08 October 2009

Sam Ash Row


I guess, with Manny's Music Shop having closed in June, building owner and onetime competitor Sam Ash wouldn't leave its big sign up there forever. Still, it was a shock to see this big red stripe against the sky on W. 48th Street the other night. Not exactly what I'd call in good taste. Other the other had, you can see it a mile away!

Inside, all the old photographs of famous Manny's patrons are gone and the walls and floors have been scrubbed to an antiseptic sheen. The only evidence this was Manny's in the store's name embedded into the sidewalk just outside the door. Music Row is truly Sam Ash Row now.

5 comments:

  1. i was under the impression that sam ash bought manny's a number of years ago

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  2. They did. But Ash let it run as Manny's, run by Manny's people, until early this year when Ash dropped the ax on the store. Now it's a full-fledged Ash store.

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  3. i think guitar center may have really hurt the sam ash brand, trying to rebrand now, fresher, newer image.

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  4. Sam Ash is not the building owner. The Rockefeller group bought it from the Manny's family. Sam Ash family never owned it, they only leased the space.

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