Page 9 - LRCC July 2022 Focus

lansingchamber.org MEMBER NEWS

Elderly Instruments

Celebrates 50 Years of
Business in the Lansing

Community

By Elizabeth Yassick, Kolt Communications, Inc.

hen Elderly Instruments opened its doors on
July 5, 1972, founders Stan Werbin and Sharon
WMcInturff (Burton) only had a handful of
instruments they collected from thrift stores, pawn shops
and garage sales. Today, they carry several thousand new
and used fretted instruments, primarily guitars, banjos,
ukuleles, and mandolins.

On July 5, Elderly Instruments hosted a
block party as they celebrated both 50
years in business and passing the torch to
Stan’s daughter, Lillian Werbin. The event
took place exactly 50 years to the day after
the company’s founding.

When Elderly was founded, they didn’t
have a calculator or cash register. They
certainly didn’t have the capability to ship
instruments to musicians worldwide.

As technology grew, so did the business.
In 1972 they opened their store with a
handful of instruments. By 1975 they had
quite a few more and a mail-order catalog of expression.
that was sent to interested customers all over North We aim to stay
America and around the world. Now they have a website on top of new
with large numbers of instruments, along with plenty of and vintage
accessories and in-house services to meet the needs of instruments,
music enthusiasts globally. providing
musicians
“We went from a tiny store to selling instruments all over and bands
the world,” said Stan Werbin, co-founder and co-owner of opportunities to
Elderly Instruments. collaborate while
honoring our
Elderly’s growth can be attributed to much more than history.”
just growing technology. Thanks to the Werbins and
their team’s experience in the industry, Elderly customers Stan and his spouse Sandy are passing the torch
know they are in the hands of experts when they contact to Lillian and are welcoming her as the second-
the store. generation owner of the store. She has already begun
making improvements that will help Elderly continue
“We have 50 years of experience in this community and to serve their customers. She says she hopes to put
that’s why we don’t do as much traditional advertising. in 50 years just like her Pop. More importantly, she
Through word of mouth, people know that Elderly cares hopes to preserve the name and history of Elderly
the most,” said Stan. Instruments and keep it in step with the future of
musical instrument stores.
“The Elderly experience ensures musicians of all talent
levels get the best instrument for their needs,” said Lillian “We’ll have a big blowout for 100 years on July 4, 2072,”
Werbin. “Musicians are creative and have different forms joked Stan. l

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