After a century of supplying musicians with instruments and gear, as well as offering a place to gather and play with other musicians, the renowned family-owned retail chain Sam Ash is shutting its 42 locations.

The announcement came last week, marking the end of an era for the company founded by Sam and Rose Ash in Brooklyn’s Brownsville district in 1924. In a statement posted on its website and social media, the company said that every location would “begin closing sales” on May 2.

Sam Ash’s footprint spans across several states, including New York, New Jersey, California, and Texas. Some locations are set to shutter by the month’s end, with all slated for closure by July’s conclusion, the New York Times reports.

The company had been trying to keep things running in the face of a changing retail landscape. Last month, it announced it would close more than a dozen stores, but apparently that wasn’t enough.

Fast Company has reached out to Sam Ash for additional information but did not immediately hear back.

A place to jam

For many musicians, the news will no doubt evoke nostalgia for the communal experience of browsing instruments and equipment at Sam Ash stores. “It’s been a vital part of my life for as long as I can remember,” one musician shared on Facebook under the company’s announcement.

Michael Whalen, a Queens-based composer and recording artist, reminisced to the New York Times about frequenting the Sam Ash store on Manhattan’s West 48th Street during the 1990s, when the area buzzed with music shops like Manny’s Music and Rudy’s Music.

With the closure of Sam Ash and other iconic music stores, Whalen reflected on the changing landscape of New York City, lamenting the loss of community hubs and the encroachment of commercialization. “The city is changing so much, and a lot of people accuse Manhattan of being a place only for superrich people,” he told the Times. “I can see that because the places that made it feel like a community are going away.”

Silver lining?

While the closure is bittersweet, according to the company’s Facebook announcement, it also “presents a fantastic opportunity for great deals across our premium selection of musical instruments & pro sound equipment.”

In addition to in-store sales, the company added that it will also offer specials on the Sam Ash website. “Thank you for allowing us to serve musicians like you for 100 years,” the post concluded.