x
Breaking News
More () »

Foster Family Music Center closing after 30 years

After 30 years of selling pianos and holding music recitals and festivals, the Foster Family Music Center in Bettendorf is closing. The owners are ready to focu...

After 30 years of selling pianos and holding music recitals and festivals, the Foster Family Music Center in Bettendorf is closing. The owners are ready to focus on personal pursuits.

"We're retiring and we're excited about that. We're sad to be leaving the business and sad to tear apart this company that's been so good to us, but we're really happy," said Jim Foster.

The company opened its doors in 1984 at SouthPark Mall.

"We went to thirteen banks in the Quad Cities, begging and finally found one that would give us a loan and we opened up our store at SouthPark Mall" said Foster.

Their "new" location has been open for 20 years on State Street in Bettendorf. Since they've been open, they've sold an unknown number of pianos and restored just as many.

"Oh boy, I don't have any idea. I should probably know that though, shouldn't I? Um, a lot." said Foster.

The Foster's also started the Clavinova Festival, a competition that features students performing on the Yamaha Clavinova piano, with 50 students in 1989.

"The next year there were 100 kids and the next year there were over 200 kids. Then the Yamaha factory started sending people here to see what are they doing over there? And they turned it into a national program and today, our Clavinova Festival is done in New York City and Los Angeles, and Kansas City and Des Moines, Iowa. It's done in Tokyo. It's done in Sydney, Australia. It's done around the world," said Foster.

More important for Mr. Foster are the piano celebration fundraisers through the Piano for a Richer Life organization the family helped organized with area piano teachers and technicians.

"Over the past 12 years we've raised $354,000 for the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City," he said.

More than 1,000 recitals and music competitions have been held in the recital hall in the basement of their store.

"We regret that some of these things may not still happen," said Foster.

But overall, his attitude is positive.

"It's been fun. It's been a hoot," he said.

The store will close December 20, 2014. Starting the week of November 10, the store will have discounts of 30 to 60% to sell off all of the acoustic and digital pianos.

 

 

 

 

Before You Leave, Check This Out