Another store entered the Gainesville music scene last week.
Guitar Center, at 3210 SW 35th Blvd. off of Archer Road, held its grand opening Thursday. Store manager Jarret Kanuth said the community seemed to respond positively to the opening.
“Business has been nonstop. I don’t think there’s been a break in traffic, the flow of business, since we opened our doors,” he said.
Kevin Lozano, a UF music education junior, said he thinks Guitar Center will find its own niche in Gainesville.
He said it doesn’t have a classical sheet music collection like that of Hoggtowne Music.
Jamie Miller, a UF music and criminology junior, agreed that Guitar Center won’t detract business from Hoggtowne Music.
But she said Lipham Music may face fiercer competition from the new business.
“It’s like the same thing, but Guitar Center has a name. Lipham’s Music has the ‘mom and pop’ feel,” she said.
Kanuth said bringing a major music chain to Gainesville isn’t about hurting competitors.
“Music is one of those things that is a universal language,” he said. “That’s what we’re all about, spreading the musical language throughout Gainesville and the surrounding cities. That’s our main focus.”
A version of this story ran on page 5 on 9/10/2013 under the headline "New player among local music shops opens"
