Gruhn Guitars opened for business in their new location on Saturday (6/15), across town from their long time home on Broadway in downtown Nashville.
What is now an international destination for lovers of fine fretted stringed instruments started far more humbly on 4th Avenue in 1970, moving in 1976 to 410 Broadway. In 1993 they moved again, to their familiar corner location at 400 Broadway, which over the past 20 years had been visited by string music royalty and peasants alike.
The new site is at 2120 8th Avenue South, in a freestanding building that was purchased and renovated for this purpose. It solves the primary concerns that George Gruhn expressed to us when we discussed this with him in February: more space, customer parking, and an escape from the changed culture of Broadway into a party scene.
On Saturday, George sounded upbeat about the move.
“Moving away from Lower Broadway after 43 ½ years operating within a 100 foot radius was not an easy decision, but our new location at 2120 8th Avenue South is less than 10 minutes from downtown, has easy interstate access, is on a major thoroughfare, has ample parking, and is in an up-and-coming neighborhood near Music Row and numerous music businesses.
This is the type location I dreamed of but couldn’t afford when I first decided I wanted to operate a vintage fretted instrument business.”
Music business types may already be familiar with this location, as it had previously served as the headquarters for Music City’s alternative arts and culture mag, Nashville Scene, and the email marketing service, Emma.
Gruhn’s is now open during regular business hours (9:30-6:00 Mon-Sat), with a grand opening celebration scheduled for July 11-13.
