West Seattle businesses: Thunder Road Guitars moving to Junction

(Photo courtesy Thunder Road Guitars: L-R, TRG manager Dan Miles, Bass Shop owner Chad Beeler, TRG owner Frank Gross, guitar fixer Sam Tyner)
Back in February, we published a note from Thunder Road Guitars owner Frank Gross, asking for help finding a bigger space for the shop. He found it – and is officially announcing the impending move, as well as a new partnership:

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we will be moving to the heart of the West Seattle Junction this summer, taking over the 4736 California Ave space previously occupied by The Sneakery. As many of you know we have been busting at the seams in our current location for some time now and given the size of this new location it will triple our current square footage. What does this mean? More of what we do! More fine vintage and used guitars and amplifiers. More pedals from the innovative brands we carry, and more accessories. We will also be expanding to offer guitars lessons from some great local teachers.

On top of moving we are also thrilled to announce a partnership with fellow West Seattlite Chad Beeler of The Bass Shop and Bass EFX. Chad has worked in the musical instrument field for over 25 years and co-owned / co-founded Bass Northwest in Pioneer Square, one of the national leaders in bass guitars and amplifiers. Chad will be showcasing his exclusive inventory in Thunder Road Guitars and in turn will significantly bulk up the bass selection in the store. Our collective goal is to be a one stop shop for guitar and bass enthusiasts throughout the region.

The 4736 California location has a bit of sentimental value to me. When I was a kid, it was a print shop named Liberty Bell Printing. I have memories of my dad taking me there when I was a young teenager to print artwork for my first band’s CD. After all these years, music is taking me back to that same spot. We are so excited to be part of the West Seattle community and can’t wait to open our new location in the Junction.

Expect to see us open the end of June!

Thunder Road Guitars was an online-only business until two and a half years ago, when they opening the storefront they’ll be leaving at 3916 California SW. The Sneakery closed its Junction shop last month and consolidated back into its original location in Ballard.

West Sea Neighbor May 6, 2015 (11:39 am)

Very cool to hear. Maybe its time for me to start taking guitar lessons!

wsgal May 6, 2015 (12:19 pm)

This is great news, so happy to see local businesses staying in the junction – especially music related. Happy move! :)

Bshoot May 6, 2015 (12:25 pm)

Such awesome news! Congratulations!

sw May 6, 2015 (12:40 pm)

This is all kinds of awesome. Congratulations on the move, Frank. You and Thunder Road are an asset to the neighborhood.

Azimuth May 6, 2015 (12:56 pm)

Great to see them succeed. Can I play “Stairway to Heaven”?

martin May 6, 2015 (1:19 pm)

no stairway, denied

KT May 6, 2015 (1:50 pm)

Excellent news for WS!

David May 6, 2015 (1:58 pm)

Awesome! It would be great if you guys had other accessories like microphones, stands, cords, etc.

TRG May 6, 2015 (2:11 pm)

@David – Great Suggestion! we are planning on stocking mics, a larger cable selection and lots of other new inventory.

guitar May 6, 2015 (3:25 pm)

How cool is this? I’ll never buy anything from them because I don’t play guitar. I loved their previous storefront. The idea of having a musically themed business in the Junction (in addition to Easy Street) just feels right for West Seattle.

panda May 6, 2015 (3:33 pm)

So great! I picked up another acoustic from them a few months back.

Hey, do you guys also service guitars? My Gibson needs a little electronics tuning to eliminate some crackling. Looking forward to the new location!

def no stairway…

TRG May 6, 2015 (4:49 pm)

@panda we do service guitars! bring it on down Tue-Sat 10-6 and we’d be happy to help.

& come play stairway! (only once please) ;)

Junction Dad May 6, 2015 (5:04 pm)

I’m in for the guitar lessons! Stoked on the move, congrats!

steve May 6, 2015 (8:26 pm)

Wow! Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think there’s been a guitar or instrument store near the junction since Mick Flynn’s, and it might have been called something else before that. 1979??? Anyone remember. Maybe it was West Seattle music or something like that. Anyway’s, welcome Thunder Road!!

Ttt May 6, 2015 (8:41 pm)

This is very cool! But i guess i mussed something… What happened to the sneakery? Out of business or moved?

WSB May 6, 2015 (9:04 pm)

Ttt, that’s in the last line of the story (which links to our report from March that they were closing). They are still open in their original location in Ballard.

Seacrestbyatch May 6, 2015 (9:10 pm)

Such good news. Think I need a guitar.

mr. the horse May 6, 2015 (9:46 pm)

These guys are great and the store is remarkable. As a recovering guitar player I only ask that you carry some banjo strings.

fondly,

MTH

droppinbeats May 6, 2015 (10:03 pm)

Chad is a wealth of knowledge regarding the low-end and it’s subsequent theories. Psyched to have both this instrumental and musical offering front-and-center as a foundation to the surrounding footprint of development.

The musician’s community supports you and wishes you the best of success!