Dave’s Guitar Shop plans to expand by half this year

Music store icon adding 14,000-square-foot expansion

It’s hard to believe that a 28,000-square-foot guitar shop in a small, Midwestern city would be busting at the seams. 

But that’s exactly why the iconic Dave’s Guitar Shop on the south side of La Crosse is expanding – mostly – according to sales manager Tylor Fischer.

There’s that other part about owner Dave Rogers dreaming big.

“Something they’ve always kind of dreamed of, having this whole block as kind of a musical mecca,” Fischer said.

The guitar shop is known around the world as a source for specific guitars over the past 35 years, and nothing has slowed down.

“Pretty much, consistently, for the last two years, we’ve just been completely out of space,” Fischer said. “We just have guitars on stands everywhere and lying on the floor. We really just need more space.”

The shop plans to break ground in a couple of weeks and have the expansion done by early next year. A city committee review plans for the 14,000-square-foot expansion on Third St. this week.