Wisconsin’s Parrish Music has opened a second location. The new store is named The Harmony Shop, and features gifts, fair trade items, and home goods. The main Parrish Music store originally sold the gift items, but as Catherine Parrish says “the gift department grew so big we wanted to give it a dedicated store to see what it can do.”
Parrish Music added a stage in the back of the store in 2018, and with a new museum display of classical Indian instruments the store was feeling a little cramped. “With the new Harmony Shop opening, we were able to redesign the music store and regain much needed space” says Ted Parrish. “The gifts were doing well, and are important to our operation. Not everyone plays the banjo after all. The new store front allows us to delve into this new market in a bigger way.”
The Harmony Shop is located one block south of Parrish Music. Partnering in the space is doll maker Jaali’s Dollies, and a private suite in the back has also been sublet. “Our arrangement makes the rent very manageable for all parties” explains Catherine. Catherine also explains the name: “We wanted a subtle tie in to the music store with the name Harmony, but it is clearly a separate business with a separate clientele.” She adds “a gift store inside a music store can only do so much; many folks won’t discover it. The new store has more direct appeal to casual customers.”
Harmony shop stocks items such as: recycled plastic rugs, yoga gear, matcha tea, statues, incense, reading glasses, fair trade clothing, and more.
Started in 2007 as a small retail shop and teaching studio, Parrish Music has grown to be a destination folk shop for musicians and fans in the Driftless region of southwest Wisconsin. An all acoustic shop, the store is renowned for its stock of unusual and interesting instruments. Ukuleles and parlor guitars are specialty areas for the store. Husband and wife duo Ted and Catherine Parrish own and run the store – a true “Ma and Pa” operation. In addition to sales on the showroom floor, Parrish Music features group and private lessons, instrument rentals, and a repair shop. Ted has also coauthored and published two instruction books with Native Ground Press used in the lesson program.
Both accomplished musicians, Ted and Catherine began performing as a duo in 2007.They write and perform original music, have two CDs available, and continue to perform around the Upper Midwest.
