Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center

Category: Public Art

Address

11151 Veirs Mill Rd
Wheaton, MD 20902

View on Google Maps

Details

Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center
Location: 11151 Veirs Mill Road

Opened in 1958 in DC and relocated to its current location in 1968, Chuck Levin’s is a cultural landmark in DC region and beyond. Musicians of all abilities (from elementary band school children) to professional musicians visit the store to rent, browse and buy equipment at Chuck Levin’s.  

Stevie Wonder shops at Chuck Levin’s whenever he is in the DC area; Idi Amin's people "needed all these small drums for pygmies"; when in office, the British Embassy called to say that Cherie Blair wanted to buy a guitar for her husband (Tony Blair, Prime Minister, got a Taylor acoustic);  Chuck Brown, Washington's own godfather of go-go, who bought his first guitar, a Gibson, from the Music Center in 1963 and five more throughout his career; and drummer Chris Culos, from the rock band O.A.R.,  got his start at Chuck Levin because his father, Carl, has worked at the store for 27 years.

The Washington Music Center is deeply involved in the arts community of Wheaton.  They offer event space, hosting The Wheaton Film Festival, The Wheaton Audio Project, and various other arts programs, as well as offer community gathering/practice space.  Chuck Levin’s can get a little loud, with a cacophony of music playing any time the store is open. 

Chuck Levin’s is in the midst of a public art installation on the façade of The Washington Music Center.  And as a prolific landlord in Wheaton, have public art installations on several of their properties.

Chuck’s has continued to grow and prosper each and every year since its inception, winning top sales awards from several of the biggest manufacturers and publications in the music industry.