Hold That Note

Over the past 30 years, many Dale City businesses have come and gone. But one business that has remained a staple in the community, occupying the same location over the past three decades, continues to thrive no matter the state of the economy: .

Bob Parker opened the doors of Dale City Music in 1977, after realizing that there was an opportunity to prosper at selling musical instruments. His shop was the very first music store in Dale City. According to Parker, back then, the only other businesses located in Center Plaza were Giant, Dairy Queen, a sports shop, and a photographer.

"Padrino's Pizza, and some of the other stores, didn't even have cement floors yet," recalled Parker. "We were one of the first in this shopping center. I've seen a lot of businesses come and go."

While somewhat modest when talking about his business, Parker attributes his success to a dedication to great customer service, and his extremely knowledgeable staff, which includes music tutors and repairmen.

Like most music stores, upon entering, you'll see an array of guitars hanging on the wall, drum sets, keyboards, microphones, sheet music, and music accessories, but Dale City Music also rents orchestra and band instruments to school students, which provides many Dale City teens the ability to learn music without their parents having to pay high-dollar for a brand new instrument. This also allows the student to switch instruments, should he or she decide to play something different. Additionally, Dale City Music sells used instruments, combo starter packs, and has regular specials on instruments and music lessons.

Perhaps the only instrument you won't find in Dale City Music is a piano.

"[About 20 years ago,] I was in on the last piano move off of Dale Boulevard, and it was up two flights of stairs," said John Colbert, who has been employed at Dale City Music since 1985. "Bob was on one end, I was on the other, and we looked at each other and said, 'that's it, we're done'."

Since then, Parker has sold only keyboards, yet, Dale City Music continues to provide piano lessons for kids and adults alike.

"We have a lot of adult students," added Parker. "Most of them play for their own enjoyment, but didn't have time when they were little, and now they can. It's never too late to learn how to play an instrument."

Thirty-four years in one location is a long time for any business, and upon walking into Dale City Music, customers can sense a place full of history and happy memories. Hanging on the walls, completely out of reach of even the tallest customer, is a collection of vintage music t-shirts that Parker will never sell. He also keeps one of his very first guitars on the wall, as a symbol of exactly how far he and his business has come.

"Some people hang their first dollar on the wall, Bob hung his first guitar," said Colbert.

The wood-toned Memphis Guitar was from the first batch of guitars delivered to his shop, and it is no longer in production; Parker refuses to sell it.

"It's not an exceptionally good, or even average, guitar," said Parker. "It's just a symbol."

It's a symbol of longevity, in a world of uncertainty; a symbol that stability is possible.