Help Out Guitarsmiths

On October 31st, 2022, Guitarsmiths closed its doors. For decades, Phil, Jim and Gus Smith have been serving the folks of Boone County, not just by selling musical instruments and teaching lessons but by being a community focal point for music and musicians to meet and chat and play. Whether at the Guitarsmiths store or at Ashley's previously, generations of kids have grown up under the tutelage and expertise of the Smith family. The loss of this vital creative space simply can't be measured economically.

Given that music stores around the country are continuing to close as the Internet makes everything so darn convenient, it's easy to figure that Phil could use some funding to retire the store's debts and its charge accounts (you know who you are!). But more than that, we should take a moment to consider just how much Phil and the Smiths have given to the community in ways not measurable in dollars. Consider this a tip jar of sorts - what has it meant to you and yours over the years to have a music store in our town? To have a place to go to learn music, to pick up supplies, to buy that guitar your 14-year old self couldn't stop dreaming about? It sure would be nice as we approach the holiday season to give Phil and the family a little George Bailey moment. I know many of us wouldn't even be musicians without him, Jim or Gus - so we owe them more than we can give. But let's give what we can spare.