A family-owned music store that’s functioned as a Norman organization for 56 years will shut its doors later this month.Before moving
the store to 317 W Gray St, where it’s been for 53 years, owners Don and also Sally Polk opened up Norman Music Center at 1816 W Key St. on Sept. 15, 1965. The household intends to close by the end of October, they said.Don determined to
open his very own songs shop that summer season after benefiting one more shop for over a years following graduation from Oklahoma City College, Sally said.
Sally stated Don mosted likely to Security National Count On Key Street– now Arvest Bank– to speak to then-branch manager Jack Patton. After Don set out his plans to open up a songs store in Norman, Patton offered his assistance.
“‘ [Patton] said, ‘You do the work as well as I will certainly give the money,’ and also he did at a reasonable rate of interest, so we paid them back and have actually constantly been extremely happy and admired him for that,” Sally said.Sally said a typical day at their initial location would begin with her day shift at Tinker Air Force Base. She would finish her change, await Don to arrive home from the shop around 6 p.m., then go back to the shop with their boy Larry to fix tools, sometimes up until 11 p.m.
“We were young so we loved it, yet we really did not do any type of leisure in those very first 3 years,” Sally said.That work principles
and also love for both the store as well as the people that patronized it were the foundation for their proceeded success, Sally said.In September 1968, the Polks moved Norman Songs Facility to the Gray Road place, keeping their bedrock values via their connections with the neighborhood also today, Sally said.In 1995, the store received an honor from Songs Inc. Magazine for retail excellence as well as service. That personalized solution is why Steven Elkins said he’s been a faithful client since he was a teen.
“I’ve been coming below for 45 years,” Elkins said. “My first purchase was a Baldwin Howard Piano in 1975.”
Elkins stated what’s kept him coming back considering that is the family-oriented ambience.
“There’s been a few other larger stores that have can be found in since then, yet this location felt like home,” Elkins claimed. “Currently it feels like we’re losing a bit of background in Norman.”
Larry, that has actually assisted his moms and dads run the music store given that 1975, stated while the songs devices market has seen a substantial change to ecommerce in recent times, the shop is closing since it’s just the best time.Closing the shop will certainly permit Larry even more time to recover his traditional Corvette, he claimed.”It’s just one of those points where it
‘s much better to go on close– I have actually obtained numerous projects as well as points I need to start and locations I want to see while I can, “Larry said.” And I require to aid my mother and father, so I ‘d state closing now is an excellent point for everybody.”
Larry said he and also his household review the last 56 years of making buddies with generations of consumers and workers with only fondness.Sally claimed for many years, she as well as her family fulfilled many consumers who were the grandchildren and wonderful grandchildren of loyal consumers from the 60s as well as 70s.”We’ve had some workers that have actually become family members, so we have several great memories of working here, yet it’s simply time, and I plan to remain in touch with individuals, “Sally stated.” It was a real household business.”
Jeff Elkins covers business, living as well as area tales for The Transcript. Reach him at [email protected] or at @JeffElkins12 on Twitter.