OCT. 11 I ROBERT M. SIDES I OPENING
Sides Goes to the Mall

In September, Robert M. Sides Family Music Center opened its first mall store. Tucked inside Arnot Mall in Horseheads, N.Y., the new location is Sides' fourth overall. The company plans to host a formal grand opening in November as it gets closer to the holiday season.

According to Peter Sides, president of the Williamsport, Pa.-based full-line dealer, the store is open nearly 18 hours longer per week than the company's other three locations. It features a similar product mix, with the addition of new lines Vox, Ibanez and DigiTech.

Sides noted that the 2,900-square-foot space was easy to renovate, as the previous occupant, Sam Goody, had furnished it with large front windows and retail-ready lighting. The store now has nine music lesson studios, a large group lessons room and separated departments, "so the guitar crew doesn't feel like they're in the piano department," Sides added.

His company hired consultant Glen Ingles to help with store design and layout. Alysha Sides Greevy, Peter's sister and vice president of the company, also created the color scheme.

"This store is located 90 miles north of our main store in Williamsport, so it really opens up some new territory for us without cannibalizing much from our other stores," Sides said.