By Christin Evans, HANC Board Member
Facing steep rent increases and escalating payroll costs, long-time small business owner Massoud Badakhshan announced he’ll be liquidating stock and closing his doors in October. The Haight Ashbury Music Center opened in 1972 and would qualify for the legacy business program but Massoud says that with his 70th birthday coming up in a few months, he’s ready to slow his pace and is unable to continue with the necessary investments it would take to shift his business plan to be sustainable in the internet era.
The board of the Haight Ashbury Merchants Association urged the city to nominate the business for legacy status nonetheless and has undertaken a search for a new owner. The Haight should not be without a music store -- an independent community hub for the city’s musicians to brush up on their skills and outfit their bands.
An analysis of the Music Center’s financials indicated that the business could be made sustainable with investments in new service lines such as classes & events, and with reduction in rent and overhead costs. For that reason, HAMA has put out an open call for interested entrepreneurs and/or investors to contact the organization’s President, Christin Evans at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / cell 510-459-5451.