Description
Founded in 1990, Rock Block Guitars was named in homage to the neighborhood where it resided – the Rock Block of Elliston Place. Offering a wide range of new and used guitars, pedals and various musical accoutrement, the store catered to musicians of all skill levels and pocketbooks. Similar to Corner Music or Gruhn Guitars, it had something for everyone.
A hiccup in 1996 forced them relocate over to 16th Ave N & Church St but the owners found the new destination untenable… not to mention the name made a lot less sense! They joyously returned in 1999 to their original location and stayed serving the guitar loving public until 2016.
Twenty-six years of operation is not a bad run by any stretch of the imagination. It’s even longer if you roll in founder Jerry O’Donnell’s prior stores O’Donnell Music.
Over the years, Elliston Place lost its luster. The area has tried to revitalize for decades but nothing has quite stuck. In 2025, the one block stretch is undergoing its most intense changes with buildings being gutted and others being replaced entirely with high-rise residential complexes. The Rock Block building is currently home to a Wing Stop but we’re holding out hope that some industrious aficionado will revive the space and remind us all why Elliston was once the place to go.
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Printed on Bella+Canvas 3001 shirts. 100% cotton and lightweight! Tear away label to reduce potential itchiness. Sized slightly snug for adults.
