Guitar Center has plugged in, turned its knobs up to 11 and rocked into Redmond.
Yesterday, the Westlake Village, Calif.-based Mecca for guitar heroes looking to get their four- and six-string fixes opened its 269th store location in the United States at Redmond Town Center (RTC).
The 15,000-square-foot store, which is located at 7430 164th Ave. N.E., Suite B205, features knowledgeable staff members and modern showrooms equipped with the latest guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments and keyboards along with live sound, DJ, lighting and recording equipment.
Nick Stejer will step up to the mic as Redmond Guitar Center’s manager. He’s worked for the company for five years at stores in Spokane, Kirkland and Eugene, Ore.
The 28-year-old musician said Guitar Center is known as the “happening place to be.”
“It’s awesome. Guitar Center has been the most fun job I’ve ever had in my life. This moment right now, building this new store kind of feels like a culmination of all the hard work and effort I’ve put in over the last five years of working for this company,” he said.
At the age of 9 or 10, Stejer remembers accompanying his dad to a music store in Spokane and getting his first guitar — an Ibanez Stage Star.
“The day I pulled it out of the box, I was in love with it. I couldn’t put it down,” said Stejer, adding that the guitar is still around, residing at his brother’s house. Over the years, the guitar/synthesizer player has graced the stage in bands, ranging from rock to hip-hop outfits.
Guitar Center hit the scene in 1959 and also offers instrument repair and tune-up services, lessons, rentals, free introductory instruction and recording workshops and educational and inspirational events like Singer-Songwriter, Drum-Off, Your Next Record, Get Out of the Garage and more. Also on the Guitar Center set list, is “endless aisle,” where customers can combine in-store, online and phone options to purchase music equipment from anywhere.
Stejer said that lessons are a key element to Guitar Center’s business and they take special care in hiring high-quality instructors who are known in the music community.
It’s the interaction between the Guitar Center employees and customers that brings a smile to Stejer’s face and has him clenching his hands into victory fists. Music has had a profound effect on his life ever since he walked into that music store with dad.
“Music, I firmly believe, is a powerful, positive force in people’s lives,” Stejer said. “And anything I can do to put that guitar in that kid’s hands or expose them to something different that changes their life… no paycheck, no other perk of the job is quite anything like that feeling you get when that moment is experienced.”
Guitar Center Redmond is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
MUSIC TO RTC’S EARS
RTC Marketing Manager Jessica Morgan said that both RTC and the City of Redmond win in the Guitar Center scenario.
“I think it establishes us as a destination,” she said. “We have the restaurants and the movie theater and the hotel and fitness facilities, and adding the musical aspect — with lessons — just adds one more reason for people to spend time here.”
Music is in Redmond’s lifeblood with the Old Fire House Teen Center hosting concerts since 1992, Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney (and “Portlandia” fame) an Overlake School alumna and a major concert series at Marymoor Park. RTC and the Redmond Senior Center will also offer concerts this summer.
RTC’s series will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 16, 23 and 30 and Guitar Center will be on board as one of its sponsors and also provide sound equipment.
When the concerts begin, Northeast 74th Street will have been transformed into a pedestrian pavilion with no more cars running near the Center Court area, where the concerts — also sponsored by Click 98.9 FM — will take place.
“It’s a nice way to invite people to come in and enjoy the space,” said Morgan, noting that the bands will be family friendly and there will be beer garden and food.
With Guitar Center moving into the former Eddie Bauer second-story location, Morgan said RTC is thriving.
“With the economy being so strong right now, I think we’re seeing a reflection of that leasing-wise. Our leasing department is extremely busy doing walk-throughs and proposals,” Morgan said. New tenants opening this summer include Giggle Jungle, Organgetheory Fitness, Premier Periodontics and more.
“People are expanding and renewing, so the momentum is good,” Morgan said.
PHOTO: Grand opening on Thursday. Courtesy of Jessica Morgan
