O'Brien's Music Store's staying in the family with today's reopening
Within minutes of hearing about the looming closure of long-standing, St. John's-legend O'Brien's Music Store, Dave Rowe knew he had to step in to keep his family's legacy afloat.
The iconic storefront on Water Street will open today under Rowe's ownership. He purchased the building and its contents from his uncle Gordon O'Brien after it closed in October due to bankruptcy.
"Initially I was shocked, like most people, and deeply saddened by it because not only was it a special store for the local music community — and I'm a part of it, I'm a musician — but it's where my grandparents lived, it was a central part of my life growing up," Rowe told CBC's CrossTalk.
News of the closure last fall sent shock waves throughout a music community accustomed to the venerable store that had been a mainstay on the street since 1939.
Rowe said other people were interested in buying the building, but he ultimately got the deal.
'Giving up secrets'
The initial plan was to reopen in February, but Rowe, who fixed up the building alongside his uncle, admits there was a lot more cosmetic work to finish before opening.
During the restoration, Rowe discovered old antique soda bottles, cigar boxes and tobacco tins as well as old souvenirs that his grandfather, Roy J. O'Brien, sold at the store.
"I'm finding boxes of unsold Newfoundland souvenirs, I've got a box of Cabot Tower snow globes and things like that, and old souvenir ash trays," Rowe said, who plans on displaying everything in the store.
The doors will open on Friday.