Rice Music House, 3214 Devine Street: 29 June 2012 (moved/demolished) 12 comments
Rice Music House was a daily advertising presence on WIS radio when I was growing up. I remember that they constantly mentioned their Steinway ("The finest piano in the world") and Cable-Nelson pianos. Another big selling point was that "We own all our pianos". At the time, I figured that all stores owned everything they sold, so I didn't see why it was a big deal. Now it seems sort of amazing that they carried all those grand pianos on their own ledgers.
In the event, I suppose advertising isn't everything, because when it came our time to buy a piano, we went with Haven's a bit further up Divine Street. I think they threw in lessons with the instrument, though by the time we finished our year of lessons, they were starting to de-emphasize pianos and get into the framing business that became their mainstay while Rice went on for another 40 years.
Rice announced their closing/move in March. Interestingly, the initial announcements and the story in The State all mentioned that the store would be moving (in downsized form, without sheet music or repair shop) to The Village At Sandhill, but none of their mail circulars, their closing website or the window signage mentioned the move. I was a bit worried at first, but I did finally see their storefront at Sandhill, and the final closing door note does mention the new store.
This, in fact, is the new storefront:
And this is the Devine Street store in happier times back on 27 June of 2010 (and 1 September 2011):
UPDATE 29 August 2012 -- Looks like the Sandhill location is about ready to open:
UPDATE 18 September 2012 -- The Sandhill location is open:
UPDATE 3 January 2013 -- As mentioned in the comments, the old Rice building on Devine has been demolished:
12 Responses to 'Rice Music House, 3214 Devine Street: 29 June 2012 (moved/demolished)'
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Tom
17 Jul 12 at 3:08 pm
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Oh yeah, I remember that now! I think he always introduced himself "This is Emmett Rice for Rice Music House".
ted
17 Jul 12 at 5:23 pm
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@Ted-you are correct. To his credit he did have a great "radio voice."
Tom
18 Jul 12 at 8:48 am
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Article about pianos from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/arts/music/for-more-pianos-last-note-is-thud-in-the-dump.html?ref=todayspaperbadger
30 Jul 12 at 7:52 am
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Hmm...
ted
30 Jul 12 at 7:49 pm
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Badger, I opened that link and read the article and that is such a shame. The piano always filled our house with warm sounds. Even though none of us learned to play well, sitting on that solid bench with sheet music scattered everywhere was a part of what made it feel like home.
Terry
2 Aug 12 at 4:49 am
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I remember taking piano lessons here and they would let you pick a prize when you completed new pieces and yes, ,my parents have a Cable-Nelson piano purchased from Rice Music House!
BTW Ted, how about feature Dreher Packing Co, currently Doc's BBQ, Rising High Bread Co and some legal offices
eleanor boyd
9 Aug 12 at 10:16 pm
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@eleanor, Rising High has two entries that can be found via the Alphabetical Closings link at the top of the page.
Burkett, Burkett and burkett is also listed here.
Andrew
9 Aug 12 at 10:41 pm
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Saw a SOLD sign one a day, a bulldozer in front the next day and then a pile of rubble today! Excited to see what might end up here!
Mary Douglass
27 Dec 12 at 11:10 pm
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I read that Earth Fare was the new owner and was going to build a dining room (and kitchen I would presume).
Mike
28 Dec 12 at 9:13 am
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Worked for Mr. Rice as an organ tech for a few years, while working my was through engineering school at USC. Emert was so conservative that the stations refused to run his ads for several years b/c he touted the American Free Enterprise System that enabled RMH to own their pianos and offer in-house financing. FCC required equal time at the time. They had a reputation as "The" Steinway piano restoration shop in the Southeast. I remember Mr. Rice would get cranky around the first of the year, story being he was afraid someone would ask for a raise...He also worked out at the Y every day. Many great memories.
Bruce Fergusson
15 Jan 21 at 12:03 pm
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From late 1968 through 1976, I had ALL my Classical Piano recitals there at Rice. It was upstairs in a medium sized room that was used for such occasions. I think they had one of their large sized Steinway Concert Grands is what I played on. Too bad they moved to that dead side of Columbia at Sandhills, and now you see what happened. As the saying goes " If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Db
8 Sep 21 at 9:41 pm
Emmett Rice used to offer political commetary in his commericials (which also aired on WXRY FM). He was so conservative that he almost makes Rush Limbaugh look like a liberal!