By JIM MEYER – Staff writer
For Franklin businessman Tony Neidich, helping a friend helped him launch his music store.
When the friend fell sick and needed to sell inventory from a music store he owned, Neidich agreed to buy what he could and try to sell it. Then the plan quickly went from side-hustle to long-range business model.
“I bought his entire inventory and all the store fixtures,” Neidich said.
“My ultimate plan is to do a lesson academy if I can get the instructors lined up,” Neidich said. “I want to offer lessons for guitar, bass, piano, voice and drums.”
Neidich got his first guitar in 1986 and has been playing ever since.
“Guitar is one of those things that can never be mastered,” he said. “You never quit learning.”
Neidich plays guitar for the band Dead Level with his brother, Jaime, who plays drums.
“I thought, if I could put together the kind of guitar store I’d want to walk into, what would I do?” Neidich said. “I think we’re getting there.”
The store displays a variety of guitars that visitors are free to play.
“Musicians can come in here and try anything on the wall,” Neidich said. “Everything is used.”
“I’ve still got some organizing to do, but it’s coming,” he said, continuing the tour to his future lesson room, which houses an electric piano.
West Park Guitar and Music will also carry concert band instrument accessories such as valve oil and mouth pieces.
“We can’t carry everything, but we don’t want to forget about those people in school bands,” Neidich said.
Neidich said he is friends with other music store owners in the area and doesn’t see himself as competing with them.
“I don’t want to compete,” he said. “I want them to be as successful as possible also. I think it’s good when the music community works together to support area artists.”
