Vacaville Music to close temporarily

Vacaville Music is closing its doors today.

No, it's not the day the music died, it's merely moving.

After 33 years of residing at 359 Merchant St., the owners have decided a smaller, more modern place is the key to continue the business, however, where that spot will be is still unknown.

"It's been a matter of time before we moved," said owner Roseanne Avila. "It's time for that next chapter in a new space."

Avila is the daughter of William and Marjorie Carroll, who first opened Vacaville Music 55 years ago on Parker Street and has been the heart of the music scene for decades.

William Carroll was well known, he was the city of Vacaville's former councilman and mayor and Solano County supervisor. Even the new government center on Monte Vista Avenue is named after him.

Both have since passed away.

"I don't know that they're not here," Avila said as she looked around the store. "I see them everywhere. It's still hard."

She remembers when business was booming in the 1980s with 30 employees for a store that carried music, TVs, stereos and video equipment.

Things have changed, though, with big-box stores taking most of the customers.

A store that encompasses so many memories within its walls is falling apart and it's too expensive to stay, Avila explained.

"The building is so old," said Dan Cagley, the drummer in They Went Ghost and a Vacaville Music employee for more than two years. "There are pieces of the ceiling falling. We need a more up-to-date place and not the Brady Bunch House."

Attending the conference of the National Association of Music Merchants only reaffirmed for Avila that moving was the right thing to do.

"There are a lot of things we should be doing, but we can't do it here," she said and explained that the 10,000-square-foot building is too big when they need a 3,000-square-foot space. "I want the next store to be nice. I want people to have a pleasant shopping experience."

She emphasized that the business is not closing for good.

Vacaville Music has some 450 instruments out on rent and lessons to be taught.

"If we're closed a month or two, we'll be fine," Avila added.

Although it's still hard without her parents, she has close friends that have stood by her during the tough decisions.

"They're excited," she said of her friends. "I think my dad would want this."

Jordan Trucano has been walking through the doors of Vacaville Music for most of his life. Coming in and playing the acoustic guitars in grade school and buying strings and picks for his guitars, he is now an employee and plays the bass and sings in Mad Judy. "The move is a good idea," he said. "Things will flow better. It will be a nicer store and we'll have newer product."

While they're still settling on a location, Avila said they will still return phone calls and says to keep up to date with news of a new location check out their website at

A grand opening is soon to come, she said.

Additionally, the store continues to rent instruments. Avila said some 200 to 300 instruments are not rented every year.

"It's a sin to have them sitting here," she said.

That's why Vacaville Music is offering $10 to the music program of the student who rents an instrument from the store.

"Whether or not we have an open store, we'll still rent," she said.

Follow Staff Writer Melissa Murphy at ReporterMMurphy.