Let's Help Santa Monica Music Center!

My name is Dona Richardson, my dear friend Lana Negrete who you may know as a city councilmember, PTA parent, founder and supporter of many nonprofits, someone who has tirelessly fundraised and supported various aspects of our community, who is constantly helping underserved youth as well as anyone else who needs her help. I know her as my friend, my neighbor and a city council member who has devoted countless hours to bettering our city. Unfortunately, her determination to make Santa Monica a better place has come at a cost - her very own music store, a business she nurtured with love and passion.

She took the torch that was passed down from her uncle and father to run this community gem where generations have either taken their first music lesson or purchased their first instrument. She was able to pivot during hard times like the pandemic all while continuing to serve kids who didn't have access to music by providing free lessons and instruments through her nonprofit and contributing to our schools. The store has not recovered from both the pandemic and the looting on 5/31. The rising costs of running a brick and mortar business including rent increases, and the cost of competing with online and large corporate conglomerates have caused her to once again rethink their current business model. Banks are not loaning to small businesses, interest rates are keeping businesses like hers from staying open and high rents are pushing rare community legacy businesses out.

Every business needs a cash transfusion at some point in time and Santa Monica Music Center is no different. Local, county, state and federal programs have proven to be unsuccessful because her business is located in what is perceived to be a wealthy zip code. Lana is pivoting the business once again, not closing down or giving up but trying to find a way to sustain her current model with either a smaller footprint and a new smaller location in Santa Monica or shifting the store portion to their Culver City location and creating a stronger online presence while keeping the music lessons in Santa Monica. They will continue to service the schools and provide rentals as they are now but need to rethink their overhead at their current location.

Negrete's music store is not just a place to purchase instruments; it's a sanctuary for budding musicians to find their voice, a hub for aspiring artists to collaborate, and a space where both young and old can access all things music at an affordable price. The music store's impact stretches far beyond commerce; it's an invaluable cultural and educational resource that we cannot afford to lose.

Santa Monica has always been known for our strong sense of unity and compassion. We have a golden opportunity to lend a hand to this local family business recognizing its unwavering dedication to our youth in the community and because we don't want to live in a city full of chain retailers. Let's join hands to save this family business.

Our collective support can provide the necessary lifeline to keep the music store's doors open and continue its legacy of nurturing talent, inspiring creativity, and fostering a love for music. Every dollar contributed will directly aid in bridging the gap for them to pivot, securing musical instrument inventory, and ensuring that the music lesson and rental programs remain accessible to all.

Lana and the music store have given so much to our community, let us show that we stand with them during this challenging time. Together, we can ensure that Santa Monica retains this cultural treasure that has shaped the lives of so many.

I urge you to spread the word and rally behind this cause. Share this campaign with your friends, family, and neighbors, music enthusiasts, encouraging them to contribute.

Let's come together and show that as a community we can rally behind our small businesses, and preserve the history in our city that is rapidly being replaced by large buildings and chain retail. Your support will not only save a cherished family music store but also affirm the spirit of unity that defines our city.

Please note that this is not easy for Lana to have to depend on the support of her community. She has done it all on her own and recognizes that when they were looted the community rallied to help them when insurance companies failed to do so. This fundraiser is my doing because I watch her try to carry the load on her own and I know so many of us would want to help if only she could or would ask.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and commitment to preserving the soul of Santa Monica.

Check out the article about this in the Santa Monica Daily Press here:

https://smdp.com/2023/07/29/curtain-may-fall-on-50-year-music-business/