In 1967 Harold Gore, a band director from Texas, bought a small college shop that specialized in school, art and music supplies and housed a soda fountain. Mr. Gore took his love for music and turned the shop into a full service sheet music store. His goal was to create a convenient environment where customers could access a large, in-stock inventory of sheet music.

Over the years Mr. Gore broadened the store's offerings, and in the process he managed to create several industry standards. In the early '70s Mr. Gore saw the opportunity to increase customer service by taking large quantities of music to conventions allowing patrons to buy directly from convention booths. Large publishers now routinely set up print music displays and sale tables at conventions.

In the '70s and '80s the store opened specialty sections dedicated to Jazz related materials and choral music. Mr. Gore continued to broaden his interest in the industry by arranging marches and other music for concert band. This passion for marches eventually led to the formation of Harold Gore Publishing Company and the revision of hundreds of marches and overtures. Today HGP Company publishes works by numerous composers and arrangers. In 1985, Mr. Gore turned the day to day operations of the retail store over to his son, Richard, in order to concentrate fully on the publishing aspects of the business.

During this time the store outgrew its facilities several times. Finally, in 1989 Pender's Music Company moved to a new, 11,000 square foot building, which they still occupy, at 314 S. Elm in Denton. The additional space allowed for further growth increasing the depth of selection of print music carried.

In the summer of 1993 Pender's opened a branch store in Oklahoma City, and in the summer of 2000 bought Wadler-Kaplan Music Shop in Houston. The most recent addition to the Pender's family of stores is Sheet Music Service of Portland, Oregon, in 2005. The opening of these locations allows area musicians to browse music and make selections in a well-stocked, professionally managed store. All four of these stores share an integrated inventory database so customers can easily find out what music is available and whether it is in stock at any of the four locations.

Pender's continues to look for innovative ways to serve customers. Through efficient delivery of music making products Pender's hopes to increase the number of active musicians in our world.