What we do
Bringing People and Music Together
Uptown Music has been supporting the Salem - Keizer, Oregon area for over 30 years with great service, quality products, music lessons & repairs.
We have what you are looking for. Uptown Music carries a variety of personally selected guitars from top manufacturers like Taylor, Fender, Eastman, Ibanez, Gretsch, Squier and more.
Stop by our Drum shop and Get your Groove On with great Drum & Percussion products like Yamaha, Tama, Mapex, LP, Roland, Alesis, Sabian & Zildjian.
Visit our Keyboard store for the best names in Electronic Keyboards, Digital Pianos & Synths including: Roland, Korg, & Yamaha.
See our Pro Shop for PA Systems, Amps & Accessories from Blackstar, Fender, Vox, Yamaha, Line 6, Audix & Audio-Technica and many other great brands. Get great brands and unbelievable service all backed by our Gold Star Service Guarantee only at Uptown Music.
Our History
Uptown Music was founded in January of 1991 by Jim Nardi and Mark Kaufman. The move to open the business was fueled by the closing of the Music West company; Jim’s employer for the previous twelve years. Building on their industry knowledge and success, as well years of music performance experience, Jim and Mark opened the store a scant three weeks after Music West had closed, scraping together $2500.00 and stocking the store with leftover inventory from Music West. The original store was located next to what is currently Keizer Dollar Tree.
Mark left the business due to family concerns shortly after it opened, and Jim’s wife Sylvia joined the business. By 1996 the business had out grown its original 600 square foot location and moved across the street to a 1900 square foot facility in the SchoolHouse Square Shopping Center. The store grew to 3400 square feet in 2001 when additional showroom and warehouse space were added.
By 2005, the Uptown “family” included eight staff members, as well as eight instructors and once again was bursting at the seams. The opportunity came up to purchase and renovate the 8000 square foot Keele’s Carpet building one mile south of the existing store. In August the store was relocated to its new home, accomplishing the move in a single day with help of the McNary High School Band and the Band Boosters!
In March of 2014, The Nardi's sold Uptown Music to long-time employee Paul Elliott, with Jim remaining on staff as a chief consultant and founder for the next year. In March of 2015, Jim finally retired from the business placing it confidently in the hands of Paul and his staff. Now under Paul's ownership, Uptown Music and its team remain committed to offering its customers outstanding service first and foremost.
Throughout its history, Uptown Music has publicized itself as “The Valley’s Biggest Little Music Store”. While the store has grown in size physically, the philosophy to provide a personal, “small specialty store” experience to every customer has not changed. Active in the community, Uptown Music provides support to numerous youth, school, church and civic organizations. Uptown Music has been honored with the Keizer Chamber of Commerce’s “Merchant of the Year” Award for service to the community, voted Best Specialty Store in the Best of Keizer Competition, Winner of the best place to buy music gear in the mid valley by the Statesman Journal and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.