Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
TAUNTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A 20-year-old from Taunton now owns the local music shop that he spent much of his life at.
Thomas Tran has been going to the three-decade-old Eastern Music since he was ten years old, where he got his first guitar.
“I’ve been playing guitar since I was ten years old,” Tran said. “Actually, I took guitar lessons here, from the teachers that are currently still giving lessons here.”
After years of lessons, 18-year-old Tran got a part time job at the store. Two years later, once owner Patia Campbell decided she was going to sell the store, he put together his savings from her store and from working full time at his dad’s flooring company to buy it.
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Two months into owning the store, Tran admits that store ownership hasn’t been easy, but he said that the support from the community around him has been strong.
“I’ve been having really great neighbors here in downtown Taunton area. It’s been a good time, and a lot of support from family members and friends and the other businesses, they’ve been great,” he said. “It ain’t easy, but it was absolutely a great decision to make.”
He even continues to receive help from Campbell, which he appreciates.
“She still sticks around, she still helps out a lot, and she still wants to see the store thrive and continue,” Tran said. “She was happy to see that it could continue and see her baby keep growing.”
Regarding the future of the shop, Tran said that he wants to get more involved in the local music scene.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.