As of May 28, 2023- GuitarSam is online only and our bricks-and-mortar location is permanently closed in downtown Montpelier. Thank you for 42 great years of friendship and business!
A brief history of the high and low points... Started in March 1981 by Kevin Crossett, we began as "Play It Again Sam", a name that matched the many funky and boutique-like shops in downtown Montpelier at that time. Our first store was a tiny 360 square feet. Play It Again Sam grew from a one-man shop to several employees in a short number of years, and moved across the street to a location several times larger.
In 1992, a flood filled much of downtown Montpelier with several feet of standing water. Montpelier's downtown district was declared a national disaster area. Against what seemed insurmountable odds, we were too stubborn (and liked our jobs too much) to give up.
In 1998, we launched www.GuitarSam.com and rapidly realized success as one of the earlier musical instrument stores to sell online. Within our first year of online sales, we had shipped musical gear to all 50 states and a dozen countries. We were featured in a USA Today article titled "Main Street Hits Mainstream" and the same story ran on NBC news and CNN.
In 2003, our feelings and livelihood were again threatened, this time by fire that destroyed the building that had housed us for 18 years. Relocating in the City Center mini-mall, and consolidating to one business name, GuitarSam, sent us off on the next exciting chapter of business life.
Six years later, a fantastic retail space opened up out on Main Street, with a much more luxurious-sized sales floor, more storage, easy front and rear access, better overall visibility and great parking. In November 2009, we relocated to 71 Main Street, and we very much enjoy being in one of the best retail locations in all of downtown Montpelier VT.
As of May 28, 2023, owner Kevin Crossett has retired from the day-to-day operations of running GuitarSam, and the bricks-and-mortar store is permanently closed. Customers may still order strings and accessories online. Kevin can still be seen around town riding his bicycle or drinking coffee. That's all, folks!
A brief history of the high and low points... Started in March 1981 by Kevin Crossett, we began as "Play It Again Sam", a name that matched the many funky and boutique-like shops in downtown Montpelier at that time. Our first store was a tiny 360 square feet. Play It Again Sam grew from a one-man shop to several employees in a short number of years, and moved across the street to a location several times larger.
In 1992, a flood filled much of downtown Montpelier with several feet of standing water. Montpelier's downtown district was declared a national disaster area. Against what seemed insurmountable odds, we were too stubborn (and liked our jobs too much) to give up.
In 1998, we launched www.GuitarSam.com and rapidly realized success as one of the earlier musical instrument stores to sell online. Within our first year of online sales, we had shipped musical gear to all 50 states and a dozen countries. We were featured in a USA Today article titled "Main Street Hits Mainstream" and the same story ran on NBC news and CNN.
In 2003, our feelings and livelihood were again threatened, this time by fire that destroyed the building that had housed us for 18 years. Relocating in the City Center mini-mall, and consolidating to one business name, GuitarSam, sent us off on the next exciting chapter of business life.
Six years later, a fantastic retail space opened up out on Main Street, with a much more luxurious-sized sales floor, more storage, easy front and rear access, better overall visibility and great parking. In November 2009, we relocated to 71 Main Street, and we very much enjoy being in one of the best retail locations in all of downtown Montpelier VT.
As of May 28, 2023, owner Kevin Crossett has retired from the day-to-day operations of running GuitarSam, and the bricks-and-mortar store is permanently closed. Customers may still order strings and accessories online. Kevin can still be seen around town riding his bicycle or drinking coffee. That's all, folks!