Reporter: William Henderson
Walking down Main Street, Alhambra residents will notice that the formerly vacant bottom floor of 7 N 3rd St has sprung to life with a newly opened Fried Music. Beautiful music pours out into the neighborhood, and the large glass windows showcase musicians of all ages practicing together inside.
Previously located on 2nd Street next to Alhambra High School, the store is the brainchild of Ben and Connie Fried, the married co-owners of Fried Music, who decided that a step up was long overdue for their growing community. Just over a month ago, they officially opened the new location, moving their classes and practice rooms to the larger space. “Everything has been organic – the business grew, the community grew, and it was time for an upgrade,” shared Ben.
Along with private lessons, Fried Music has become a community hub for many residents. “We have a lot of people, especially adults, who consider this a second home.” Ben and Connie met while they were students at USC Thornton and bonded over their shared love of music. From the start of their careers, they’ve been welcoming all types of musicians into their spaces. Initially, this meant opening the doors to their home. In 2022, they opened their first business location on 2nd Street and have now finally landed at their newly opened location on 3rd Street. They’re excited to have a new kitchen where students can spend time together over meals.
As local residents and parents, Ben and Connie have focused on caring for the kids in the community. “We started to do our Music Sprouts, which is early education, and we’ve actually added a dedicated room here for that. It’s definitely something for the community that we want to encourage, as it’s proven to be a program that really immerses kids.” After kids age out of Music Sprouts, Fried Music offers a Musical Jumpstart Program that gives parents a feel for what private lessons would be like for their children, without making a significant commitment.
For the couple, staying in Alhambra for their new move was essential. “We love this community. There are so many things we love about Alhambra as a young business, too. Everyone’s really kind, but also feels like serious, hustling people that are really intent on doing well for their families,” shared Ben. Connie resonated with the sentiment. “Alhambra really impressed us, and the community is beautiful. Downtown Alhambra has a lot of potential; it’s really an up-and-coming neighborhood. It’s a hidden gem,” she added.
Beyond their impressions of the community, Ben and Connie shared that both the landlord and the city have been easy to work with and helpful throughout the moving process. The move went off without a hitch, the landlord was accommodating, and, as Ben shared, the whole neighborhood has been supportive. “For raising our son too, it’s a beautiful place… all the small businesses are right there, people come in, there’s a sense of support… the city’s been really helpful with us and our business, with all the things that happen when you’re starting a business.”
With their new location, Fried Music is pushing to make more opportunities for the community to get involved for free. They host free concerts regularly at their secondary location, Fried Music II & Shop Yuju (226 W Main St), where they also sell art and gifts, supporting nearby artists and creatives. Fried Music also partners with the library for regular “instrument petting zoos,” encouraging more Alhambra kids to start learning their first instruments.
To learn more about Fried Music or their upcoming concerts, programs, and more, visit https://www.friedmusic.com/.
