Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well, it's back to Sandhill for this one. I did a closing for Rice's longtime Devine Street home in 2012, and another when they moved from the Sandhill center court in 2020.

Now they have moved one final time from this location to 125 Outlet Pointe Boulevard as part of closing down the business for the owners' retirement. According to their web site they are now selling at 15 to 70 percent off, so if you need a piano, this might be the time to pounce.

UPDATE 12 November 2024 -- Got an interesting circular ad in the mail a few weeks ago:

It looks like perhaps Rice has sold their name & good-will to Steinway.

Apprently this move took place sometime around June of 2020, but I never noticed it until quite recently. Rice Music House moved from their old Devine Street location to near the traffic circle at Sandhill in 2012, and have now moved an additional block or so to 486 Town Center Place, Suite 1.

As you can see above, as of yet there is nothing in the storefront they vacated.

As mentioned by commenter Justin, and documented in this sale notice here, Hannah Piano in Seven Oaks Shopping Center is closing after 42 years as the owners are retiring.

The Liquidation Sale will offer new and used pianos of all sizes, finishes, and price ranges, digital pianos and all print music. Deep discounts will be offered over the coming weeks and the store will close their doors when everything is sold.

Unfortunately, the keyboard under my fingers now is the only kind I ever had an affinity for..

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 23 March 2018 -- The closeout is over and the place is now closed:

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.

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