It was 1976 when Cosimo Riccio opened up his music store, Music World Academy, on the 500 block of Simpson Street and began giving music lessons to students wanting to learn the accordion, guitar and drums.
Fast forward 50 years, two store relocations, thousands of instruments, and more than 30,000 guitars sold, and the Riccio family continues to run its family business. The accomplished accordionist and businessman passed away in December 2022, and his family was recognized last month by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for 50 years of excellent service in the music products industry.
“This award is a tribute to our father and founder and his commitment to bringing music to Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario,” said Enzo Riccio, co-owner of Music World Academy.
While at the NAMM conference in southern California, Enzo, his brother Joe, mother Angela and his sister Emily Notarbartolo were photographed with the Milestone Award.
“Dad should have been in that photo with us. We wouldn’t be at this point if it weren’t for him, because he was the heart and soul of everything we do here,” Enzo said.
“Just looking at his picture just gives me a tear in my eye.”
Riccio called the business a “truly family-run” music store that is run by most of the family members, including their children when they are not in school. It opened on the 500 block of Simpson Street, relocated to the 200 block and is now on the 400 block in former Gilbert’s Furniture Store.
“We’re here to honour our dad and that’s why we have the kids involved, because we want to pass the torch,” he said. “My dad started this from nothing, and two guitars became four guitars, they became eight guitars, they became 200 guitars and that became 600 guitars.”
Acoustic guitars remain among the most popular instruments sold at Music World, with more than 600 to currently choose from. Drum kit sales have slowed and Riccio thinks there is a decline in percussion interest.
“We still sell them, but sales in drum kits are not like they were,” he said. “Keyboards and digital pianos that resemble upright pianos with the weighted keys are very popular.”
Music World Academy has also seen many recording artists come in over the years, many of whom took part in meet and greet, photo and autograph sessions with the business’s customers.
“At our former location, people could line up down the street, enter through the front door to get an autograph and take a picture and continue through the store out the back door,” Riccio said.
Among the artists were Eric Singer, the drummer for Kiss, who was in town performing with Alice Cooper.
“He made an appearance at our store through our representation with Pearl Drums,” he added.
Wilfredo Reyes, who is a Latin percussionist, came to do a drum clinic with us and so did Rick Gratton. And we have a collection of autographed guitars that dad was proud to build showcases for.”
Signed guitars by Taylor Gibson, Buddy Guy, Slash, Jeff Beck and Joe Bonamassa are on display in the store.
Riccio says the secret to the music store’s success is customer service.
“To us, good customer service is so important in a business, and we want to take the time to help every single one of our customers – that’s the goal, to forge ahead for another 50 years,” he said.
