The Music Mart was started by Olin Butt in the basement of his mother's home on Spring St., Bellefonte in 1948 for the purpose of providing service to his music student s and members of the American Legion band. As director of the band, Mr. Butt lead his Junior Legion musicians to twenty-three state and four national championships. During this time the Music Mart moved to below Herman's News stand on Allegheny St., 1954, to Beaver Avenue in State College, early 60's, and to College Avenue across from the Human Development building in 1966. As the business moved it grew in size to include electric and acoustic guitars, banjos and drum sets along with the band and orchestral instruments and accessories.
Kay and George "Chip" Ward purchased the music store from Olin in 1975 adding band and string instrument leasing and in 1981 moved The Music Mart to its present location, 227 East Beaver Avenue. In 1990 Tom and Cheri Gallagher became the new owners and added professional sound systems, digital keyboards, DJ/stage lighting and sound system rentals and installations to the musical instrument product lines.
The Music Mart still has its "mom and pop" roots but has grown to a sales staff of six, an in-house repair facility for musical instruments, amplifiers, and speakers and a crew of three sound technicians that travel to remote locations, set-up and operate sound systems in a variety of venues throughout the region. We are small enough to know you but large enough to serve you.