Piano store finds itself in tune with new site
What better place to sell pianos than in a palatial-looking space?
Music City, a longtime piano merchant in Spokane, has moved into that perfect location. Over the past several months, Music City has transformed the building at 1322 N. Monroe St. into its home, complete with showrooms, classrooms, a recital hall, a restore-and-repair shop, and offices.
“It’s wonderful. We absolutely love it,” said Lorraine Bognar, executive assistant. “It’s fun to come to work.”
Music City, which opened in 1962, has more than tripled its space from its old location on Division Street to 17,000 square feet. Spokanites might remember the firm’s new home as the old Ivy Restaurant or the Thorn Hill Funeral Home. Before the business took over the new venue, Harvest Christian Fellowship was using the space as its Harvest Professional Center.
The Storhaug engineering firm leases upstairs space.
“The great comment we always hear is how relaxing it is. It doesn’t feel like a store — more like a house,” said General Manager Darrin Wittkopp.
Aside from its selection of top-of-the-line pianos, organs and keyboards (Wittkopp said the company is working on getting Steinways), Music City is an excellent place to go teacher shopping. There are two on staff and three independent teachers at the shop.
Music City also has a listing of the teachers in the Spokane Music Association and will help make the right fit for you. There is a 200-teacher database to choose from.
The recital hall seats 150 and can be used by teachers throughout the area. Eight recitals have been performed there since opening in June.
For more information, call 838-8312 or go to www.musiccitypianos.com. There also are stores in Coeur d’Alene and Kennewick.
At the car wash
Kar-Brite Hand Wash & Auto Glass is branding itself.
Terry Palmer, manager of the 902 E. Sprague Ave., car wash, said it will become a Chevron station. Three new pumps will be ready within the next five to six weeks.
“Chevron is quite a bit better than the unbranded gas (we sell),” Palmer said. “A lot of customers don’t run on anything but Chevron, so they come here and get their gas somewhere else.”
Palmer said the idea to become a Chevron came about because of the success its Kar-Brite/Chevron station at 1615 W. Five Mile Road.
The locally owned company has four car washes in Spokane. The East Sprague car wash is the only shop not open Sundays.