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Recently renamed McKay’s Band House carries a variety of acoustic and electric guitars, as well as school instruments and sound equipment. Staff photos by Tammy Vinson -
Store manager and strings guru Sal Castro checks out a guitar brought into McKay’s Band House for repairs. -
McKay’s Band House has a wide selection of guitars, including this Luna Gypsy A/E guitar in their Sulphur Springs and Garland locations, as well as locations in Wylie, Texarkana and Shereveport-Bossier City. Staff Photo by Tammy Vinson
McKay's expands inventory under new ownership
McKay’s Music Company is under new ownership, but the store’s legacy will live on following the name change. The store has served musicians in Northeast Texas since it was established in 1954 with original owners Kenneth and Billie McKay. Bob and Sandra Cartwright took over in 1980, followed by James and Denise Coffman in 1999.
Chad Causey of Bossier City, Louisiana, bought the Sulphur Springs and Garland stores in June. Causey owns the Band House chain of music stores in Texarkana, Wylie and Shreveport-Bossier City.
The current Sulphur Springs staff will remain in place. Store manager and strings guru Sal Castro has been there for seven years. Sales manager Daniel Winn has been there for five years, and his wife Jaclyn, has been the store’s contracts manager for the last eight years. Retired band director Ben Scarborough serves as route manager, and Taylor Pace (woodwinds) and Larry Price (brass) will still be repairing instruments. Price has worked at the Sulphur Springs store for more than 50 years.
“ We have a great feeling of excitement and anticipation about the changes,” Winn said. “We plan to open a practice studio where students can take music lessons from instructors. That will probably happen after Jan. 1.”
Other changes will include new point-of-sale and inventory control computer systems that will show inventory at other store locations.
McKay’s Band House will also offer a larger selection of intermediate band instruments with beginner instrument prices, as well as gift cards and a 90-day layaway.
They will also carry new brands, including Berringer and Yamaha Pro Audio (speakers and sound equipment), Gretsch (percussion) Dean Alvarez (guitars and strings) and Yamaha, King and Mapex school instruments, in addition to current favorites Bach, Bes-son and Vandoren supplies.
Interior and exterior renovations are complete, and new signage should be arriving soon.
The staff looks forward to continuing to serve area schools and musicians, they said.