is going to be great,” Rigney recalled. But a few months later, on the next conference call, the message had changed. “Sorry, we didn’t hit the numbers we needed.” “Over the years, we had built a loyal community of drum customers,” Rigney continued. “Drummers are a tight-knit group, and I knew we had the best drum shop in New Jersey. But even then, I realized, it wasn’t as good as it could be. That’s when the idea struck me: Maybe I should open my own drum shop. I picked up the phone and called Rob, a longtime customer since 1997. He always talked about opening a small shop and it felt like the right time to make it happen.” “When we were growing up, there used to be a great drum store in New Jersey, but after it closed, nothing ever replaced it,” Siciliano said. “No other dedicated drum shop ever came back. I’ve always wanted to have a space where I could talk about drums and build something of my own, but we didn’t just want to open another local music store — we wanted to create something truly unique, a destination worth traveling for. The goal is to build a shop that drummers would be willing to drive hours to visit, offering an experience and selection they couldn’t find anywhere else.” SERVING THE UNDERSERVED One of the biggest ways Siciliano and Rigney are building community is through teaching. Lessons are at the heart of their mission, providing drummers with a place to develop their craft in an inspiring environment. Beyond lessons, Garden State is set to host clinics and jam sessions, creating an interactive space where drummers can come together, learn from pros and exchange ideas. Many music stores focus solely on transactions: you come in, buy what you need and leave. Garden State wants the shop to be a hangout spot, a welcoming environment where musicians can connect, trade ideas and feel at home. “The other aspect that’s really important is our lessons offer- ings,” Rigney said. “We have a number of different artists that are regular customers of ours, reaching out for the possibility of doing masterclasses and clinics. We already have five teachers available and want to expand that community as the business grows. We want to have public events, drum circles and clinics because those are great community builders. We want to do online interviews with famous drummers from New Jersey and really keep adding to the community.” When Sam Ash closed its doors, Rigney saw it as both an ending and a new beginning. He took everything he had learned with Siciliano — the relationships he built, the knowledge he gained and his decades-long passion — and invested it into creating a new premier experience for drummers. “The cool thing about the reason why we all worked for Sam Ash for so long was because we love what we did,” Rigney said. “I was going to make my living in music in some way, and Sam Ash was able to help me afford to do that. I watched little kids get their first instrument and grow up to be professional musicians. The reason why we do it is because we love it. I’ve loved building the business and learning the entrepreneurial side, writing a business plan, and learning about all the back- end stuff and having a personal relationship with the vendors.” “New Jersey’s full of incredible musicians, and it’s a very underserved drum community,” Siciliano said. “If we could put a premier drum shop here, if you build it, the musicians will come.” MI
MAY 2025 I MUSIC INC. I 39
Powered by FlippingBook