Long and Mcquade Musical Instruments opening in Truro

Store ready to open on Robie Street this Monday

Strike up the band - the Truro music scene will be getting a boost Monday, July 26, with the opening of a Long & Mcquade Musical Instruments' location on Robie Street.

“We’ve been selling musical instruments since 1956, so we’re pretty confident at it and, of course, very excited to open a new location,” store manager Tony Bouma said.

This will be the 89th Long and Mcquade store or number 90 if you count their online-only store. Bouma said they have a heavy presence on the East Coast already, especially in the Halifax Regional Municipality with three locations and are now at a point where they can add to the footprint.

“There are people from Truro driving down to Halifax, Dartmouth, and Bedford to do their shopping, so we would like to make it a little bit easier for them and open it up to people in the outlining areas,” he said. “We’re excited to be here, it’s a beautiful place.”

Bouma said area shoppers will probably recognize those helping them as they have hired local musicians as sales and rental associates.

“They're familiar faces to those who come in,” he said,

before talking about the value of having someone intimately familiar with the equipment they’re dealing with.

“You want to talk to people who know what they’re talking about. I’m a drummer by trade, I can certainly service and connect with a guitar customer, but if you want to really get into the details and the esoteric bits of a guitar, we’ll have someone here who can have that conversation with you.”

That someone is Truro native Tyler Cameron.

“Growing up in Truro, especially when I was a teenager, there was a very large music scene here,” Cameron said. “It, maybe, isn’t as big

now, but we’re hoping this store will help turn that around. Get more people into music and bring with it the culture, back into Truro.”

Keyboard specialist Graham Hooper has been in the community for several years.

“There is a buzz when I talk to people,” Hooper said. “This is a mixture of a family music store and a professionals music store. It’s not a one-size-fits-all, it’s ready to accommodate many. I think with my department it’s going to be interesting as to what is popular.”

Bouma said having people like Cameron and Hooper adds to the shopping or renting experience.

“We’re as excited as you are about the gear,” he said. “We know what you’re looking for and talking about when you’re asking questions.”

Selling instruments is just part of what they do at Long and Mcquade. Bouma said they pride themselves on service.

“We do repairs, lessons, rentals; whether you’re a beginner or a professional we’re here for you,” he said. “You could be a six-year-old taking your first piano lesson or a 65-year-old who has been playing your entire life, there will be something in this building for you.”

The building is located at 188 Robie St., directly across

from the end of Marshland Drive.

“I like it because we’re at the stoplight, so you can make a left-hand turn back onto Robie if you want to get out,” Bouma said. “And we’re very visible. The traffic, it seems to be non-stop, and there are already people slowing down and excited to see where we are with things.”

Everyone will be able to see a lot more very shortly when the spacious location opens its doors to the public.

That will be exciting for us,” Bouma said. “It’s a big, beautiful building which we are looking forward to sharing with people.”