We’re still sorting out the details, but we tell you that it appears that Hear’s Music, the independent music store at 2508 N. Campbell Ave., will be shutting its doors by the end of the month after 16 years in business.
Store owner Britton Dornquast, who has dedicated countless hours to improving the Campbell Avenue shopping district, got his reward on Valentine’s Day, when he opened an envelope from the attorney for the strip mall’s new owners with a notice that he was to vacate the property by Feb. 28.
“My business is toast,” Dornquast says. “This is my life. This is my retirement. This is my kids’ college. This is everything I’ve worked for 16 years. It’s gone.”
Dornquast’s efforts in forming the Campbell Avenue Merchants Association has helped win the corridor more than a million bucks in local and federal grants. That money—much of which has yet to be spent—has helped pay for banners, crosswalks and other efforts to spruce up the street between Grant and Fort Lowell roads, not far from the Weekly’s midtown bureau.
Dornquast had been trying to sell Hear’s Music for the last year, but says the eviction makes that impossible.
He does, however, plan to throw one hell of a going-out-of-business sale next Saturday, Feb. 25.
“We’re going to have live music,” Dornquast says. “We’re going to have a blow-out sale. There will be a lot people crying on the counter; there’ll be a lot of people getting pissed.”
Developing …
This article appears in Feb 15-21, 2007.
The ice cream store is moving just south of Speedway, the art store says they’re staying (when we asked a week ago). So what’s the deal with Hear’s Music?
Last I heard, the Book Stop was going to be out on its ass too. The new owner of the properties on that block was going to triple the rent or something ghastly like that. Maybe the art store can afford the new rates. Sadly, it seems the other old favorites may not be able to.
Thanks for the great article and letting the public know about Britt and the store and the new owners. Super! Super! Article! All things happen for a reason and a season. I know that Britt’s talents can now be used elsewhere for Tucson! Keep up the good work.