City Council celebrates Groth Music's 85-year legacy in Bloomington
The Bloomington City Council held a special meeting on September 25 to recognize Groth Music, the iconic family-owned music store that has served local musicians for over three decades in the city.
Groth Music, founded in 1939 by Chester E. Groth in downtown Minneapolis, has grown from a small teaching studio into a major music retail destination. The business has been a fixture in Bloomington since around 1990, when it relocated to its current location in a building that once housed a Red Owl grocery store.
The three-generation family business has evolved significantly over its 85-year history. While founder Chester E. Groth ran the operation with a hands-on approach, subsequent leadership—particularly under Nancy Groth—shifted toward delegating responsibilities and leveraging the expertise of long-term employees. This evolution in management philosophy has been credited with helping the business survive and thrive through various challenges.
Council members highlighted Groth Music's role as more than just a retail store. The business has become a community destination that serves generations of musicians in Bloomington. The store is known for its knowledgeable staff and wide selection of instruments, creating a welcoming, family-like atmosphere that keeps customers coming back.
The meeting underscored the importance of the deep relationships Groth Music has built with its employees over the years. These long-term staff members have been instrumental to the company's success, and the family-like bonds between management and workers have helped sustain the business through economic shifts and industry changes.
The council's recognition of Groth Music reflects the city's appreciation for local businesses that contribute to Bloomington's cultural and economic fabric. As the music retail industry faces ongoing challenges, Groth Music's longevity and community presence stand out as a testament to quality service and family values.
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Source document
[0:00] (groovy bass music)
[0:04] - There's probably not
too many leaves unturned
[0:07] here at Groth Music when it comes
[0:08] to what you're looking for in music.
[0:10] We're talking 85 years of
the three generation legacy
[0:13] family run business.
[0:14] - 15,000 square feet
of pretty much anything
[0:18] you can think of in music.
[0:19] - Over the years, we've
become a destination.
[0:21] It all started with Chester
E. Groth in 1939 downtown.
[0:26] - He started as a teacher.
He taught sax and clarinet.
[0:30] He started in a little bitty
studio downtown Minneapolis,
[0:33] and then he expanded
into selling a few reeds
[0:36] and maybe one sax and
trumpet and clarinet,
[0:39] and it just grew from there.
[0:42] He used to play in the
big bands around town.
[0:45] In that era, they would
have fabulous supper clubs
[0:48] and people would get up and
dance after having dinner.
[0:51] We would have the Metropolitan Opera
[0:54] when they would come to
town to do their shows.
[0:56] It was really a fun time.
[0:58] - And then in '87, Nancy Groth,
[1:00] the daughter of Chester took over.
[1:02] - My stepmother worked
with him all the times,
[1:05] and she was really not a
very good businesswoman,
[1:08] so when he passed away,
the CPAs and attorneys
[1:12] suggested that she sell
it to my brother and me,
[1:17] and my brother said he didn't
want the responsibility,
[1:21] and I said, "I'll do it!"
[1:24] And never really thinking about
[1:27] what a big task I was taking on.
[1:30] So that's how that started.
[1:31] It was not given to me, I paid for it,
[1:34] and I really didn't know that
much about running a business,
[1:36] but I had a lot of great people.
[1:39] My dad was sort of a
hands-on type of person
[1:42] that had to do all the ordering.
[1:44] He had to do everything himself.
[1:46] My part of the business was delegating,
[1:48] because I felt that other people
[1:51] had a lot more expertise than I did.
[1:53] And that's really how the business
[1:56] really survived and thrived.
[1:58] - [Todd] Up until about six years ago,
[1:59] she handed the reins to her daughter Mel.
[2:01] - I'd never run a business.
[2:03] I was a part-time mom forever,
[2:05] and then came back here full-time.
[2:08] And then within two
years of being full-time,
[2:10] I was president of a company.
[2:12] So when we interview people,
[2:14] I just say straight up,
we're a family business.
[2:16] It's not corporate.
[2:17] - I've been blessed to
be here for 25 years.
[2:20] I'm also from here. I grew up here,
[2:21] graduated from Kennedy in '84.
[2:23] So it's kind of a fun thing
[2:25] that I'm able to serve the
community that I grew up in.
[2:28] - We've been in Bloomington
since around 1990.
[2:31] - My stepmother, bless her heart,
[2:34] sold the building out from under me.
[2:36] He told me we had to move.
[2:38] We ended up over where the
home furniture place is now,
[2:42] 494 in DuPont, quite small
compared to what we were used to,
[2:46] but that's all we could
afford at the time.
[2:48] And then we found this space,
[2:50] and it was a old Red Owl grocery store
[2:52] and it was up for lease
and we love it here.
[2:55] And we eventually ended up
buying the building too.
[2:58] (fast drum music)
[3:00] - [Todd] I think the uniqueness
of all of our employees
[3:03] and their base of knowledge
in their areas is fascinating,
[3:06] and people enjoy that.
[3:07] That's what makes us unique is the people.
[3:10] - Why when things get tough,
[3:11] you always say, I can't quit,
[3:13] I got these people that are so special.
[3:15] They're family to us.
[3:16] Most of them have been here over 20 years.
[3:18] It's been tough. We never give up.
[3:20] - Go women.
- Go women!
[3:22] - [Todd] Every day, I'm inspired
[3:23] that we're creating new musicians
[3:25] and serving the ones that
have been around for years.
[3:27] - A couple months ago I had a grandfather,
[3:29] a father and his daughter.
[3:31] All of them had a part of Groth music.
[3:34] - [Todd] We're honored to serve you.
[3:36] If you're looking for a music
store with some unique items,
[3:39] and you're just wanting
to bang in some drums
[3:41] and strum some guitars, come and visit us.
[3:44] - [Nancy] Please come
check out Groth Music.
[3:45] You'll be treated like family,
[3:48] and we've got an incredible store here,
[3:51] a long legacy and fantastic people.
[3:55] (sultry big band music)
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Other Topics from This Document
Business Philosophy and Employee Relations
Community Role and Customer Experience
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