STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Great Kills resident Alan Miller remembers the day in 1983 when he got the call from Al Wilkov, owner of Lane Music Center in New Dorp, that his first electric guitar had arrived.
"I raced there after school and stayed there all day until my mom got home from work, and could come to pay for it. I spent the entire afternoon playing with this new guitar that was going to be mine. It was a great experience; I can still smell the case," said Miller, who has been a musician for 34 years, and is a member of an acoustic group called Brother Dynamite.
That is just one of the fond memories Miller has of Lane Music Center, which is closing this weekend after 45 years in business.
"It's the end of an era," said Miller, who took music lessons at Lane Music Center for six years, and as a teenager worked his first job there, sweeping up for Wilkov, who opened the business in 1971, and his son, Alan.
"Lane Music Center provided a great sense of community for musicians. All the musicians came in there, took lessons and bought their strings there," said Miller.
STORE HISTORY
A professional musician, the elder Al Wilkov wanted to go into business for himself in the 1970s.
"I was in about 10th grade at the time. I worked at the store on Saturdays, summers and holidays," said Wilkov's son Alan, noting that his father, now age 90, retired about 10 years ago.
But after 45 years, Alan Wilkov is "exhausted." Plus, his brick and mortar operation is feeling the effects of online retailing, which has led to more competition among instrument dealers.
"There is just so much competition online, and more local competition. It's just that the pie has been cut into a zillion pieces," said Wilkov, who plays drums and mallet percussion.
MUSIC PROGRAM TO BE MISSED
But many people who have walked through the doors of Lane Music Center, not only purchased instruments from the Wilkovs, they, like Miller, learned how to play them via the music center's many highly-rated music programs over the years.
"My father and I always tried to work really hard for our customers, and be as fair as we could with everybody," said Wilkov.
"We have made an incredible number of friendships throughout the years. That's what I'll never forget," he added.
SELLING OFF MERCHANDISE
Wilkov said he's selling off "as much merchandise as I can." And will also continue to sell it online.
"People will be able to get in touch with me. I'll do some ebay selling, so I won't be entirely out of the business. I enjoy doing repairs, especially on guitars and drums. I will try to work out some system where I will continue to do some of that," he said, noting the store phone will be connected for another three months.
"I've made a lifetime worth of friendships here, and I will still be in touch with people. I am really going to miss being in the public eye, but I have been thinking about this for a while, and I'm ready. It's been a lifetime of great memories," said Wilkov.
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