A pair of North Dakota guitar vets have opened a brand new retail and repair business called Flatland Guitar and Lutherie. The Fargo store, which opened in April, focuses heavily on acoustic guitars with used electrics available as well. Paul Hvidsten, who opened the business with Brett Marcuson, says the key might be the store's dedicated repair shop.
"It's a guitar shop built around a repair bench," he says.
Hvidsten and Marcuson met while working at Marguerite's Music an MI shop across town in Moorhead. Hvidsten has been in the industry for 14 years, including several in California building instruments at the Santa Cruz Guitar Company. Marcuson began working at Marguerite's in high school, racking up seven years of experience now in purchasing.
Flatland currently carries the Taylor and Lag guitar lines, and is located a very small storefront (1,000 square feet) but its two story building offers extra space upstairs that can be rented out for lesson studios.
Hvidsten says that, though the store is still acquiring instruments, their goal is to be able to appeal to everyone. "We're shooting for everyone from the average mom-and-pop who want to buy their kid a first guitar to the professional or home player who wants a really nice acoustic instrument," he says.
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