New owners breathing new life into vintage music business

by GREG GOLDFARB

By Greg Goldfarb

Correspondent

Robbie Stephenson IV used to go to work with his long brown hair hanging halfway down his back.

That was before the Norfolk native and two co-workers in became the new owners of Audio Light & Musical .

Now, his old locks are gone, as he and his business partners start anew in a vintage retail music business with roots going back almost four decades.

"The business always had a strong footing, but it had been misplaced for a while," said Stephenson, who grew up in Greenhill Farms and is a 1971 Norview High School graduate. "Now we can control the business without any strings attached."

Founded in 1969 by Tommy Parker, AL&M was known for selling, renting and servicing anything from musical keyboards to professional public address systems out of a building Parker owned at 3301 N. Military Highway .

In September, Parker gave the company name, remaining inventory and debts to Stephenson, Keith Byrd and Rome Gehrig, but kept the building. The new owners moved the business about 2 1/2 miles to the Military Crossing Shopping Center, across from Janaf Shopping Center.

"It wasn't really a buyout, but more of a hand-off," Gehrig said. "No money changed hands. It was an agreement for us to take over operations. I think he wanted to get out of it for personal reasons."

Parker did not return phone calls.

In its heyday at its old location, which had about 12,000 square feet of space, annual sales, Gehrig estimated, ranged between $5 million and $6 million, with 25 to 30 employees on the payroll. The downsized AL&M has 4,500 square feet, with two employees, in addition to the owners.

The store specializes in selling and servicing professional audio speakers, microphones, amplifiers, keyboards, drums, guitars and accessories. Customers often include churches, social clubs and disc jockeys, but the economy's downturn has affected business.

"Business has been better since we made this move, but we don't see as many people who want things, but people who need them," Gehrig said. "If a hobbyist doesn't have money, they don't buy. But a church can't run without its loud speakers."

A 1975 Virginia Tech graduate, Stephenson, 55, is a member of the local dance band Coolin' Out and used to play with Redy Mix and Body Double. He began working at AL&M in 1991 as an engineer.

Gehrig, 25, is a 2005 Old Dominion University graduate and plays guitar in local bands and at Harvest Outreach Center, where he worships. He's been at AL&M, on and off, since 2001.

Keith Byrd, 46, is a Birmingham, Ala., native, who served in the Navy for 11 years as an electronics technician. He's also a professional guitarist, who began working at AL&M in 1996.

As the economy waits to rebound, Stephenson hears sweet music ahead.

"I'm sure it will get better," he said. "But I see people everyday who need assistance in some kind of way."

Greg Goldfarb,

greg.goldfarb@gmail.com

at a glance

Audio Light & Musical, 5957 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Suite 5, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays; closed on Sundays.

Call 853-2424 or visit audiolight.com

At a glance

Audio Light & Musical, 5957 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Suite 5, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays; closed on Sundays.

Call 853-2424 or visit audiolight.com