Ansonia’s Banko’s Music To Shut Down Retail Sales

ANSONIA Banko’s Music Store will no longer offer retail sales, the business announced on Facebook Wednesday.

We regret to announce that after 60+ years in business we will be closing the retail side of the business,” the business wrote in a comment under the post. Sales have just not been sufficient to cover expenses.”

Within an hour of the announcement being posted, dozens of past customers left comments lamenting the change.

The store will be selling off its inventory at 10- to 25-percent markdowns until Aug. 25, according to the post.

The business will continue to offer music lessons, the announcement said, as well as stock supplies like reeds and strings.

An institution on Ansonia’s East Main Street since 1955, the business was taken over by a new owner, Joe Shapiro, last year.

The shutdown of retail sales comes less than a year after a grand re-opening and ribbon-cutting celebrating Shapiro’s takeover and a top-to-bottom renovation and facade makeover.”

Sheila O’Malley, the city’s economic development director, said she spoke with Shapiro, who said he is going to focus on lessons and his foundation will focus on raising money and awareness for the importance of music.”

Banko’s is committed to remaining in Ansonia and will probably lease out a storefront as part of the transition,” O’Malley said. The climate in retail is ever changing. Joe is a smart businessman and will obviously make the adjustments he needs to make in order to continue to be successful.”

A nonprofit associated with the business took over management of the city’s annual summer concert at Nolan Field this year.

This year’s concert, called Rock The Summer,” happened Saturday (July 28).

O’Malley said city officials will be re-evaluating” the event to determine what specific direction to take.

We are open to suggestions,” she said.

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