Musician Ryan Camaioni grew up in California and moved to Connecticut in 2014, and has spent a decade working as a musician, raising a family, and perfecting his dream of opening a store of his own.
That dream came true recently, when Camaioni opened Strings ‘n Things, a guitar, sound and accessories store on Kent Road/Route 7 in New Milford.
Musician Ryan Camaioni recently opened Strings ‘n Things, a retail music store offering electric and acoustic guitars and accessories, as well as rental instruments for high school band and orchestra members. He wants the store to be a “music hub” for local musicians. (Emily M. Olson)
“I want to create a community for musicians here in New Milford,” Camaioni said. “The store can become a central hub for people; to share stories, music, instruments. There’s a need for it here.”
Strings ‘n Things is next door to an antique and vintage store at 209 Kent Road. The cozy space is filled with electric and acoustic guitars made by Squire, Gibson, Epiphone, Fender and Ibanez.
Sound amplifiers, strings, picks and other accessories are also for sale, as well as unique pieces: a charango, or small stringed guitar; a ukulele from Hawaii; and an Appalachian dulcimer.
“These are mine, but I don’t play them anymore,” Camaioni said. “I’m ready to pass them on to a new owner, to be played again.”
Camaioni is also offering an instrument rental program intended for students in New Milford’s public schools, with saxophones, clarinets, flutes, violins and cellos available for rent or purchase.
The New Milford Music Center, a longtime business on Bank Street, closed its retail operations in 2011.
Musician Ryan Camaioni recently opened Strings ‘n Things, a retail music store offering electric and acoustic guitars and accessories, as well as rental instruments for high school band and orchestra members. He wants the store to be a “music hub” for local musicians. (Emily M. Olson)
Bearclaw’s Academy of Music on Railroad Street offers a wide variety of music lessons and has been in business for 10 years. But, Camaioni said, he knew musicians would appreciate a new store. Some other music-related stores in the state have closed locations.
“It’s a different music scene in Connecticut. It’s very local,” he said. “Danbury had a big music scene back in the 80s, and people say it’s back, so I want to make that happen here. There are so many musicians out there, working and playing, waiting for a new store to open.”
He also wants New Milford school students to come to him for instruments.
“The schools have a good music program,” he said. “I want to collaborate with them.”
Camaioni, a longtime guitar player, is a member of the band Gumbo, playing ska, reggae rock and alternative music, he said. The group had a show scheduled at Stella Blues, a bar in New Haven, in the coming weeks.
Musician Ryan Camaioni recently opened Strings ‘n Things, a retail music store offering electric and acoustic guitars and accessories, as well as rental instruments for high school band and orchestra members. He wants the store to be a “music hub” for local musicians. (Emily M. Olson)
“We have Eric London, our drummer, Tyler Watkins on lead guitar and keyboards, a bass player, and we just added a sax player and a percussionist,” he said.
He also owns a sound company, Certified Studios in New Milford. It’s private for musicians to cut albums and rehearse. But Camaioni hopes that eventually, he’ll be able to find a space in town with room for both, plus more space for events.
“That would be amazing,” he said. “I drive by the old Cookhouse restaurant and I can imagine what it would be like to have a big music center there. But it’s got a pretty big price tag; it’s expensive.”
According to realty.com, the Cookhouse property at 31 Danbury Road is listed for $1.99 million.
For now, the Kent Road location is perfect, Camaioni said.
Since he opened in late summer, the support he’s received has been tremendous, Camaioni said. Among the guests was Mayor Pete Bass, who makes a point of welcoming new businesses to town and posting the visit on his Facebook page.
This CT store has a name that tells its story. Why ‘vintage’ and ‘antique’ had to come together.
“The mayor was great, he was like a little kid,” Camaioni said. “He took a lot of pictures and was very interested in everything. It was great that he came down for the (Aug 15) grand opening.”
“People are coming in all the time, saying they’re so happy to have a music store again in town,” he said. “A lot of musicians have been stopping by to get strings, or look at the guitars, and yes, I’ve sold some guitars already.”
His enthusiasm also erupts on Facebook, such as recently sharing, ” I’ve met so many new people, helped artists connect, facilitated artists getting new guitars and amps. I realized the store was really clicking when people started coming in not having time to chat but literally on their way to a gig and just needed some strings, cables and a tuner. This store is growing by the day.”
He’s also met people who are dusting off their instruments and “getting back into it.”
“A guy came in and said, ‘My guitar needs some TLC’ and he got new strings,” Camaioni said. “We have parts for amp repairs, things like that. Customers love that they can get that right here in town.”
To reach Strings ‘n Things, find them on Facebook or call 860-799-0555.
