Schafer’s House of Music — long the center of Livingston County’s music universe — is closing at the end of February.
The business at 113 W. Grand River Ave., which has been open for 67 years, is one of the oldest continuously operating in downtown Howell.
But like owner Steve Schafer said, “Time’s change.”
“Today I had a person call on the phone to ask if we had a certain reed in stock,” Schafer said. “I asked if he wanted a single reed or a box of five. He said he’d like the box of five and asked the price.”
When Schafer told him the price, the man said he found it for $2 cheaper on Amazon and would be buying it there.
“That’s what we get every day,” Schafer said. “People shop here. They try stuff out. They take pictures with their phones. Then they buy online.”
Schafer’s mother, Loretta Powell, started the business as an accordion studio in 1957, back in the day when accordions were popular. Then, she added teachers and a couple guitar studios, and eventually expanded to band instruments and pianos.
“We had nine studios going full time until Covid,” Schafer said. “Covid kind of killed us. Some of the teachers didn’t want to come back after Covid.”
Schafer’s family has been in Howell for generations.
“Some of the old sidewalks in Howell say C.C. Schafer on them,” he said.
C.C. Schafer is his great great-grandfather, who was involved in the construction of the old Livingston County Courthouse, as well as the Howell Carnegie District Library.
“He did all the stone mason work there,” Schafer said.
The music store also had a location in Brighton, but closed it 20 years ago.
Schafer, who had put his retirement into the business, will still keep busy with his family farm and the Irish cows that he’s raised for years.
The new owner of Schafer’s House of Music will be turning the three rental units upstairs into two “luxury apartments,” Schafer said. “We’ve had tenants who have been there 20 years. We had to give them their 30-day notice.”
Schafer said the new owner will also be renting out the commercial space on the first floor.
This would be a long post about Schafer’s House of Music. I literally grew up with Steve and his mom. I met Steve in eighth grade and we started a friendship through music. Played with the elementary choir, Steve on guitar or bass and I was on drums. The relationship grew to the store across from the Chevrolet dealer across from the store on the edge of town.
Steve and I played everywhere from the store to any group who needed a guitar/bass player and drummer. Loretta gave me a great deal on my first drum set and financed it herself so I paid from ‘gig money’! Tim and Tom Shelley took lessons there and the four of us started our own band and called ourselves the ‘Continentals’! We did weddings, parties of all sorts, after game dances at the Howell HS, and even remember some church gigs. After school dances were a tough one because I also played football and was never set up in time. Everything about the band was based on Loretta Schaefer’s support and encouragement.
All the time I knew Loretta and Steve I gave drum lessons at the store and worked weekends. My second family as I always felt. When I left for college we continued to play as a band for a year than life ‘changes’ things and I got into a new band playing five nights a week. But, I missed my ‘family’ and stopped in often to see Steve and Loretta.
After graduating MSU in music I went out and started teaching band for 35 years. never forgetting my roots at SCHAFER’S HOUSE OF MUSIC!
Very sorry to read this. BIG thanks to Steve and family for keeping the music going downtown all these many years!
This will really date me, but took accordion lessons from Loretta in ’54 at Green’s Music before Schafers got their 1st Place on Grand River Ave. Gramps bought accordion for me, but had ulterior motive. He was more interested in back brace w/overhead bracket to hold accordion up. It seems, overhead hook would also support Mr. Tommy Gun, for Fall ’54 gang shoot. Gramps the Boss, had arm all wrapped up, and in sling, sayin’ it was farming accident. He told members would like to have given boys chance to win back some of their money, but with him laid up, he told them could only have Grandson 4, shoot for him, but they would have to give him 50:1 odds. Boys said, “No Way”, but best of the rest said, we’ll give you just 20:1 odds Boss, ain’t that right boys, who all agreed. Gramps had taught me how to use device soon as got it, getting along w/Tommy-brace-etc, so shot Tommy Gun 100 shots on full auto w/69 holes on 20″ square cardboard inside tire bouncing down Cherry Tree Hill at back of farm. Gramps won $2,850, added $2,150 he had, buying nice house in town for last Member locked up in Jackson. New rules allowing parole said in addition to lodging, gainful employment was needed & new Citizen became one of HHS’s longest serving Janitors! In ’55, I was on the wagon playin’ in Loretta’s accordion band in Doc May’s 1st Howell Melon Festival Parade! My Mom worked for Shafer’s clerking in both Howell & Brighton, retiring while Managing Brighton Store. Steve & me were buddies hunting, snowmobiling, and delivering organs sold in stores etc. Haven’t seen Steve in like forever, but wish him the best even after Shafer’s House of Music!! We retired down here in FLA located at Lake Alfred in 2010, but in summertime still miss Howell, and home on Howell Lake!!
