SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KCBS) -- Tough times are making the biggest piano store in the Bay Area face the music. Colton Piano and Organ, in Santa Clara, which has been in business for more than two decades, is liquidating everything.
Owner Dave Gatt says it took decades to build the business up to what it is today. He says it was a tough decision to close, but, he says, the recession has taken its toll.
"You can get emotional, or you can get sentimental, but that's not going to change the world. You have to adjust to the cards that you're delt," said Gatt.
KCBS’ Matt Bigler Reports
During its heyday, Colton Piano and Organ boomed right along with the dot-coms, selling ten pianos a day. But, Gatt says, piano sales are kind of like the "canary in the coal mine" for the economy. Gatt says his is one of the first businesses to do well when the economy is up, but one of the first to suffer.
After 24 years, Gatt has decided to shut his doors and drastically downsize. The final straw came last year, when Levitz Furniture store, right next door to Colton Piano, filed for bankruptcy last year and shut down.
Colton's closing means a piano fire sale. More than 100 instruments are left, 14 top name brands including Shimmel, Baldwin and Estonia, with some pianos going for half off.
Colton Piano will relocate, and shrink the 14,000 square-foot showroom to one-fifth its size. Gatt says he will try not to lay off employees.
The store will be remain open for another six weeks.
(MGO)
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