POTSDAM – After four decades in business, Northern Music & Video, one of downtown Potsdam’s major retailers, plans to close by the end of the year due to a decline in sales.

“We have done everything possible to operate more efficiently. Our employees got paid, our suppliers got paid, the heat and lights got paid. But at the end of the week, the end of the month, and the end of a year... there was nothing left,” said co-founder Wally Seibel in an email message sent Friday night following the last day of regular business..

A professional company has been hired to orchestrate a store closing sale.

The store will be closed through Wednesday and on Thursday the store “will begin liquidating the inventory over a six-week period,” Siebel said.

“A steady decline in sales over recent years has forced us to make this decision, a decision made only after careful consideration,” he added.

“The store has been good to us over the years, thanks to loyal customers like you. We thank you for your business and support for the last 40 years. You will be missed.”

When Siebel founded Northern Music with Alex Vangello in the early 1970s, the store was located in the Prosh building on Main Street, across from where the Clarkson Inn is now located.

The store later expanded to include video-related products and changed its name to Northern Music & Video when it moved to its present 29 Market St. location.

For four decades, the retailer had sold records, tapes and then CDs, band instruments, sheet music, stereo systems and video equipment.