Sally White Celebrated

The view from Sally’s Place, located at 190 Main Street in Westport, has changed over time. Since opening  her record store in 1984, Sally White has seen many former neighbors, mostly mom-and-pop shops, close their doors as mass market retailers and franchise operations take over the landscape.

Last month, White unanimously was named a Champion of the Arts by the Westport’s Arts Advisory Committee during ceremonies held at Town Hall. Next month, she will be celebrated by the Westport Arts Center during an event that has already sold out.

On Thursday, Dec. 10, the arts center will present a holiday jazz party celebrating White. The party complements an exhibit of Milton Hinton’s jazz photos. A musical performance will feature drummer Adam Nussbaum, Rob Aries on keyboard, and Brian Torff on bass, along with numerous special guest artists who will drop by to jam. The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $25 / $10 (college students) / $5 (18  and under).

To be placed on a waiting list for this event, call 203-222-7070.

White is clearly pleased by these honors, but she is humble about her achievements.

“I have a simple philosophy," she said. "I do what I love.  You can’t miss if you do what you love. You cannot focus on making money, you have to follow your passion.”

And music is her passion. “I’m about the music and the talking,” she said. “I have loved music since I was in high school. In those days, we would  go to New York City to the Strand, the Roxy, the Blue Note or the Half Note and hear the big bands along with Count Basie, Art Shaw, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey.”

Although jazz and Sinatra are her personal preferences, her store offers something for everyone. Sally's Place has a comprehensive selection of CDs including movie soundtracks, Broadway show, reggae, African, classical, international, specialty jazz and blues labels. She is a strong supporter of local artists, featuring different performers in a special display on her front counter.

She also has a selection of vinyl for those with turntables.  “Vinyl is making a comeback,” she reports. “People appreciate the analog sound.”

White’s passion for music is apparent to every customer who walks into her store, points out Sandy Lefkowitz, a member of the Westport Arts Advisory Committee. “All 17 committee members wanted Sally to be recognized for her importance to this community,” she notes. “Sally is as important to her customer base as any teacher or musician. In a town filled with celebrities and the affluent, Sally focuses on those with an interest in music. No matter who the customer is, or what age, she caters to every single client and she never dismisses a conversation or a request.”

Some might say White’s customer service strategy is rooted in the past, but it works for her in the present. “I don’t have an answering machine and I never use my computer,” she reports. “My creed is that the most important person is the one who is walking through my door. It’s all about one-on-one communication. You cannot fool anyone when you do that.”

White’s career in the music business began a few years after her high school graduation. In 1954, she started selling records for Melody House in Norwalk. She later moved to Klein’s in Westport where she managed its Music Section until the store closed in the 1980s.

In reviewing her years of self-employment, White voices her sense of loss over the demise of many of Westport’s privately owned businesses.

“It’s sad that there are so few businesses left like me,” she said. “The Remarkable Book Store is gone, so many other businesses. The Internet has done its share of damage, harming newspapers and books, and toy and clothing stores.”

Yet, even with the advent of the electronic age, people still flock to Sally's store, points Lefkowitz.

“Sally’s Place is a reminder of a time when Main Street was filled by locally run stores,” Lefkowitz said. “Since opening in 1984, it quickly became a Mecca for generations of music lovers.  Always a source of great knowledge and expert advice about styles, performers and new releases, Sally's passion for music and sharing it with the community, is the driving force behind Sally White and Sally’s Place.”

 In a statement released by the Westport Arts Center Richard Epstein, a board member and music host on radio station 89.5 WPKN, FM, he said it’s time to celebrate Sally White and her contributions to the community.

“Stepping into Sally White’s record store is like going into one of those magical bookstores where the owners seem to have knowledge of every book – either mainstream or offbeat," according to Epstein. "She somehow knows just what will work for you, and will reach into a box hidden behind the counter and pull out the exact recording you have been searching for. Her personal knowledge, intuition, and attention are irreplaceable, and our community is lucky to have a gem such as Sally who cares so passionately about music and the recordings that document it.”

Sally's Place is open seven days a week. Sally White takes most Thursdays off.