Squires Closes Doors After 40 Years Piano Store Sells Out To Music City

Piano buffs might be surprised when they telephone Squires Music and are greeted by piano dealers at Music City instead.

That’s because Music City is taking all of Squires business since the piano shop closed at the end of August.

Don Clifton, former owner of the Garland Theater, closed Squires after running the business for nine months.

Squires, located at 3411 N. Division, had been in business since 1960, although ownership had changed hands several times.

When the Steinway Corp. decided not to renew its dealership with Squires this summer, Clifton sold much of his merchandise to his across-the-street competitors at Music City, at 3314 N. Division.

Steinway pianos make up about 40 percent of Squires’ business, Clifton said.

“Nobody likes selling to the competition, but the competition was the only one willing to buy,” Clifton said.

Clifton said Steinway no longer wanted to be in a market as small as Spokane.

“I think it was the wrong decision considering how wide the Spokane market is. We sell pianos in Idaho, Montana and Eastern Washington,” Clifton said.

Martin Wittkopp, owner of Music City, hopes his shop can tune in to Squires’ customer base.

“Truthfully I hate to see any Spokane business close. It doesn’t bode well for the economy,” Wittkopp said. “I’m not happy (Clifton) is gone, but we’ll do our best to help his customers and keep them satisfied with their purchases from his shop and hopefully turn them into Music City customers as years go by.”

Clifton said he and his wife Erlene plan on opening a bridal shop called Celestial Selections at 306 S. Pines in November.