BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Around Brentwood
Main Street Melodies: A Legacy of Sound in Brentwood
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CITY BRIEFLY OF MCKEESPORT BRENTWOOD NEWS
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There’ s something magical about walking into a real guitar shop. The kind where the walls hum with history, the scent of fresh strings mingles with wood and varnish, and every instrument seems to have its own story. That’ s the feeling The Guitar Shop PGH set out to create when it opened its doors in the heart of Brentwood.
Located at 4200 Brownsville Road at the corner of Brownsville and Dewalt, the shop officially opened its doors on the Fourth of July. Behind it are four friends: Zach Frank, Alex Bobbs, Anthony Willoe, and Ben Lex. Each owner brings their own story, skills, and vision to the table. It’ s a legacy in the making, a love letter to the small, local music shops of their youth.
For Zach, that magic goes back to childhood. Growing up in a small western town, he spent hours in local music shops, respectfully trying instruments, talking gear, and soaking up the atmosphere.“ I wanted to be that place a kid remembers when they first start on their music journey,” Zach said.
Alex’ s musical path began with cello, then bass, and years in a big box music store. That experience showed him exactly what kind of shop he didn’ t want to run— instead, he dreamed of a place where musicians and artists could connect, discover gear they wouldn’ t find online, and feel truly welcome.
Fate stepped in when Anthony spotted a“ for rent” sign while taking his fiancé to a doctor’ s appointment nearby. Within two weeks, the group signed the lease and set out to build their dream.“ We wanted that main street feel,” Alex explains.“ None of them had the right vibe until we got here.”
And then there’ s Ben— the shop’ s quiet craftsman. A trained luthier, he’ s the one who brings worn-out guitars back to life. You’ ll often find him at the workbench, carefully adjusting and restringing until each instrument plays like new.“ I went to the Musicians Institute in Nashville. I’ m a stringed instrument builder and I specialize in mostly guitars,” Ben said. It’ s a skill that makes him an irreplaceable part of the shop’ s heartbeat.
Inside, visitors will find guitars, basses, amps, pedals, accessories, along with an art gallery featuring work from local artists. It’ s all part of their mission to support creativity close to home.
This shop is about more than gear— it’ s about community.“ Pittsburgh is a sleeper city,” Anthony says,“ full of vibrant musical communities just waiting to be discovered.” The owners showcase local manufacturers and support fellow artists, building trust and connection one note at a time.
Looking ahead, the owners have a ten-year vision that includes partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. They hope to host performances right in the store and make The Guitar Shop PGH a lasting part of the community.
As Zach put it,“ We want to build something we can pass down to our kids— a place that keeps the music going.”
Whether you’ re a seasoned musician searching for a rare pedal or a parent hoping to spark a child’ s love for music, The Guitar Shop PGH invites you to come play, connect, and be part of something special.
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