CAMDEN—When Jeff Clarke opened String Theory, his first music store, in October 2024, he had dreams that this two-story building at 57 Bay View Street in Camden would be more than just a place to buy musical instruments; instead, it would become a hub for local musicians.

"We had a group of teenagers come in last week who just hung out on the couch upstairs listening to records and playing guitars," he said. "One of my reasons for wanting to have a music business is to give people of all ages a place to hang out."

Clarke, whose professional background is in neuroscience, always listened to lots of music on road trips with his father. They would play tapes on a never-ending loop while driving to visit family in the Midwest, or cross-country visiting Montana, Wyoming, and California.

"My dad also listened to a lot of blues-inspired classic rock and country, so it just got me into music, bands like Eric Clapton, The Beatles, The Cars, and Boston," he said. 

Clarke started playing piano when he was six; he got his first guitar at age 11 and his first electric guitar at 14. While in school, he played in jazz bands and later, as an adult, played music for fun, enjoying its meditative qualities.

When he had the opportunity to buy the building that formerly housed Uncle Willy's Candy Shoppe, he jumped on it. The store sells primarily new instruments from smaller builders who build one at a time or small batches, as well as upcycled and recycled instruments, such as guitars, bass guitars, and ukuleles, as well as pedals, amps, and books on music's positive effect on mental health.

"We feel that big box companies have put enough new instruments in the world; we're all about unique instruments that you can't just go online and buy," said Clarke. "In the back of my mind, I knew running a business around music was something I always wanted to do, and it felt like there was a really good music scene around here, but like a lot of things, it got fractured by the COVID-19 pandemic. I felt like I could contribute to the Midcoast something valuable to the community and to me."

Everything in the store is laid out and accessible for poking around and playing instruments, which he encourages.

"I want to just get people in here, playing music, talking about music," he said. "Audiophiles can come in and browse records; people can just come in and play the guitars."

To reference another movie, Wayne's World, where the music store sign reads "No Stairway to Heaven" (meaning customers have overplayed that song in the showroom) Clarke quipped, "Actually 'Stairway to Heaven' is fine. But no 'Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.'"

"No, I'm just kidding," he said. "People can play what they want. To express yourself creatively in public is such a hard thing, so I wouldn't tell anyone not to play exactly what they want."

Another side to his business includes repairs on acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and guitar bass.

Returning to the community side, he said, "People have been really positive about this place and told me there's a lot of need for it. There has been no shortage of support."

As the store broadens its purpose, Clarke feels that teaching the younger generations music how he experienced it is essential.

"You can try to learn guitar on YouTube, but it's never going to be the same as the face-to-face interaction with a teacher who can teach you and help you get rid of your bad habits," he said. 

The store hosts free musical events and guitar workshops and serves as a hub for musicians looking to find other band members and gigs or who want to experiment with different guitars and pedals.

In an age where face-to-face interaction and hands-on experimentation with instruments are dwindling with younger generations, String Theory aims to be a "third place" for budding musicians. 

"You can try to find your sense of belonging online, but you need to be face to face with people when it comes to music," he said.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com