Last Store on Historic Music Row in NYC Soon to Close

For rock icons like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones, 48th St. used to be the place for musicians to shop in New York City. But now, only one store remains on the city’s historic Music Row, Alex Musical Instruments, and it, too will soon close.

Store owner Alex Carozza has been involved with the music industry in some way or another his entire life. When he came to the US in 1960, he worked in music stores like Sam Ash before opening his own in 1970. Carozza specializes in accordions, and says there aren’t many stores like his in the city.

“This musical instrument is like your wife, you know, nobody can touch it... and I came like a doctor, a doctor of the instrument. And people trust me and they're happy...,” Carozza said.

Business has been good for Carozza and he says he has clients from all over the world. He says he even has one in New Zealand who flies to New York just to get his accordion fixed.

“From New Zealand, oh my God! Do you know how much they spend to come over here just to fix their accordion? But they are so particular, they don't want anybody touching their instruments,” Carozza said.

But the store hasn’t been as busy lately. Carozza says there was a time when he would see a thousand customers every day.

“Not now, those days are over now," Carozza said.

Over the past few years, the rising cost of rent in New York City has caused nearly every music store on 48th St. to disappear. Some of these stores include Sam Ash, Manny’s, and Rudy’s most recently. Alex Musical Instruments is all that remains.

“Because I was lucky! I was lucky to be the last one," Carozza said. "Things happen, you know. This because I'm the only one in New York to do this job. I still exist.”

But now Carozza says he's being forced out by his landlord to make room for new developments.

“Everything's changed, so now [music stores] sell [products] by e-mail.. a little cheaper. And the people, they accept it,” Carozza said.

Carozza is accepting of the change, but that doesn’t mean he’s not sad to see the stores go. Back in Music Row’s heyday, he says the street was always filled with trucks transporting instruments around the country. Carozza says people would come from all over just to shop on 48th St.

“From New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Boston, all these cities, they used to come to 48th St. because we had everything here. Whatever you needed, it was here,” Carozza said.

Even though Carozza’s closing up soon, he hasn’t lost hope. He thinks that in a few years, things will change again.

“So, we wait. Some people, they don't wait. They just leave and that's it. But I'm waiting,” Carozza said.

Carozza says he’s looking for a new location for his store. He says it would be his dream to have a five-story store with a school for people to learn music. But for now, Carozza says he’s staying on 48th St. until the end of the year, carrying on the spirit of Music Row until his store finally closes its doors.