One of the North East’s best-known guitar shops is set to finally close, the owner has announced on Facebook. Steven James Guitar and Amp Centre in Saltburn announced it was time to close it’s doors for the last time “after many incredible years”.
In the social media post, Steven said: “Closing our doors is bittersweet, but we leave with full hearts and so much gratitude. Times have changed so much since we first began – cost of living crises and even a recent burglary have all had an impact – and we know that now is the right time to bring our journey to an end.”
Thanking customers and staff, he said: “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every customer who walked through our doors, played a riff, asked a question, or simply hung out and talked music with us. This shop was never just about guitars – it was about the people, the stories, and the community we built together.
“To our amazing staff: there are no words big enough. Your passion, knowledge, and love for music are what made this place special. We’re endlessly grateful for every late night, every setup, every laugh, and every memory.”
Steven James Guitar and Amps joins a sad trend of recent music shop closures in the North East.