Walk down the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Hawkes Street, and you’ll soon hear something new humming in the air. It’s not just the sound of guitars and pianos, it’s the buzz of excitement around Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium, a fresh addition to Marblehead’s creative scene.
Set to welcome the public with an open house on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m., the emporium is more than just a store.
It’s part music shop, part classroom, part art gallery, and even part recording studio, all stitched together with the vision of longtime musician and restaurateur Johnny Ray and his business partner, photographer and collector Richard Messinger.
The idea was born over dinner at Ray’s restaurant, The Beacon, when Messinger pulled out his phone to show off his collection of vintage guitars. As Ray kept scrolling, and scrolling, through hundreds of images, he realized his friend’s decades of collecting could be the foundation for something bigger.
“I asked him, ‘How many guitars do you have?’” Ray recalled with a laugh. “It just seemed crazy not to open a music store. Marblehead hasn’t had one in decades, and we thought—why not give the community something it doesn’t have?”
The partners quickly discovered that the idea struck a chord.
Musicians across the North Shore began calling, eager to consign their instruments or lend their talents.
Inside, the shop feels equal parts cozy and ambitious. Rows of instruments, guitars, drums, horns, and keyboards line the walls, available for purchase or consignment. But it doesn’t stop there.
Lessons will be offered for students of all ages, led by accomplished teachers. Among them is Matthew Arnold, a world-traveling tenor and musical director at Star of the Sea, who will oversee the vocal program. Danny Kenny, former keyboardist and musical director for Britney Spears, will offer piano instruction.
Mike McMahon, who is part of the band Funbucket, is a purveyor of fine instruments, and he will also be giving lessons.
Repairs, too, will be handled in-house by a team of seasoned experts, including Messinger himself. “We’ve been around the music business a long time,” Ray said. “We know the people who can fix just about anything.”
Perhaps the most unexpected feature is a state-of-the-art podcast and webcast studio, tucked into one of the back rooms. Outfitted with professional lighting, cameras, and audio gear, the space will be available to rent by the hour or evening.
“We wanted to create something people can’t get at home,” said Messinger. “It’s designed like a Hollywood set—inviting, professional, and ready to go. People are going to want to come here and create.”
The emporium also carries Messinger’s other passion: photography. His sweeping landscapes and seascapes of Marblehead and the North Shore will be reproduced on large-format canvas prints, displayed alongside the instruments. Customers can also bring in their own digital photos to be printed and framed.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” Ray said. “Music, art, community, it all belongs together.”
For Ray, opening in Marblehead isn’t just about filling a business niche; it’s about gratitude.
Since first moving to town in the 1990s, Ray’s career in music and hospitality has been deeply intertwined with the community, from playing in local clubs to running The Beacon and Warwick Theatre.
“Everything good that’s happened in my life has been because of Marblehead,” he said. “This is my way of giving back, creating a place that inspires people the way this town has inspired me.”
The open house on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. promises a first look at the store’s instruments, art, and studio. Afterward, the shop will keep regular hours—Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and weekends from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Visitors will also be able to sign up for lessons, schedule studio time, and even shop online.
“No matter your age or background, if you’ve ever thought about learning music or getting back into it, now’s the time,” Ray said. “Don’t be shy—we welcome everyone.”
