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Business & Tech

Clifton Music Store Has New Digs

The NOVA Music Center has moved to a new location that's four times larger than its old address

The NOVA Music Center in Clifton has a new address, and a lot more space.  The store recently moved from 7144 Main Street to 12704 Chapel Road.

“We’re four times the size we used to be,” said owner Erich Russekrobbins.  “We’re a full line music store.”

Russekrobbins said that means NOVA sells everything to do with instruments; guitar, band and orchestra.  They also have a wide selection of print, which means music books and sheet music.

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One of the store’s specialties is the ukulele. 

“We’re exclusive dealers of some of the best brands,” said Russekrobbins.  “People will drive four to five hours to get to store and look at our ukuleles.”

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He says something new NOVA is doing now that the store is at its new location is bringing in recording and video editing equipment. The store is setting up several personal recording and editing studios and will rent the equipment out for about $15 per hour.  They plan to give discounts to students.

Russekrobbins says he wants to store to be an experience, not just a place that sells music gear.

“We have cookies here; we want you to walk around and look around and feel at home,” he said. “It’s a pickle barrel kind of place, there’s no hard pressure here.”

In that spirit, the store offers open jam sessions every other Friday evening.

“We’re not trying to sell you anything; we just want to get you in the door.  It’s great for beginning players or pros.  The next one is July 15th,” Russekrobbins said.

Russekrobbins admits it is hard to predict whether the store will be a success in Clifton.

“The thing about a music store is it is kind of a destination, you have to get the word out that you exist and that’s a challenge in Clifton.  Some people don’t even know that Clifton exists,” Russekrobbins said.

But on the other hand, he said Clifton is a uniquely wonderful place to work and live.

“The atmosphere is like no other place.  I can’t think of a much better place to live.  It’s really a place where everyone has decided to dream the same dream,” Russkerobbins said.

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