Staying in tune through the years: Endurance of Bronstein Music driven by owners’ friendship

Milton Bronstein, who founded the store in 1946, sold his establishment in 1981 to Welker and Edwards, and the two have collectively ushered the instrument rental, repair and sales shop and music school across a constantly evolving economic landscape to its 70th anniversary, celebrated last month.

Much like playing the jazzy grooves both learned to love while members of the South San Francisco and El Camino high school bands, the performance of the store hinges on the owners’ abilities to improvise while sharing distinct, but equally important, responsibilities.

Though business partnerships are never easy, said Welker, the two have always been able to rise above conflict because they share a mutual respect and trust for each other.

“There’s only one way, and that’s the right way, and we just believe that totally,” said Welker. “It’s easy to get along with someone who has those morals.”

Similar to a band which assigns roles according to personalities, the two have learned to successfully delineate duties based on their unique and opposing skill sets.

Edwards acts as the effusive front man, running the sales department facing downtown, while the more reserved Welker’s office is found toward the back of the building, where he manages the store’s books and runs the school instrument rental program.

Though the two must stay in tune for the store to truly hum, Edwards said their independent but unified collaboration hails from their days in a band, when the only thing that mattered was whether each member could play their part.

While operating the business consumes a substantial portion of their schedule, both owners still find time to play, as Welker is an accomplished trumpet player and Edwards is capable on a variety of instruments, but is most proficient playing the keyboard.

Each employee at the company must also play music, as the owners have continued on a legacy established by the founder, which has resulted in a swath of accomplished musicians passing through the front door at 363 Grand Ave.

The thriving music school, serving nearly 300 students, has coaches with extensive and impressive professional resumes who teach private and group lessons to those wanting to learn to play most instruments.

As music buyers have turned their focus to the Internet, the store has had to transition away from relying on the stereo, instrument and record sales which used to be its lifeblood.

In today’s market instead, renting and fixing instruments while teaching others to play serve as the backbone of Bronstein Music, which is fine with Edwards.

“As long as the store is OK, it doesn’t matter which leg it is standing on,” he said.

Welker though expressed dismay regarding the market shifting away from reliance on advice from local music experts, in the name of deal hunting online.

“It’s extraordinarily frustrating,” said Welker, of the Internet’s infringement on the instrument sales industry.

Patrons with a genuine desire to learn to play music often need professional guidance in finding the right instrument to suit their abilities, which is a service not available when bargain shopping from online retailers, said Welker.

“It’s not right,” he said. “A musical instrument is not a commodity.”

As generations of students come to Bronstein Music to rent their first instrument for a part in the school band, or take lessons to develop their playing skills, Edwards said an opportunity is presented for the store’s aficionados to set realistic expectations for the challenges that can be associated with being a musician.

“They are all hard,” said Edwards. “That’s why it is important to pick the right instrument for the right person.”

While there are plenty of difficulties associated with running a music store, both Welker and Edwards agreed it can be tremendously rewarding, which drives their passion for plodding through the sour notes.

“It’s not something we are doing to make money, because we could have made more money doing something else,” said Welker. “So it’s gratifying.”

As Bronstein Music continues as a landmark of downtown South San Francisco, the owners ultimately credit the strength of their friendship which has endured decades of professional and personal challenges.

“I couldn’t ask for a better partner,” said Edwards. “Even though we argue and fight like brothers.”

Yet, despite the occasional trying times, Welker noted the core of the business, and their friendship, rests on a timeless instrument.

“The thing about music is that it creates connections that are forever,” he said. “It’s just an interesting thing. It is a commonality that comes out of doing that thing, and it is just wonderful.”

austin@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105