A piano is being donated to the city of San Francisco today as a farewell gift from a Bay Area business that is closing for good at the end of the month.
Sherman Clay is donating a 5-foot baby grand piano as the company gets ready to close its doors after 143 years in operation.
The San Bruno-based piano retailer has stores in San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Santa Clara and five other cities outside the Bay Area.
The San Francisco and Walnut Creek stores have been purchased by another company, but the others will shut down, a company spokesman said.
Sherman Clay CEO Eric Schwartz planned to make the piano donation this morning on the mayor’s balcony overlooking the City Hall rotunda in a ceremony featuring a performance by pianist Richard Glazier.
San Francisco chief of protocol Charlotte Shultz is proclaiming May 7 as Sherman Clay Day in the city to honor the retailer.
The piano will stay in the building for use at different functions but will not be on permanent public display, the company spokesman said.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
