The scene on Greenwich Avenue got amped up last spring when Round Hill Music Co. opened its doors, offering a modern spin on a guitar emporium, vinyl record shop and gathering place for music lovers to gather for listening sessions.
The well-appointed music boutique is replete with a wall of colorful guitars, handsome oriental rugs, leather furnishings, bins of collectible vinyl and shelves full of top-of-the-line European turntables that give it the vibe of a rockers smartly designed jam cave.
And those good looks are intentional. After spending a lifetime scoping out guitar shops around the globe, owner Josh Gruss was clear on his vision: The Avenue needed a music store with serious cred, and he was ready to go big.
“A guitar store should be a Disneyland for guitars. A feeling of amazement should happen when you walk in,” says Gruss, a musician who in 2010 founded Round Hill Music, a private equity firm that is dedicated to music IP investing. “Here, I think we have that.”
The wow factor starts with that wall of guitars. The store is stocked with a veritable best-of list of fine instruments from luxe lines including Gibson, Fender, Paul Reed Smith, Taylor, LsL Instruments, Rock N Roll Relics and Ernie Ball. These are the kind of acoustic and electric guitars with price-points that make them a considered purchase, but Round Hill Music has been winning fans of both serious collectors and aspirational buyers alike since it opened in May.
“You have people who come in and buy that guitar they wanted as a kid,” explains John Mahoney, the store’s operations manager.
“And you also get kids, starting somewhere between 10 and 14, who come in and just want to look and admire. They are in here right along with the very serious musician who has been thinking about adding to their collection,” adds Joe Nardi, the guitar sales manager, who counts Howard Stern producer Gary Dell’Abate and the legendary Ron Howard (he learned to play guitar from the late actor Andy Griffith on the set of The Andy Griffith Show) among the musicians who have stopped in to explore.
Those looking to invest in that next-level dream instrument can play in a discreet, acoustically sound, private backroom.
“A lot of them are serious players, and just having the chance to experiment like that can help them figure out if that guitar is the right fit,” explains Rob Farella, the store’s marketing and social media manager.
While the allure for guitar enthusiast is a given, Farella adds that it’s the other elements that Gruss brought to Greenwich Avenue—and Fairfield County—that have made the place a destination and more-than-one-hit wonder.
Its vinyl collection, which features more than 2,000 new and vintage pressings, is a big draw, for those musically-inclined listeners who believe records just sound better than digital recordings. There’s also an impressive collection of European turntables, amps and fine-crafted guitar straps. An on-the-premises guitar tech provides professional repair and setup services. Apparel, including vintage-inspired concert tees by hot women’s line Daydreamer and its own line of Round Hill Music merch, keep things fresh and interesting. And then there’s the small, elevated stage at the back of the shop where a talented array of guitarists and some deejays have come to play and spin at a mix of public and VIP events. (Check the store’s website for a regularly updated schedule of public events.)
“Greenwich needed this, because Greenwich didn’t have something like it,” says Gruss, himself a guitarist and songwriter for the band Rubikon. “It’s not just a guitar store. It’s a music store. And there are plenty of musicians and people in town who love music.” roundhillmusic.com