Curt Mitchell (from left), Chris Glamann and Scott Kern of the new Wichita Guitar Works.
WICHITA — A new guitar and amplifier shop is in the works next to the Donut Whole on East Douglas.
Curt Mitchell, Chris Glamann and Scott Kern plan to open Wichita Guitar Works on Aug. 1 at 1716 E. Douglas.
The three used to sell and service guitars and amplifiers at Glamann’s GMI Music and Sound. That store, which was on West Central, closed in 2000.
“We’ve always talked about when the time was right, we wanted to do something again,” Mitchell says. “It’s the business we all love.”
Several factors forced the other shop to close.
“At that time, the sale of musical instruments on the Internet began to be real strong,” Mitchell says. Also, he says competition from chain stores was a factor, as was construction along Central.
“We just had some trouble keeping it going.”
He doesn’t expect the same issues now.
“Just in the last couple of years we really felt like the time was right again,” Mitchell says.
He says the retail climate has changed, and shoppers now seek local stores with specialized merchandise and service.
“There’s a big movement right now with what’s called boutique guitar shops,” Mitchell says.
He says he and his partners plan to sells guitars that are “made by people, not made by machines.”
“You can’t walk into every shop in Wichita and see these kinds of instruments.”