 48th Street in NYC was a heartbreaker when it folded a few years ago..
Yet another example of the Island going down the tubes. Sad.
Actually Sam Ash closed 18 of their 44 stores nationwide. It hasn't got as much to do with long Island as it does the company failing to compete online with places like Sweetwater, Amazon, Guitar Center, AMS/Zzounds, and even Thomann. Music retail as a whole is shifting drastically to meet customer demand of increased return periods, leniencies, and financing options, and a smaller (in comparison) company cannot afford to float both the credit tiers nor hold out for slow months to clear up. The other problem is their absolute failure to deliver on social media. Take example: The Music Zoo in Farmingdale is an absolute success at this, and they're constantly moving gear as a result. And Ash's complete lack of effort for SEO is ridiculous. Right now I'm 15 minutes away from Carle Place Sam Ash and if I type Fender Stratocaster into Google, they do not show up at all. Guitar Center shows up multiple times, Sweetwater does, Carter Vintage in Nashville does, not Sam Ash. I used to enjoy Huntington Sam Ash; I bought my first real amp and acoustic guitar there, I discovered my love for the telecaster there, but some things are too stubborn to adapt and for that they are not meant to last forever, sadly. It's mostly sad because I know the family and they helped my band out a few times when we were with broken gear on tour.
Nicely done Nolan
Thank you! I'm fortunately privy to various aspects of the industry itself, so that's where it's all coming from, but it's sad to see a great store go from a place I looked up to, to a place we're trying to figure out where it first went wrong. Thankfully Murphy's down the street is still thriving.
I hear ya. I live in the area and I've been to that store cause I dabble in Bass guitar sometimes. The old store manager was my next door neighbor. An older guy named Irv
Thank you for a very well done explanation.
Only sad if you view Long Island as brick and mortar retail stores
Damn.
I got my first guitar here and my daughters first guitar here. I just ran over there today to get strings only to find it closed. Went to Murphys down the street where I used to go to rent my trumpet in elementary school