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Business & Tech

Downtown Manchester Music Institution Moving to Main Street

Since 1954, Beller's Music has been an institution in downtown Manchester. By the end of July, they hope to be open in their new home on Main Street.

Very soon, the classic red and blue sign of Beller’s Music will make the move to Main Street. The downtown institution is relocating from its location on Purnell Place to a new storefront at 881 Main St. by the end of the month.

 “Everybody in Manchester bought their records from Ray Beller,” store manager Nick DuBaldo said, adding, ”if you're over the age of 50, you probably bought them at Beller's.”

Ed DuBaldo purchased the store seven years ago, and his son Nick took over as manager fresh from graduating business school. Music was always something you did in the DuBaldo family; it was always around, according to Nick DuBaldo.

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The family has also owned the DuBaldo Music store on West Middle Turnpike.

The store offers a range of products and services from instrument and accessories sales, to rentals and repairs, and music lessons.

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“It's a weird mix,” DuBaldo said. “It's never the same from year to year, with the ebbs and flows, but we cobble it all together.”

Though the move is less than 1,000 feet in distance, the frontage on Main Street will offer more visibility. DuBaldo described how many people entering the current location remark they did not know the shop was there.

Though similar in size, the new location that currently under renovation will offer opportunities for better use of space, both for display of inventory, as well more rooms for music instruction. It will feature at the very least six rooms where the over a dozen freelance teachers can assist their students, and possibly as many as ten.

Beller's Music serves as a hub for local musicians and prides itself on community involvement. The store sponsors the Concerts in the Park and provides refurbished instruments to Manchester students. DuBaldo is happy to be a part of the downtown renaissance.

He hopes the new location will assist in, “bringing the business down to street level and help make a better downtown.” DuBaldo feels the scope and intention of the store is to provide musicians and those interested in getting started in music with a nurturing environment. Rather than focusing on sales like some larger instrument retailers, he has helped to create a location where a novice can be walked through the process and educated in the world of music.

The new location will also feature a larger bulletin board allowing performers and venues to market themselves to other interested parties.

He said working with the Manchester town departments has been a pleasant experience, noting officials have helped make sure things are done right. So far the business formula has worked, and DuBaldo says he is thankful to be able to create a growing business in a difficult economic climate.

The new Main Street location offers the opportunity to bring the proven commodity to even more people through greater exposure.

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