Daddy's Junky Music Closed, End of Era in NH

Wednesday, it was business as usual for Scott Sutherland, assistant manager at in Portsmouth. Today, he's unemployed.

"I was having a great day at work, actually. Then word came down from above around 6 p.m. that Daddy's had ceased operations," Sutherland said.

He was supposed to be on the job until 9 p.m. to close the store. Instead, he spent his last three hours calling customers who had items in for repair, to tell them they should come pick up their stuff.

"I actually sold a bunch of gear, too. I gave people a good deal for coming in, and just called as many customers as I could. I was determined to do my job for one last night to the best of my ability – that's what our company's been about since I got there three years ago," Sutherland said.

It was the same drill at all 12 New England Daddy's Junky Music Stores, which closed abruptly Wednesday. Founder Fred Bramante said after 39 years in the business, the last three have been toughest, part global economy, part internal reorganization following a Massachusetts-based lawsuit that left them without much capital.

And then the 2008 economy crashed.

Sutherland, 26, said when the company downsized from 20 stores to 12 a few years ago, it was a bit of a wake-up call.

"Whenever a company cuts back it's a big deal. At the time we were looking around like, OK, this is going to be a healthy move. The 12 remaining stores were doing like 80 percent of the business, so the company was taking its inventory and its most talented sales people and getting them placed in stores that were performing," Sutherland said.

He said his sales figures for October were right on track.

"It looked like it was going to be OK, we were back to the lean mean Daddy's machine we'd been a few years ago," Sutherland said.

Longtime Daddy's customer Ray Hart, 25, of Merrimack, was a frequent flyer at both the Salem and Nashua stores.

"I found out last night, when I went online to check the news. I was shocked," Hart said. "I've shopped at all four New Hampshire stores. As a musician, it's been the go-to store. It's where I bought my first guitar in 2003, and lots of other equipment, too. They're friendly and always gave good advice."

Bramante also cited the growth in online sales as part of what cut into Daddy's bottom line.

Hart said he's never purchased anything more than picks or strings online.

"That was the best thing about the store. If I wanted to know how a guitar played or sounded, I could hold it and try it out. That was the benefit of a store like Daddy's," Hart said.

He said he understands the economics of running a business, in these times.

"People have cut back. I know I've sold off one of my four guitars because I didn't really need it, and I could use the cash," Hart said. "I think it may go a little deeper, though. To close all of them at once, just like that, without warning, makes you feel like it's a little more than just a tough economy."

David Stanfill, 20, who grew up in Nashua and still works there, bought his first Epiphone guitar at Daddy's. He hadn't heard the news, but was sorry to know there would be no more Daddy's Junky Music.

"I always preferred Daddy's to Guitar Center – the customer service was always better," Stanfill said. "That sucks. First Friendly's; now Daddy's. What's next?"

Sutherland said he had no official word from the company as to what would be next in the short term, including customer-owned equipment in for repairs, or on layaway.

"I am pretty sure someone said they will probably put it aside from the rest of the gear they're moving out of the retail stores. There's no liquidation sale; it's all owned by our creditors now," Sutherland said. [Customers should call the Manchester heaquarters at (603) 623-7900 to find out the status of their merchandise.]

He said he gave out his personal contact information to his regulars, but isn't sure how he can help. For now, he is focused on finding a new job.

"As assistant managers, we were the face of the company, and we're gone now – along with all those years of experience. It was a talented and loyal bunch of guys that could've made more elsewhere, but stayed because of the culture of Daddy's," Sutherland said.

That culture, Sutherland explained, was one that put the customer first, and the music second. He isn't bitter; just disheartened.

"There are a lot of things to get upset about. I could take it personal and build up resentment, but I'm too young to be that guy. It's just one of those things, sometimes it doesn't pan out," Sutherland said. 

"I am upset about losing my job. But I'm more upset about losing that spirit that our company had. There's nobody out there to replace it. You've got a few independent stores kicking around, but the Guitar Centers and Best Buys of the world will rejoice at our closing," Sutherland said.

"It's a detriment to our customers and musicians who are out there trying to make a living.  We were tuned into that; that's where we did our best work. We didn't sell what people needed; we sold what they wanted – which basically amounted to hopes and dreams."

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