Tad Mosher has been coming to The Long Ear in search of music for more than 30 years.  

“I love having the CD in my hand,” the Hayden man said Tuesday as he took a break from perusing the shelves. “That's why I keep coming back. I’m not into downloading stuff.” 

The Long Ear, he said, has the work of artists he likes, including Adele and Judas Priest. The staff, as well, are knowledgeable and friendly. 

“It's a great atmosphere here," Mosher said. 

That’s why he was disappointed to learn the store that’s been a mainstay in Coeur d’Alene's music scene for 41 years would be closing this summer. 

“I don’t know what I’ll do. I guess I’ll go online and buy CDs,” he said. 

Owners Terry and Deon Borchard wish it wasn’t so.  

They opened The Long Ear in 1973 in Big Bear Lake, Calif., in a 480-square-foot store, buying and selling new and used LPs, eight-track and cassette tapes. 

When the town became too crowded, they moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1985. It's been home since and the store has been like family, for the Borchards and their customers. 

And don't forget their cat, Major Tom. He's often seen roaming the aisles and sleeping near the front counter. 

“I want to keep doing what I’m doing,” Terry said. “Unfortunately, we can no longer do that. But I’m not sour grapes on this, it’s a fact of life.” 

The building they were leasing on the 1600 block of Government Way since 2016 was sold and new owners have plans for it. The Borchards searched for another site that could provide the size, location, visibility and rent they could afford, but came up empty. 

“We never thought we’d be going out of business,” Terry said.

He quickly adds it’s not due to lack of customers. He said sales over the past two years have been strong, sparked by a resurgence in vinyl.

“Business has been the best it’s ever been," he said.

But as much as they loved The Long Ear, the Borchards decided this would be their swan song.

The rows of new and used albums and CDs with songs of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift and AC/DC will have to go, as will the posters, incense, collectibles and lifestyle items like clothes.

“I’m not getting any younger," Terry said as he sat in a back room of The Long Ear. 

“I am,” Deon added, laughing.

“Yes, you are,” her husband responded with a smile. 

The Long Ear survived for five decades by providing products that were difficult to find and by providing outstanding service.

It had a 1,500-square-foot store on Government Way, north of Les Schwab, for about 15 years, then spent another 15 years on Fourth Street south of Appleway Avenue before settling into the former 5,000-square-foot home of an Army-Navy surplus store. 

They said in the old days, before everything became about streaming and downloading, they had midnight sales and new release parties.  

“As the crowd outside grew, we’d get ready for the party inside,” Deon wrote.  

Their three employees have been with them a combined 50 years: Nic Fritze, 27 years; Joel May, 12 years, and Ben Schoelen, nine years. They are the faces customers have come to know. 

“It's been awesome,” May said. “When I started, vinyl was just on its way back into being popular again.” 

He said it was fun to watch kids come in with parents to buy their first album and they have become friends. May said it doesn’t seem like a business, because in ways, it isn't.

“It's been like trading music with people,” he said. 

Schoelen said he’s going to miss talking with customers and recommending music they might like.

“There's a real community here that’s going to be absent from my life,” he said. 

The Borchards have been great to work for, Schoelen said. 

“They're bosses and they’re family at this point,” he said. 

Likewise for May. 

“The best gig I could have asked for,” he said. “It’s hard to walk away.” 

Jerry and Catherine Brown visited The Long Ear for the first time Tuesday in search of country albums after recently receiving a new record player. 

With Deon’s help, they headed to the counter holding records of Charley Pride, Merle Haggard and Miss Bonnie Guitar.

While Pride and Haggard are household names, not so for Bonnie Guitar. The musician from the 1960s was familiar to the Browns because she lived in Soap Lake, Wash., and in his working days, Jerry relined the water line under Highway 17 there. 

“That's where she’s from,” he said. 

“She's not that well known,” Catherine added.

They were delighted to find her album at The Long Ear, which exceeded their expectations. 

“I was surprised how wonderful it is,” Catherine said. 

“It’s nice," Jerry said. "They have a lot of stuff in here."

The Borchards are music lovers and grateful for being able to do what they have done for five decades. They have watched generations grow up. Kids who came in with their parents to buy records are now adults coming in with their kids. 

“It really is a treat to be in something like this,” Deon said. “We’ve been really blessed. The Lord’s just done a wonderful thing.” 

She said people are happy when they come to The Long Ear and leave happier.

“We've been supported so well in this community,” Deon added. “Our relationship with our customers is really, I think, rather unique. It's going to be difficult to say goodbye.” 

They are planning to start a sale Friday to move inventory. They have set a tentative closing date of July 3 to give them the rest of the month to clear out the store.

"We have even more stuff in the attic," Deon said, chuckling.

"It's a little overwhelming," Terry said.

In retirement, they hope to spend more time with family and, yes, listen to favorite artists. Terry has a large personal collection of albums and CDs. 

“Music is a big part of our lives,” he said. 

Terry said despite The Long Ear’s long, good life, he and Deon were never really businesspeople. He considers what they were able to do for 53 years as far more than transactions of goods and services for money. 

“It’s been a business doing pleasure with people,” he said. 

    Deon Borchard helps customers Jerry and Catherine Brown at The Long Ear on Tuesday.
  

    An AC/DC album sit with rows of records for sale at The Long Ear.
  

    A customer peruses the offerings at The Long Ear on Tuesday.
  

    The Long Ear's cat, Major Tom, relaxes on the floor.
  

    Ben Schoelen, left, and Joel May visit with customers at The Long Ear.
  

    A Long Ear sign decorates the inside of the store.