Fiddles & Stix Music has been the sole source of all things music within about 1000 km of Yellowknife for over 30 years. Shop-owner John White began hooking up Yellowknifers with the latest in guitars, violins, amps, drums, even tubas and standing bases over three decades ago and hasn’t looked back, until now.
Looking back, the music shop owner has many good memories and no regrets.
The brick and mortar shop first opened its doors in 1994 and White started working there in 1996 before taking over the business together with his partner in 1999.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” says White.
“Just dealing with music every day and the people, it’s been quite enjoyable for sure,” he continues.
White has been driven by a passion for music and the nuances that go into music creation.
“I’ve always been into music and then I got into doing the sound side of things,” remembers White.
“Everybody can’t be on stage, you realize there’s actually a lot of other things or lots of other jobs in the music business, besides obviously being a musician,” he points out.
The shop features a broad variety of classic and electric guitars, bass guitars, violins, mandolins, synthesizers, among many other instruments.
“We’ve sold everything we’ve even sold the odd tuba and the odd stand-up double bass. The most common items are guitars and violins for sure, but we’ve sold every kind of instrument, at least once in the 31 years we’ve been open,” remembers White.
The shop has dedicated spaces for the different music instruments and accessories, and lots of room to walk around and try their hands at playing an instrument or two.
“Moving into our new location in 2010, that was definitely nice to get into our own space, have it set up exactly the way we wanted. And that actually, that’s turned out well,” reflects White.
When the store first opened, it was located in a lower level of the Scotia Centre, on Franklin Ave., about a half a block away from its current location on 52 Street.
Over the years, the music shop has had many returning patrons and visitors from out of town stop by.
“Obviously dealing with musicians, we’ve had some really unique individuals come in the store. Dealing with musicians in general gives you different kinds of people,” says White.
Over the years, many a gifted musician has stopped by the store, including local musiicans from Yellowknife and the NWT and beyond stopping by to play at festivals and shows in town.
“Bruce Cockburn was up for Folk On The Rocks. He had forgotten a couple items, so he had to come down and buy a few pedals, but there’s been various artists from Folk On The Rocks who always pop in. Great Big Sea was in the store back when it was at the other location,” he says, fondly looking back.
“Lots of unique individuals here in the store over the ears for sure,” reflects White.
In the shop, surrounded by rows of Yamahas and Fenders, a couple of musicians make their way through the store and each picks up a guitar to play a few chords and even a song or two. White stands at the counter, chatting casually with a patron and another shop rep. There are few places like Fiddles & Sticks around, in Yellowknife and just about anywhere else in the country.
White says among the greatest challenges shops like his face is competition from big box outlets and online dealers.
“Eventually, I do think in about five years or so, most of the main music dealers like Fender and Gibson will be selling direct from their websites. So there will be a lot less music stores in general, I believe. It just seems to be the way it’s going, especially with online stores like Amazon, that’s killed a lot of businesses,” says White.
For entrepreneurs and emerging business owners who are looking to open their own shop, he offered this advice.
“You have to be really aware of Amazon and the competition for sure. See if you’ve got a viable product, hopefully it’s something unique, or you have a certain niche or something like that. If you’re going to open a business, especially a brick-and-mortar retail store,” he cautions.
Hearing of the store’s closure, many Yellowknivers have expressed words of appreciation to White but also sadness at the gap the store’s closing leaves.
Still, White looks back with lots of fond memories, but it’s been hard work running the music shop, with him and his partner often working around the clock. His passion for music made each day a labour of love, but after so many years, White looks forward to retiring and enjoying some leisure time with family and friends.
“You definitely are tied down a bit when you’re running your own small business. There is not a lot of time for vacation or family. It does take up a lot of time. I’m going to be enjoying some time off,” says White.
“I really enjoyed the store over the last few years. What’s really nice is that we’ve been able to provide music and music accessories to the North. And what a lot of people have said is that there probably won’t be any place to buy a lot of the standard music instruments and accessories or not as easy as it has been in the past. It’s going to be harder for smaller types of retail stores when everything they sell can be sold on the internet,” laments White.
Inside the shop, every nook and cranny is filled with the sounds and acoustic vibrations as folks who walk in pick up and play the inviting instruments that sit waiting on the shelves and walls. It’s a vibe that is certainly hard to come by anywhere.
