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Stereo.” Paine said he was the first car stereo
business in Yuba-Sutter, the first to sell mobile phones in the area and the first chain of car stereo stores in Northern California (he opened stores in Chico and Woodland).
“I have had the opportunity to install audio, video and stereo gear in just about everything from goose camps in Canada to homes in Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, Montana and Idaho,” Paine said. “I’ve installed car stereos in everything from Oakland Roadster winners, Autoramas in Sacramento and Reno, boats, school buses, tractors, rice harvesters, walnut shakers, rock crawlers, motorcycles, hearses, horse trailers, motor homes and even a helicopter.”
As one of the longest running Kenwood stereo dealers in the country, Paine was invited to big events promoting the products.
“We’ve been on stage with the Doobie Brothers and have been at concerts where Fleetwood Mac and Styx were right next to us playing while we ate dinner,” Paine said.
He said before decibel laws were in place, they held massive car stereo contests, which saw cars decked out in all of the latest gear looking to take the top prize for having the loudest system.
“Back in the day, only the deluxe model cars and trucks came with an AM stereos,” Paine said. “We would install stereos in about 100 cars per month from all the car dealers – most of which were in Marysville at the time.”
Paine first fell in love with music as a guitar player and was a member of bands growing up but always loved working on things.
“I was born with a mechanical mind and remember taking apart my mother’s sewing
machine as a kid,” Paine said. “Later, I would install stereos on my mom’s lawn, and she told me to start a business and get off her lawn.”
He heeded her advice, started a business, which began on Teegarden Avenue, moved to Bridge Street and finally to Plumas Street.
Paine turned 62 in April and will take a vacation that will be devoid of any electronic devices.
“My first vacation will be going on a float plane in Canada – two friends and I are getting dropped off on an island about 50 miles from anywhere to go fishing,” Paine said.
Paine’s wife, Cindy, who recently retired and sold the Teegarden House Event Center next door, got a little choked up taking about closing such a big chapter in their lives.
“It’s given us opportunities that we’d never imagined we could have,” Cindy Paine said. “It’s been great working with this community.”
As they worked Thursday, people came into the business to buy equipment, have stereos installed and to congratulate Paine on his retirement.
“It’s been a great time.” Paine said. “Being my own boss, going to a lot of different places and meeting tremendous amount of great people – many who have become friends.”
He said many of his current customers are the grandchildren of original customers many years ago.
Paine is looking to sell much of the fixture equipment in his store – including an old neon fish sign he found and had restored.
“It’s an old art deco neon sign that came from a Yuba City bait and tackle shop in the ’40s and ’50s,” Paine said. “I found it in the carriage shed of the old house next door and got it restored.”