The Del Padre Music Shop encompassed two storefronts: the former City Smoke Shop and Orlen’s Clothiers. Clarence Bemis was the new owner of the building, and the new lease took effect on May 1, 1963. Its new address was listed as 270 High Street. Mr. Bemis had sandblasted the building to enhance its appearance. Three years after operating at 267-269 Maple Street, the Del Padre Music Shop announced it would relocate to the Prew Building on High Street, also known as the Smith Building, next to City Hall.
Because extensive interior renovation and modernization were necessary, the store planned to open in mid-May 1963. The new location was in the heart of the city’s busy retail district and close to two city parking lots and public transportation.
The store would no longer carry appliances, as it did at the former location. Its focus would be on recorded music, music players, photography and television. Radios and tape recorders would also be carried.
The store’s print advertisements were created by Phoebe (Kemp) Del Padre, Louis Del Padre’s wife and an accomplished artist.
The store’s Grand Opening took place on May 22, 1963. It was around this time that the Del Padre Supply Company, a parts wholesaler to authorized radio and television repair workers, closed or was sold to KTC Electronics. KTC also operated at 462 High Street from 1963 to 1967.
In 1964, as part of a downtown retailers’ sales days, an organ supplied by the Del Padre Music Shop was placed on the back of a truck, which drove throughout the city as the organist played. It was a way of enticing customers to the downtown area.
The store continued to be a ticket outlet for live acts appearing throughout the area and stage plays, especially at Mt. Park. Occasionally, entertainers would appear in the store to sign autographs for their fans.
In 1967, the store resumed carrying kitchen and washing appliances. Holyoke was among four stores in the Del Padre retail family, which included Springfield, Westfield and Northampton.
The Del Padre Music Store was awarded a contract in 1969 to supply the Holyoke Police Department with televisions and recording devices for its booking area.
In 1971, the economic climate was changing, and competition from larger chain stores was taking business away from specialty shops. Both the Northampton and Westfield stores were closed in that year. On April 1, 1973, the Holyoke store was also closed, ending Del Padre’s 14 years in Holyoke.
Citations: Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, MACRIS, Boston, Massachusetts
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