We live for this

In 1939 when Roy O’Brien opened the doors of O’Brien’s Music at 278 Water Street in downtown St. John’s, Newfoundland was still its own country. Roy and his wife Nellie waved their national pride high, and made O’Brien’s one of the first retailers and promoters of Newfoundland and Irish music. Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949 and the store quickly became the biggest seller of accordions in the country. Roy and Nellie raised six children in their home above the store, which had become a magnet for music lovers. 

In the 1970s two of their sons, Gord and Roy Jr., started working in the store and eventually took it over. Roy eventually left to pursue another career and the shop carried on with Gord and his children.

 After a brief interruption in 2015 Dave Rowe, nephew of Gord and Roy Jr., took over the business.  Dave’s mother was one of the O’Brien kids raised above the store.  A musician himself, Dave grew up working part time at O’Brien’s with his uncles and grandfather, and is very proud to be carrying on the family tradition as a third generation owner. He even moved in upstairs to be close to the action – serving music lovers with the best selection of Newfoundland music and everything you’ll need to make that music for yourself. 

"I really want to carry on the tradition of O’Brien’s Music and make it very much the same type of place that my grandfather started.”     - Dave Rowe -