New location opens up new possibilities for music store

After Backline Central moved to 260 River Road in Springfield from its downtown location in March, new possibilities opened for Andy Aldrich and the new and used music store he’s owned since 2004, when he returned to the area.

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2016-08-03 / Front Page New location opens up new possibilities for music store By NEIL P. ALLEN Andy Aldridge stands next to some of the used guitars and new guitar accessories in his store, Backline Central, located at 260 River Road in Springfield. — NEIL P. ALLEN Andy Aldridge stands next to some of the used guitars and new guitar accessories in his store, Backline Central, located at 260 River Road in Springfield. — NEIL P. ALLEN After Backline Central moved to 260 River Road in Springfield from its downtown location in March, new possibilities opened for Andy Aldridge and the new and used music store he’s owned since 2004, when he returned to the area. “The greatest thing about this location is that some customers have been coming back to us,” he said. “We were a destination spot but there wasn’t enough parking so I lost some clientele. I want to become a destination spot again.” Nestled between the Springfield Pharmacy and Burlington Labs, the new location offers visitors to the store ample parking. While talking about the shop, there was a young couple shopping. They had been customers at the old location and had just discovered that he hadn’t closed shop, just moved. “We thought he had closed,” one said after asking about the price of a DVD set. Aldridge, who grew up in Springfield, believes a lot of people think that he just closed up the shop. “When people don’t see you, they just assume you closed up shop.” He doesn’t regret the move, though. “We’re not too far from where we were but this is a better part of town to be in,” Aldridge said as he gestures to the businesses around the store, which include Dollar General, Black Rock Steakhouse and Dunkin Donuts. Aldridge buys, sells and trades music CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray videos, video games, gaming systems, musical instruments, accessories and sheet music. He also offers music lessons, services and repairs instruments, and rents sound systems for events, boasting to have “the biggest PA system in Southern Vermont.” “We’re not your regular music store. I’m a recycler of sorts as I specialize in second-hand stuff,” Aldridge said. “It’s the only way to stay afloat in this economy. I attribute it to return customers.” Currently, he has two lesson rooms, which he is hoping to expand on in the near future. They give lessons in piano / keyboard, guitar, drums and vocal coaching. He wants to expand lessons to blue grass instruments like the mandolin, banjo and violin as well as woodwind and brass instruments. “When the school year starts, there will be more interest in lessons,” he said. “I hope to be able to hire more people to give lessons then I can go back to running the store.” Aldridge also rents out the lessons rooms for bands who are looking for rehearsal space or just need a place to practice. “We’ll have bands coming through to perform in Ludlow or Stowe, they stop here to rehearse and warm up,” he said. In addition to selling locally, Aldridge also sells online and ships instruments and other items around the country. Backline Central is open Monday to Saturday, from “lunch to dinner,” a