Harmony House
Encyclopedia
Harmony House was an American music retailer founded in the Detroit suburb of Hazel Park, Michigan
in 1947. The chain once operated 38 stores, primarily within the Metro Detroit
area, and employed more than 400 people. Although most of the stores ceased operations in 2002, a location in Berkley
remained until 2004 when it was converted to an f.y.e.
music store.
in 1947. The first store was a Hallmark Cards
dealer which also sold album
s and musical equipment, but by the 1960s, the store was mostly selling albums. Starting in the 1970s, the chain began expanding with several more stores in the Metro Detroit
area. Thom sold the business to his son, Bill, in 1991. Harmony House was known for its support of the local independent music scene, as well as the presence of a Ticketmaster
outlet in each store.
At its peak in 1999, the Harmony House chain comprised 38 stores, of which all but two were within the state of Michigan, and it employed 400 people. The majority of its stores were 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) to 8000 square feet (743.2 m²) in size and located in neighborhood shopping centers, although the chain also operated larger-format stores in shopping mall
s.
Rounds of closures began in the early 2000s, when seventeen stores were shuttered. Eleven more closed by August 2002, and the last ten were to have closed by year's end. The decision to close the stores was a result of the increased presence of music sold at big-box stores such as Best Buy
and Wal-Mart
, as well as an increase in Internet piracy. The announcement was later amended when Bill Thom decided to keep open the chain's flagship store in Berkley
and a nearby store in Royal Oak
that specialized in classical music
. Royal Oak's store closed in September 2003, and the Berkley store was sold in 2004 to Trans World Entertainment
, which rebranded it as an f.y.e.
store.
Hazel Park, Michigan
Hazel Park is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 16,422. Hazel Park was incorporated in 1941 and bills itself as "The Friendly City"....
in 1947. The chain once operated 38 stores, primarily within the Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
area, and employed more than 400 people. Although most of the stores ceased operations in 2002, a location in Berkley
Berkley, Michigan
Berkley is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an inner suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the total population was 14,970.-Downtown, Dream Cruise, etc.:...
remained until 2004 when it was converted to an f.y.e.
Trans World Entertainment
Trans World Entertainment Corporation is a chain of entertainment media retail stores in the United States. It currently operates just over 440 freestanding and shopping mall-based stores under several brand names....
music store.
History
Carl Thom founded Harmony House in Hazel Park, MichiganHazel Park, Michigan
Hazel Park is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 16,422. Hazel Park was incorporated in 1941 and bills itself as "The Friendly City"....
in 1947. The first store was a Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
dealer which also sold album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s and musical equipment, but by the 1960s, the store was mostly selling albums. Starting in the 1970s, the chain began expanding with several more stores in the Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
area. Thom sold the business to his son, Bill, in 1991. Harmony House was known for its support of the local independent music scene, as well as the presence of a Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is an independent American ticket sales and distribution company based in West Hollywood, California, USA, with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010 it merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment...
outlet in each store.
At its peak in 1999, the Harmony House chain comprised 38 stores, of which all but two were within the state of Michigan, and it employed 400 people. The majority of its stores were 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) to 8000 square feet (743.2 m²) in size and located in neighborhood shopping centers, although the chain also operated larger-format stores in shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s.
Rounds of closures began in the early 2000s, when seventeen stores were shuttered. Eleven more closed by August 2002, and the last ten were to have closed by year's end. The decision to close the stores was a result of the increased presence of music sold at big-box stores such as Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
and Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, as well as an increase in Internet piracy. The announcement was later amended when Bill Thom decided to keep open the chain's flagship store in Berkley
Berkley, Michigan
Berkley is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an inner suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the total population was 14,970.-Downtown, Dream Cruise, etc.:...
and a nearby store in Royal Oak
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
that specialized in classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. Royal Oak's store closed in September 2003, and the Berkley store was sold in 2004 to Trans World Entertainment
Trans World Entertainment
Trans World Entertainment Corporation is a chain of entertainment media retail stores in the United States. It currently operates just over 440 freestanding and shopping mall-based stores under several brand names....
, which rebranded it as an f.y.e.
F.y.e.
F.Y.E., standing for "For Your Entertainment," is a chain of entertainment media stores in the United States. As one of many Trans World Entertainment brands, it began in 1993 and was expanded in 2001 after buying out and rebranding mall-based Camelot, Strawberries, Record Town and Coconuts stores...
store.