New music store gives U. a choice

Instead of going downtown or to South Street to buy classical music, the University community now only has to go as far as Houston Hall. Classical Choice, recently opened by several University alumni, specializes in classical compact discs. Store co-owner and University alumnus Howard Gentsler said that the new store prides itself on its knowledgeable salespeople who can give advice to customers, both to the neophyte and connoisseur alike. "We are more prepared to cater to a market that is unsure [about classical music]," Gentsler said. He said he specifically looked for salespeople who are knowledgeable about classical music, as many of the store's customers are not familiar with the genre. "We spend a lot of time making recommendations to people," added store manager John Wilson. The store offers a broad stock of CDs at prices ranging from $4.95 to $14.95 for new discs, while used CDs range from $5 to $10, Gentsler said, adding that customers can preview the selections they are considering, at the store's 'listening bar'. The store's spring opening prevented it from providing music students with required class selections, but Gentsler said he intends to to make this service available in the fall. "[We have]an inventory that is very representative of what's available," he said. "We make a special effort to stock what they're teaching [in the music classes]." The store can also special order hard-to-find selections, Gentsler said, with most selections arriving in two or three days. While currently the store's clientele has been primarily students with a few hospital and University employees, Gentsler said that he hopes to attract customers from all over the Philadelphia area, since there "aren't really that many stores that specialize in classical music." Customers can buy a membership to Classical Choice for $10 ($7 if they are members of Discovery Discs' club.) The membership entitles them to discounted prices for items they buy and higher prices for items they sell. They also have the choice of receiving cash instead of credit for items they trade in. While not sharing ownership, Classical Choice bears a strong resemblance to mall neighbor Discovery Discs. Both stock only CDs, sell new and used ones, buy used discs and have listening bars. Classical Choice even leases its computer system from Discovery Discs according to Tony Hall, a manager at Discovery Discs and designer of the computer system. The two stores, however, are only "linked in spirit, but not in ownership," said Gentsler. "We are explicitly not in competition with Discovery Discs," Gentsler added. The stores carry entirely different lines of music and tend to complement each other instead. "We send people down there [to Classical Choice] all the time," said Discovery Discs manager Paula Satern.

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