From a five-store piano operation headquartered in Lumberton, North Carolina, Billy and Maxcene Hodges moved to Florence in April of 1960 to start a small family Baldwin piano franchise of their own. The first five years were ones of struggle as the Hodges sold their merchandise from their Dargan Street store during the day, and made deliveries in the evenings using their trusty Dodge vehicle to pull a rented U-Haul loaded with pianos.

By 1965, the Hodges were tapping into a market of ten counties. They moved to a larger store on Coit Street, which provided space for more inventory, and they opened a store in Myrtle Beach in order to better serve the Grand Strand area. Desiring to be more centrally located in Horry county, the Myrtle Beach store relocated to Conway’s newly opened Coastal Mall.

In 1979, the Hodges were influenced by their good friend, Craig Wall, to purchase land and build on the outskirts of Florence. Current owner, Bobby Hodges, recalls scouting the land with his father. From North Cashua Drive, a two-lane road at the time, they viewed the empty field bordered by corn on one side and soybeans on the other. "Mr. Wall must be a good salesman," commented Billy Hodges, "and a man of vision." The Hodges did build at this location and have remained there.

Bobby took over the family business in 1993. He lost his father in 1996 and his mother in 2005, but he vows to carry on the tradition that his parents started in a U-Haul 45 years ago. "We have had to make changes to keep up with the current market trends," says Bobby, "but two themes will remain from my parents’ roots. First, quality never goes out of style; and second, if you have a will, we have a way. My Dad beat that into my head from the time I was 14-years-old and first got on the truck to deliver those heavy pianos."

Today, Bobby features a full line of pianos for the home, school, and church with acoustic grand pianos being the most popular. Vertical and grand pianos are carefully set up, checked, tuned, and delivered to any location that Hodges serves at no additional charge.

One of the main aspects of a piano and organ dealership is the service department. Hodges has been fortunate to have some of the best technicians in the country. Lead by Greg Purvis, technical director and vice president, service is high on the priority list. Quality and service, along with a friendly personal touch, have been priorities of the company since it began.

One of the company’s bigger changes took place in 1993 when they began to offer Hammond Organ and Leslie Speaker lines to serve the tremendous church organ business that the family had developed over the years. "Hammond Organs are proving to be our most valuable asset," adds Bobby, "and our customer base has grown rapidly over the last ten years."

Hodges Piano and Organ Company, featuring its original 1960 logo, offers the same quality and service emphasized by Billy and Maxcene Hodges. The second generation of Hodges looks forward to the future of serving Eastern South Carolina from the great city of Florence.

Hodges Piano & Organ Company

779 North Cashua Drive

Florence, SC  29501

(843) 662-1865.

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