WINONA, Minn. – Look for a new sign on a Third Street fixture downtown. Hardt’s Music is changing hands. After 111 years in business, the current proprietors — Cathy Ingvalson and Steve and Jeani Jorde — are retiring. They’ve sold the business to Mankato-based Music Mart, which has shops in Mankato, Faribault and Rochester. William Hardt founded the Winona business in 1913. Eventually his son Stan took over. In 1989 Stan sold to Steve Jorde and Cathy Ingvalson, both long-time employees. Over the years the store has moved locations but never left downtown.

Times change, signs too. In classic Cage building ot 115 East Street.

Music Mart profile

Martin Meidl, a school band director, opened his first music store in 1970 in Lamberton, population 800, in southwest Minnesota. The business hinged largely on partnerships with local schools and churches, on instrument repair, on retail instrument sales ad rentals, and on sheet-music sales. Martin and his son Joe opened a second location in Mankato, which Joe has overseen for 28 years. In 2016 came an additional location in Faribault and in 2018 a partnership with Wellhaven Music in Rochester. Music Mart works with 150 choirs, bands and orchestras, and private music teachers. Music Mart. is a franchise dealer for:

> Band Instruments: Buffet, Chateau, Conn-Selmer, Eastman, Getzen, Gemeinhardt,Jupiter/Mapex, Yamaha,

> String Instruments: Amati, Eastman, Roth, Scott Cao, Yamaha.