This is the first in a series of mid-week features by BayToday. Each Wednesday, we will run a profile on a local business or organization that will be "mugged" with BayToday coffee cups. The subjects will then "mug" for our camera and we will tell a little bit about their story.
The inaugural BayToday Mid-Week Mugging shines a light on Long & McQuade (L&M) Musical Instruments for keeping the entire staff on through the change of ownership from Music City.
The staff at the store on Algonquin Avenue (in the former St. Regis building) are answering the phone, "Hello, Long & McQuade Music City," as a nod to the importance of the former store's loyal customer base. The new ownership wants local musicians to know that the L&M brand will continue to serve their needs as faithfully as Music City did under Russ Smith's leadership beginning in 1964, all the way through the years to the Perreault family's era.
"We value all of our staff to help us learn about the community and our customers," added Travis Woods, district manager for L&M.
The signage still reads "Music City," and will remain that way until the fall when L&M will open its new location in the former Stewart's Paint & Wallpaper location at 245 Lakeshore Dr. The decorating business recently relocated to Regina Street.
The show must go on, and Woods says that is exactly what will happen, with several upgrades that only the resources of a 74-store chain can provide to local music lovers and musicians while offering competitive prices.
"We are trying to keep things as not much of a big change for our loyal customers. We have all the same staff staying on. We have a lot of different services that the company offers, different types of rentals depending what your needs are, and we also offer lessons plus recitals twice a year for any student that takes lessons here." said Woods.
Another feature that L&M offers is price protection, so if a lower price is found at another retailer, the store will match the price. In-house financing is also available to customers for purchases, payable by monthly installments.
Woods added that the vast buying power of L&M will make it easier to stock, and if not, find, a wider range of products, not typically available in the area.
L&M North Bay will follow the lead of their affiliate stores across the country, from Victoria to Newfoundland, in community involvement and music education.
"We have had a strong relationship with the local schools, whether helping out with a broken speaker in the gymnasium or providing a substitute instrument in case of emergency, we'll have one there in an hour. Anything we can do to help music education, to help any musician in any part of North Bay, that's what we're here for."
The most recent owner, Mike Perreault, has agreed to stay on for six months or so to see the transition through to the move to Lakeshore Drive. He also said Wednesday that he is already busy at work on his next venture. Mike owned and ran the store with his wife Renee and added that his father Roger, also the former owner, is now happily retired. Roger took a smaller role after his wife, Reva had health issues and eventually passed away.
"The store is in very good hands," said Perreault, who is also an accomplished musician. "I'm very excited for North Bay and area and my staff that this journey will continue."
