Making more music in Collingswood

Less than a year ago, the former post office on Collingswood's Lincoln Avenue was an eyesore. It had been vacant for a decade and was becoming increasingly dilapidated.

Now, it is the chic new home of Collingswood Music, another business contributing to the evolving hip personality of the town.

"It's probably one of the last buildings in the area that hasn't been worked with," business owner Ted Velykis said.

Some work remains, including putting up a sign.

The borough lost a great deal of business to Cherry Hill Mall in the 1960s, and by the 1990s, Haddon Avenue was laced with vacant storefronts. In recent years, the town has worked to reinvent itself by attracting restaurants and stores.

In January, Velykis re-upped in Collingswood when he bought the 9 Lincoln Ave. location and moved his seven-year-old business there from a smaller store on Haddon Avenue.

Collingswood Music buys and sells instruments and vinyl records, and offers music classes to people of all ages. The new facility is five times larger, Velykis said, enabling him to expand classes and better display the large inventory of records.

The Haddon Avenue location already has attracted another business, he said.

"Seeing somebody turn an old building into a new property is a good thing," said Cass Duffey, director of community development.

On Thursday, Borough Commissioner Joan Leonard and other officials celebrated Collingswood Music's relocation with a ribbon-cutting, and there's an open house Saturday, though the shop has been open since last week.

Velykis has upgraded the storefront to a pristine white facade, complete with guitars showcased in the windows. He also has built four lesson rooms and a vinyl recording station in the 2,300-square-foot space, which sports new flooring and a repaired roof.

"I like the idea of renovating an old space that needed a face-lift," Velykis said.

The arrival of a new business helps stores and restaurants around it, Duffey said. Those at neighboring DiBartolo's Bakery agree.

"We are thrilled to have an actual storefront next to us," pastry chef Manny Agigian said. "It'll bring in more foot traffic.".

Agigian said that in his five years at DiBartolo's, he has noticed more "trendy, groovy, upscale, boutique-type stores" locating in the borough.

The folks at DiBartolo's are not the only ones excited about the renovations.

Cori Frockowiak, 11, said she was excited about the new studio at Collingswood Music, where she has been taking guitar lessons for four years.

"This place is bigger and has more places to sit," she said.

"It's way bigger and has a lot more space," Graham Reynolds, 7, said before his piano lesson with instructor Aileen Bunch.

Collingswood Music's expansion will add to the borough's artsy feel, Mayor James Maley said: "It's a great outlet for the residents and will help attract people into town."