Passion for music lures Lovely back to business

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    NEW LIMERICK — Who says musical instruments and tasty treats cannot go hand in hand? Certainly not Cheryl Lovely, who is poised to open her new business venture, Mini Music Shop and Country Store.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
PLAY IT AGAIN — Cheryl Lovely has opened the Mini Music Shop and Country Store, a new musical instrument business, next to her home on Drews Lake Road in New Limerick. A grand opening for the business is planned for Saturday, Oct. 30.
    Located in New Limerick on the Drews Lake Road, the Mini Music Shop and Country Store is now open for business and will hold a grand opening celebration on Saturday, Oct. 30. The store is located in a small building adjacent to Lovely’s home.
    If Lovely’s name sounds familiar to those in the music industry, it should. For years, she operated Mainely Music in Houlton as well as branches in Presque Isle, Ellsworth and Bangor. Lovely opened Mainely Music in Houlton upon her graduation in 1974.
    “I’ve been in the music business for 38 years,” Lovely said. “When I moved back home from Florida after 13 years, I wanted to get back into it.”
    Lovely said she retired from the music business in Houlton and relocated to Florida, where she pursued a career in charter boats in Key West. She then decided to open a music store in Florida and also performed as a blues musician.
    “I just have always done it [music],” she said.
    She chose the name Mini Music Shop based on another one of her side ventures, raising miniature horses.
    “I have to be home with the horses, because we have a lot of babies that need caring for,” she said. “I train them and am looking into getting the carts and wagons.”
    Her mother, Maxine Lovely, will do pastries, jellies and jams to sell in the store as well.
    The Mini Music Shop and Country Store carries a variety of musical instruments, including guitars, pianos (both acoustic and digital), drums and amplifiers. She plans to focus on the higher-end lines of instruments, such as Ovation and Ibanez guitars, but also has some inexpensive models to choose from.
    “I can get anything that anybody wants in the musical line,” she said. “If I don’t have it, I can get it in a few days. I think I keep my prices low because my overhead is low. That way I can stay competitive with the bigger chains and online companies.”
    Lovely will also offer musical lessons and instrument repair. She specializes in piano, guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass guitars, as well as some horns. She also has an extended background in repairing horn instruments for local school systems.
    The Mini Music Shop and Country Store will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Friday evenings, the shop will stay open until 9 p.m. For more information, call Lovely at 532-4300.