Musician Ryan Camaioni has opened a new music store, Strings ‘n Things, in New Milford, Connecticut, fulfilling a long-held dream. Located on Kent Road, the store offers a range of electric and acoustic guitars, sound equipment, and accessories, along with rental instruments designed for students participating in local school bands and orchestras.
Camaioni, who moved to Connecticut from California in 2014, aims to create a vibrant community for musicians in New Milford. “I want to create a community for musicians here,” he remarked. “The store can become a central hub for people to share stories, music, and instruments. There’s a need for it here.” Since its grand opening on August 15, 2023, the local response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Building a Community Through Music
Strings ‘n Things is situated next to an antique store at 209 Kent Road. The store’s cozy atmosphere showcases a diverse selection of guitars from brands like Squire, Gibson, Fender, and Ibanez. In addition to guitars, Camaioni offers amplifiers, strings, and unique instruments such as a charango and an Appalachian dulcimer. “These are mine, but I don’t play them anymore,” he said. “I’m ready to pass them on to a new owner.”
Camaioni is particularly enthusiastic about his rental program, which caters to students in New Milford’s public schools. The program includes instruments such as saxophones, clarinets, violins, and cellos, available for both rent and purchase. This initiative comes in response to the closure of the New Milford Music Center in 2011, which had served the community for many years.
While Bearclaw’s Academy of Music on Railroad Street offers lessons, Camaioni felt the community would benefit from a dedicated music store. “Some other music-related stores in the state have closed locations,” he noted. “It’s a different music scene in Connecticut. It’s very local.”
A Vision for the Future
Camaioni hopes to revitalize the local music scene, reminiscent of Danbury’s vibrant atmosphere in the 1980s. “There are so many musicians out there, working and playing, waiting for a new store to open,” he stated. He aims to collaborate with local schools to support their music programs further.
In addition to his retail venture, Camaioni is an active musician, performing with his band Gumbo, which plays a mix of ska, reggae rock, and alternative music. He also owns Certified Studios, a private space in New Milford for musicians to record and rehearse. Camaioni envisions expanding his business into a larger venue, ideally incorporating space for events and community gatherings. He expressed interest in the old Cookhouse restaurant property on Danbury Road, currently listed for $1.99 million, as a potential site for this vision.
Since opening Strings ‘n Things, Camaioni has received support from the local community, including a visit from Mayor Pete Bass, who actively promotes new businesses in the area. “The mayor was great; he was like a little kid,” Camaioni shared. “It was great that he came down for the grand opening.”
Camaioni noted that local musicians have been enthusiastic about the store. “People are coming in all the time, saying they’re so happy to have a music store again in town,” he said. The shop has already seen sales of guitars and accessories, and Camaioni has been active on social media, sharing updates about the store’s growth and its role in connecting local artists.
“My enthusiasm is growing daily,” he stated. “I’ve met so many new people, helped artists connect, and facilitated artists getting new guitars and amps. The store is really clicking.”
For more information about Strings ‘n Things, visit their Facebook page or call 860-799-0555.
