After providing musical instruments and music lessons to generations of area students and musicians through his shop since 1983, the music has stopped for Gary Colmey, owner of Gary’s Music, 229 W. Dominick St.
Today when passing the shop, customers will notice that the large green letters spelling “Music” have been removed from the store facade. The old “Gary’s” letters remain, with a more recent “Indoor Garden Supply” sign.
A few years ago Colmey, a proponent for the legalization of marijuana, opened his Indoor Garden Supply at the same location as his music shop. Gary’s Indoor Garden Supply, or GIGS, will now solely sell supplies for home growing cannabis.
According to a public social media announcement posted on Facebook, Colmey said, “Don’t feel bad. Don’t express sympathy. It’s time. I had a fantastic run in music retail. Over 35 years…Didn’t think I’d get 10.”
The business owner continued, “But as the evolution of how people buy music gear moved to online, I decided early on to ‘cultivate’ something else here and it turns out that was the best move I’ve ever made in business. So thank you from the bottom of my heart to the generations of music makers I had the privilege to serve since 1983. Gary’s Music is now over and Gary’s Indoor Garden Supply (GIGS) is rockin’!”
GIGS carries propagation supplies, all sizes of hydroponic systems, lighting, nutrients, stimulants, Ph adjustment, air circulation, odor control, timers, growing medium, containers, row tents and more for home growing edible plants indoors.
“This has been on-going, but I finally made the final determination” to change the business model, Colmey said Thursday. “Business-wise it feels good because it’s the smartest move I’ve ever made. But it’s a little bitter-sweet, because I started the store as a musician who had a passion for putting instruments in the hands of people and having the realization of how music can change someone’s life…I had the opportunity to see this for three generations.”
And while the work through his music business was satisfying, Colmey said in 2016 he decided to start using the rear of his store to sell growing supplies to try out a new endeavor. As more musical instrument sales moved online, there became less of a demand for clarinets and guitar strings. Eventually sales would drive the business owner to purchase fewer instruments and more growing supplies.
“Gladly, I wasn’t destroyed by the internet…It was just a natural evolution,” he said.