Meridian Music Company shrinking, splitting location in Carmel

After 10 years in Carmel’s Old Meridian District, Meridian Music Company is moving and downsizing operations.

The showroom will move to Clay Terrace and be known as Steinway Piano Gallery, while the educational side of the business will be named Meridian Music School and moved to 845 Tech Center.

“I don’t like splitting up my business, but it makes sense,” President Craig Gigax said.

Meridian Music is the primary Steinway dealer in the state and was founded by Gigax’s father in 1988.

The showroom at 14300 Clay Terrace, Suite 140, will be 3,000 square feet next to Prime 47 and Dick’s Sporting Goods, and the music school will have 4,000 square feet off of Carmel Drive.

“I really tried hard to find a space that could accommodate both, but it just didn’t exist,” Gigax said, mentioning he wanted to remain in Carmel.

He said moving the piano store to Clay Terrace makes sense as his customer base is moving to Zionsville and Westfield.

Initially, Gigax listed the building on Old Meridian for sale about three years ago but had little interest so he pulled it off the market.

“Every year I would think this is the year it’s going to get better,” Gigax said. “And it never did.”

He said the piano business was hit hard in the recession because pianos are a luxury purchase and the sector hasn’t completely rebounded yet.

“Steinway is an aspirational purchase,” Gigax said.

He is selling the 18,000-square-foot building at 12725 Old Meridian St. that houses the business currently.

“We’re really closing in with one perspective buyer,” Gigax said.

Gigax estimated the move could be complete within the next two months as renovations in both new locations have started.

There will be no cuts in staff.

“In my conservative nature, I’m hoping for the best in the future, but I’m planning for small growth,” Gigax said.