Tony’s Music Box reaches its coda
Store that’s been cornerstone of Fredericton music scene for 50 years is closing its doors
Launcelot Smith-Barnett has bought four guitars from Tony’s Music Box in downtown Fredericton in the last two years, and he’s brought seven to the shop for repairs.
And he was back in the store Friday to make his latest acquisition: a Flying V guitar, a model introduced by Gibson in 1958.
But as elated as he was to add the classic electric guitar to his collection, it was a bittersweet moment.
“It’s the last guitar that I’ll be getting here,” he said.
Tony’s Music Box, a mainstay in downtown Fredericton for five decades, announced on social media Thursday night that it would be closing before 2025 - its 50th year in business - comes to a close.
“Over the coming weeks Tony’s Music Box will close its doors for the last time,” the Facebook post stated.
“We would have loved to shepherd you through the next 50 years and beyond; alas, we will certainly miss the opportunity to be part of the next generation’s musical journey.”
Owner Michael George, whose father established the business five decades ago, said there’s no set date for the closure, but he’s aiming for the end of November.
He told the Fredericton Independent he’s not retiring. Rather, what’s driving the closure is a slowdown in business that’s making it so it’s not viable to continue.
The industry has changed, George said, and it’s facing stiff competition from chains and online stores.
“Maybe traffic downtown is not what it used to be,” he said Friday.
The announcement comes after another iconic, independent downtown store - MacTavish’s Source for Sports - moved to the north side of Fredericton after a devastating and deliberately set fire a year ago. Its Queen Street building has since been demolished.
George said while other business owners have expressed concerns about a rise in crime and disruptions by transients in the downtown core, that hasn’t been his experience.
Crime wasn’t a factor in his decision, he said, noting people from all walks of life have always been welcome in Tony’s Music Box.
Adam Peabody, executive direction of Downtown Fredericton Inc., said the organization is sorry to see such a well-established and well-known member closing up shop.
“Tony’s has been a true downtown institution - a place that has inspired and supported generations of musicians and music lovers,” he wrote in an email to the Fredericton Independent on Friday.
“Their contribution to Fredericton’s cultural fabric has been immense, from nurturing local talent and supporting emerging artists to providing lessons for children just discovering their musical gifts. Their presence will be deeply missed and we wish them well.”
Peabody said despite the loss of Tony’s and the move by MacTavish’s, Downtown Fredericton still sees the potential for a positive future for the area.
“Change is a natural part of any thriving city centre, and we continue to see strong signs of growth and renewal,” he wrote.
“Since 2024, more than 25 new businesses have opened downtown, bringing fresh energy, diversity and new experiences to our growing population and customer base.”
About half of the business improvement area organization’s members have been around for more than 25 years, he said, but downtown offers a nice mix of operations with long legacies and new entrepreneurs.
As part of the closure announcement, the store noted everything in the store was 20 per cent as it works to clear out stock before it shuts its doors for good.
That was one of the reasons Smith-Barnett was drawn to the retailer again Friday, as he’d had his eye on the Flying V. The discount was a clear sign it was time to pull the trigger on it, he said, but he also wanted to show his support for George and the staff.
Smith-Barnett said one of the things he’s loved about the store was the sense of community. It was also great to walk in and connect with friends and others with a passion for music, he said.
The staff also boast a depth of expertise about music and instruments, Smith-Barnett said.
George said he has nine employees who will be affected by the closure - and he will be as well. He doesn’t know what he’ll be doing next.
“I’d rather our business would be thriving,” he said.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.