One of the constants on Ballard Avenue over the last 21 years has been Guitar Emporium (5349 Ballard Ave. NW.) The shop has sat on the corner of Ballard Ave and 22nd Ave NW for two decades.
This Friday, the brick and mortar shop is closing. We spoke with the owner who tells us that he’s shifting his focus to an online-only retail business and moving up to Orcas Island. He says that this is a good move and he’s really looking forward to it. He’s not, however, looking forward to the next couple of months as he gets everything organized for his online shop. Until Friday a lot of his merchandise is marked down, after that it will take some time before GuitarEmporium.com is up and running. (Thanks Michelle for the tip!)
Guitar Emporium going virtual
![](https://www.myballard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-My-Ballard-Tile-Ad-Troop-100.png")
this makes me very sad!
What? Nooo!
I wish him much success with the online store, but this is sad news indeed.
ooo – moving to Orcas – I’m jealous! Sounds like a great idea
Damn, I have been eyeing that black Les Paul Custom in the window for some time now…wish I could afford it!
I must have tried to visit this store a dozen times or more, but it’s always closed. Worse, he has a front-row seat to the Sunday market and is always locked up then. So, yay for him I guess.
Like rats from a sinking ship.
Who can blame him? I look forward to escaping soon, too.
We will miss you!
Bob Crow will still be giving guitar lessons, but on market str.
Rob, don’t go! No00000000… :(
A cool and unique store that *will* be missed. What now, another bar or a boutique?
Good luck to Rob Eagle, a really great person who sold top quality stringed instruments.
I think the store is closed during the Sunday Market so that kids and Urban Explorers (people in backpacks) don’t knock $3000 guitars off the wall. It’s was a great shop though, sad to see it go.
hurry up and go please.
Beautiful store, intimidating to enter if you are not an expert.
Hi. Can you leave Bob Crow’s info here please? I was going to look into lessons for my son this fall. Thanks!
To be replaced by yet another monument to the yuppie takeover of Ballard. Another oyster shop, another English pub where drunken revelers can drink their way to the new economy where all work has been virtualized to China.
Sad they’re going – but every time I’ve tried to go there, they’ve been closed. I wish they would have kept extended weekend hours.
Total jerk. Glad he’s leaving.