Legacy Tacoma Business Closes After 71 Years
A familiar family music store that started in Tacoma during the Eisenhower administration is ending operations. Prosser Piano & Organ, at 5849 Tacoma Mall Blvd, Suite A, is closing after 71 years of business in Tacoma. In a release issued on October 30, the retailer stated it would “close for good” at the end of the year with the retirement of owners Kerry and Gail Prosser.
“A retirement sale of all remaining inventory runs through Wednesday, December 23, or sooner, at the company’s stores in Tacoma and Shoreline,” according to the release.
The first Prosser Piano store in Tacoma opened in 1955, originally founded by Duane and Laurie Prosser, who came to Washington state from South Dakota after previously working at a piano store there. The couple’s sons carried on with the business when their parents retired.
“It’s time. We’re not spring chickens anymore and we have to continue to reinvent ourselves to do things well,” Kerry Prosser told The News Tribune in an interview on Monday. “And it’s just been that season in life. I’m also doing another career as well... . We’ve had lots of great relationships, but when it’s time, it’s time.”
Kerry Prosser’s work at the family piano/organ business started young: “When I was 10, I was refinishing pianos. At 14, moving pianos. At 18, I started selling pianos at the Puyallup Fair, and then I’ve moved through from sales positions to managing stores to president of the corporation.”
“My wife and I are both born and raised Tacoma people,” he added, “so we have lots of friends, a lot of relationships that this business has helped us build throughout the years. And we’re just thankful to the community. We’re thankful to teachers and the students and families that have invested in Prosser Piano. ... And we hope that this time we can thank them by just great values on pianos in our last days.”
Store hours in Tacoma are:
- Monday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Tuesday–Friday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Sunday: by appointment.
For more information, visit prosserpiano.com.
Liesbeth Powers of The News Tribune contributed to this report.