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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 450
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 450 |
On the Chicago PTG e-mail list this morning was a note informing us that Hendricks Music of Downers Grove, IL is closing at the end of December. Hendricks is currently a Yamaha and Pearl River dealer and is (or was) the Yamaha C&A rep for a long time. At one time, 30 years ago, they had three or four retail locations in this area and were the Steinway dealer. Their accession of the Yamaha C&A business in the 80s got them dropped by Steinway. They sued for an injunction but lost in federal court. I've written about this decision in the post on the Yamahas C7 v Kawai RX7 Thread.
Hendricks was around for more than 40 years. I was always treated well there even though I never purchased anything from them. It is very sad to have to report about the shuttering of another piano dealer.
Baldwin SF-10
Petrof III
Chickering Console (1950s)
Associate Member PTG (Chicago chapter)
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16,105
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
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Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16,105 |
I'm sorry to hear of another piano store closing too.
However, chances are, they've made enough money over the years to retire comfortably. If they have the resources to take on Steinway in Federal Court, they are not likely indigent.
Businesses close for other reasons besides lack of business or profit.
Just my .02.
Rick
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,864
4000 Post Club Member
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4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,864 |
Hendricks was one of the good dealers for a tech to work for. They did excellent prep, and enjoyed a very good reputation.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,534
5000 Post Club Member
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5000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,534 |
I met Ed Hendricks while he was, if memory serves, Vice President of Marketing at Steinway. I spent a week at the factory in the late 1970s and he was my main contact. He was ever the gentleman and was passionate about making Steinway pianos better. This was a dark time for Steinway and it was uncertain whether or not the company could survive given the abysmal quality of the pianos being produced at the time. But he was ever the optimist. The pianos were improving -- he was quite certain of this -- and they would soon regain their position as the "standard of the world." I remember my time with him with fondness and admiration. I was saddened to hear of his later problems with the company for which he had been such an outspoken supporter.
Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Research, Design & Manufacturing Consultant
ddfandrich@gmail.com
(To contact me privately please use this e-mail address.)
Stupidity is a rare condition, ignorance is a common choice. --Anon
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