NEWS

 

The relocation last week of the shop “Davidson Violins” from South Main to Downtown Davidson is a pitch-perfect move for the Albert family.

Sam Albert, co-owner of the shop with his father, Frank Albert, said the move into the former Needlecraft Center space beside the Soda Shop will allow the shop to handle sales, appraisal, rental and repair for all bowed instruments, including cello, stand-up bass, violin and viola.

Music has long been a family affair for the Albert family. Sam began playing cello at age five. Little brother Ethan plays violin, and Frank plays viola and performs electronic strings with the ensemble “Seven String Theory—A Rock Orchestra Experience.”

The family turned their passion to the service of the arts in 2007, initially operating out of their home. Shortly thereafter, they opened a storefront in Davidson in the Icehouse building on South Main. Its success quickly outgrew its space. The Alberts kept on the lookout for larger quarters and were thrilled to have the opportunity to move into spacious quarters located in the heart of the town. The family has also recently opened a shop in downtown Pineville.

The new facilities include four large rooms on the main floor of the building, quadrupling their former site. The front room serves as Frank Albert’s office and display space for the highest quality instruments. The next room back services retail sales, including a large display case for electronic stringed instruments. The back of the store has two rooms. One, facing Brady’s Alley, is available for rent to private instructors to work with their students. The shop will eventually offer lessons on its own in that space.

The other back room is the domain of luthier Tim Donley and repair technician Jason Bamford, who handle all “fix it” orders.

Sam Albert said Davidson is a good area for the business. “It’s a nice pedestrian location where people can drop in to explore the world of violins even if they don’t play one,” he said. “It’s also wonderful that it moves us closer to the college, and across the street from the Village Green and its musical offerings.”

In addition to operating their own store, Davidson Violins plans to market itself in conjunction with its upstairs neighbor, the Bird’s Nest, where proprietor Billy Jones has, for several years, offered instruction for guitar, drums, and keyboards. “We’re going to work with Billy to market our shops together as ‘The House of Music’,” Sam said.

Sam said the shop sells quality starter violins for about $400. The shop also rents instruments to students in school music programs for $36 per month. From that base, prices for top quality instruments can rise exponentially to as much as $25,000. Sam joked, “You can have a car, or you can have a fine instrument!”

Davidson Violins will host a grand re-opening in mid-August. That happy occasion will soon be tempered by the loss of Sam, who is moving to Boone to pursue a degree in business that he plans to apply to the family business.

For more information, please email Frank Albert at [email protected]