This may be one of the last and perhaps only opportunities to doff my personal hat to the guitar teachers of Shafer’s who, with such kindness and patience (and patience and PATIENCE) taught a beginner like me the craft of guitar so many decades ago. In addition to Mr. Ennis above, I very much want to salute Cliff Sullens and Glynn Gutzeit, both from the Brighton store, for the expertise of musicianship.
Karen
Thank you to this wonderful community that allowed our store to be a part of so many lives. We love it here and will miss the day to day interaction we have had with so people through the years. Loretta, Steve and I believe that music is so important and tried to make it available when we could. Thank you for the memories we will carry with us. Karen Schafer
I am so sorry to see the store close. I spent many hours back in the 60s and early 70s in the two stores they had. My first guitar lessons were at the store in Howell in 19 65,66 and 67. in 1968 I had an accident that took the first joint of my thumb first second and third fingers of my left hand. Steve Shafer strung up a guitar left-handed for me to use over the summer. my parents ordered for me a left-handed Gibson ES 345 cherry red with a Bixby tailpiece through Shafer’s. I gave guitar and saxophone lessons at Shafers for several years until I moved to Beavercreek Ohio in 1974. More recently my niece, Sandy Lietsaw has been teaching piano at Shafers for many years until recently. I had some incredible students back then. A lot of really incredible musicians and people have walked through the doors of Shafer‘s House of Music. I wish I could go back one more time before they close.
Spend where you live.
I took piano lessons at the Brighton location, and then taught through the Howell location occasionally. I’m so sorry to see this go.
Loretta was a real gem. A refined lady the sort that you only read about or see in movies now.
The people of Livingston County owe a huge debt of thanks to families like the Shafers. Amazon may beat the world by a buck or two on price, but they don’t build communities. Will always fondly recall my first guitar, a fine Epiphone electric complete with little amplifier, which my parents got me for Christmas of 1970 from Shafer’s original Brighton location next to the railroad tracks. Thanks, Shafer’s! Amazon doesn’t furnish much in the way of memories, but you have,
I’ve never played any instruments in my life, but Schafer’s always seemed like such a staple here in Howell. It’s unfortunate to see the place close down after so long, especially when so many businesses struggle to stay afloat. So, even though I’m not interested in the music side of life, thanks for being there for so long, Schafer’s.
Been going there for over 20 years.
Back in 2000, my wife and I were struggling financially, definitely not the funnest of times but we got by.
I was playing lead guitar at SonRise Church but I was borrowing a Fender Telecaster from the Praise and Worship leader. I had been playing for years I really needed my own.
One Saturday afternoon, I walked in and was doing my usual, dreaming. On the wall, there was an American 1999 Fender Stratocaster Voodoo Strat, brownburst. Kinda reminded of the one that the late Steve Gaines used to play. I took it down, played it and it was strong! Then, another gentleman came into the shop buying all kinds of various instruments until he sat down to a grand piano and was playing a smooth jazz improv. I kinda listened and found that he was playing in the key of C. I cleaned the channel up on the amp I was using and played along. I was so amazed at the versatility of this guitar…..I fell in love right then and there! Then……I took a peak at the price tag……..$1,449. I hung it back up on the wall and drive home feeling sorry for myself.
A few months passed but I would still go in every so often and play it until one Saturday afternoon i walked in to find a clearance tag for $849! However, I didn’t have anything close to that but I figured I could ask if they had layaway. An elderly lady was behind the counter that I had never seen before and never saw her after.
I asked her about layaway and she said they did that. Then, it occurred to me that maybe layaway was only for a short period. She told me that I could have it in as long as needed. Sounds great so far, right? Then I asked how much down was required. I once again, hung it back on the wall but figured it was the last time I would see it. Yeah, I went home feeling sorry for myself…..again.
A few weeks later, I came home after a long day of work to find a Valentine’s day card on the kitchen counter from my beautiful wife. Inside the card was a receipt from Shafer’s House of Music. My wife went in and explained to Steve my situation. He actually remembered me lol! He let her put 25 bucks down on that thing! As soon as I was able, I got it out and never looked back. If I was in a band heading out on a world tour and could only take one guitar, she would be my absolute go to! Her and I have been too many places to count. I named her after the most beautiful woman that has ever walked the earth “Yulena”.
Thank you Shafer’s House of Music for all you have done in this community. I’m not sure if you can fathom all the lives of musicians that you have made a major impact on.
And our little house thanks you for an awesome story that will go on long after I’m gone.
Loretta gave me my first ever charge account
So sad to hear!
It’s so important to support your local shops and restaurants.
Yeah, it may be a bit cheaper online but, these are the people in our community!