Kidder, area’s last music store, closing next month

STERLING – Kidder Music plans to close its Sterling Center location by the end of June, leaving one tenant at the eastside retail center.

The nearly 105,000- square-foot complex at 2901 E. Lincolnway lost its anchor store when Kmart closed in January 2014. Built in 1972, the development was once home to seven businesses, but now has only My Nail Salon.

While it’s likely the loss of Kmart reduced foot traffic to Kidder, the company’s decision was based on broader changes that had developed over a longer period.

“As manufacturing has left the Sauk Valley, the area’s retail habits and economic demographics have changed dramatically over the last 10 years,” Kidder President Beth Houlihan said.

Houlihan said the company did look at other locations in the area before deciding to close.

“Even with smaller places, the expenses go up in more active retail areas,” Houlihan said. “And with the numbers and trends we see, we just couldn’t make that investment.”

Kidder, which has been in central Illinois for 40 years, has stores in Bloomington and Peoria. There no plans to close those stores.

Kidder has been in the Sauk Valley since 1989, when it bought Westgor Music in Dixon. After a couple of location changes in Dixon, the store was moved to Sterling in the mid-1990s.

In addition to selling new and used instruments, music, and accessories, Kidder does repairs and is a key player in music education programs. Some of those services will still be available.

“Our education reps in Peoria will continue to call on schools,” Houlihan said, “and they can order on our website as always.”

Musician Colin Adams has worked at the Sterling store for 3 years. He said Kidder would continue to give lessons to 32 students until the end of May.

Adams said a long list of community musicians are Kidder regulars. He typifies Kidder’s hard-core customer base.

“I’m in three bands, doing numerous side projects, and giving lessons, so every weekend is an adventure,” Adams said. “It’s going to be tough now to find new guitar strings right before a gig.”

That will now require a road trip to Tegeler Music in Clinton, Iowa, or stores in the Quad Cities or Rockford.

Adams teaches guitar, drums and bass, and he will continue to provide his services to aspiring musicians.

“I plan to keep teaching after we close – either with another organization, or I’ll try to find a studio,” Adams said.

Adams said the Internet has been the toughest competitor for music stores like Kidder, but he believes instruments are among the items that just weren’t meant to be sold online.

“It doesn’t make sense to buy an instrument that you haven’t played,” Adams said. “People also think it’s so much cheaper, but they tend to forget they have to pay for shipping.”

Much of the merchandise at Kidder has been marked down already, including guitars, keyboards, drums, and accessories.

An absolute last day hasn’t been determined, Houlihan said, but it will probably be about June 25.