Music Store Weathers Recession, Becomes Community Gathering Place

It's Friday afternoon, and the staff of Kingstowne Acoustic Music are sitting on folding chairs outside the store. Bob Jenkins, who works at the store and introduces himself as "Guitar Bob," is talking about people in the parking lot who seem too healthy to be using handicapped parking spots.

"They must be drinking some kind of Jesus juice because when they get out of the car they're healed," he said.

This is the kind of relaxed atmosphere that prevails at Kingstowne Acoustic  Music, which has become a sort of hangout spot for musically-inclined Kingstowne residents.

Owner Dave Evans opened Kingstowne Acoustic Music three-and-a-half years ago, after leaving his job as a mortgage officer. "I was just tired of working for other people," Evanss said. "It was kind of a quick decision, to be honest."

Evans, who says he's played music since he was four years old, soon began holding jam sessions in the store.

"It's just a grand old time," he said. The jam sessions, which often focus on bluegrass music, draw musicians as young as 11 and as old as 80. "It's kind of a meeting place," Evans said.

Ask an employee or customer what they play, and they rattle off a number of instruments. Besides guitars, the store sells banjos, fiddles, mandolins, and other stringed instruments.

While Evans is talking, plumber Brett Paul stops by in between service stops. Soon the three men, along with customer Rod Pendleton, have launched into a series of bluegrass songs.

"That was a little impromptu," Jenkins said. "You know, music can break out here at any time."

Evans's store has also managed to avoid the downturn affecting much of the music industry. "The music industry as a whole is down about 20 percent, we're down about seven percent," he said. "We could always be doing better, but I can't complain."

To Evans, his store has become a gathering place for people in the community. "They get together, talk about music, just life in general," he said.