New owners strike a chord at Avalon Music in Wenatchee

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Steve Clem, Josh Hofstead, and Alicia Clair pose for a photo Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Avalon Music, in Wenatchee.

After more than three decades of composing a legacy selling music equipment in downtown Wenatchee, Avalon Music changed keys to new ownership.

Josh Hofstead and Alicia Clair became the owners of the music store at 532 N. Wenatchee Ave. on April 10.

The approximately 4,500-square-foot shop operated since May 22, 1992, first at a different location, under the ownership of Steve Clem, who co-founded the store with Mike Sager. About three years later, Clem bought out Sager.

According to Hofstead and Clair, Clem felt like it was the right time to step back after building and leading Avalon Music over the last few decades.

Clair brings 20 years of business administration and marketing experience working with nonprofit organizations, in addition to founding Shine Song Collective and NCW Healing Arts Collective.

"I love that Avalon has such a good reputation and has always already kind of been widely known as a hub for musicians and for a gathering place for knowledge around what's going on in the area relating to music. Not just instruments, but events and gigs and opportunities for bands to form," Clair said.

Hofstead is a software engineer and marketing and e-commerce executive who has played guitar since childhood.

"I had heard through the grapevine that Steve was looking to either sell or spin down Avalon Music, and I had thought about in the past having my own music store and music business and and although was thinking about doing that a little bit later on a few years from now, but couldn't let Avalon, couldn't let the opportunity to pass by for myself," Hofstead said.

The shop has avoided selling music products online. Instead, it's had social media presence and word of mouth to help bring people into the store.

Hofstead and Clair met six years ago through their shared love of music on the dating app Bumble during the COVID-19 pandemic. They occasionally write and perform as A Hundred Miles, a name inspired by the nearly 100-mile distance between Hofstead in Seattle and Clair in Leavenworth.

"We were talking on Zoom calls initially and then decided to, you know, be in each other's bubble and started dating," Hofstead said. "And we started going, traveling back and forth to see each other. And then we've been together ever since... going on six years this July. Like I said, we share, you know, a love of music."

"In the near term, our focus is on maintaining what already works," the couple said in a joint statement. "Avalon has earned its reputation through consistency, trust, and strong relationships, and we want to take the time to fully understand the business before making any significant changes."

The only immediate change is the discontinuation of the instrument rental program.

"Right now, our focus is on learning the business and maintaining continuity for customers, so we're not making any immediate changes. That said, community engagement has always been a meaningful part of Avalon's history, and we fully intend to bring that energy back over time," Hofstead and Clair said.

The store is planning an in-store concert by Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter May 30 as a reintroduction event for the community. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit undertowshows.com/products/wenatchee-wa-may-30.

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