Drums, Guitars And Equipment Under One Roof, It's The MLK Music Mall

Saturday, September 12th 2024 from 11-6pm three of Portland’s most revered music shops, Rhythm Traders, Eastside Guitar Repair and Hank’s Music Exchange, will be having an Open House at 3904 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, creating a much-anticipated music business alliance and invigorating the Portland music industry. This partnership offers customers the ability to bounce between three highly respected music businesses, all under one roof, and with complimentary on-site parking, providing an unparalleled one-stop experience for musicians' needs. Doors open to customers at the new location for Eastside Guitar Repair and Hank’s Music Exchange on October 1st.

This new MLK Music Mall helps to reinvest money and resources within the community. Dedicated to bringing technical skills and industry knowledge to the wider public,

These three businesses will harness tremendous efficiencies by situating side-by-side in the heart of the city, close to venues, recording studios, and customers. True brick-and-mortar believers, these shop owners are doubling down on their commitment to providing Portland musicians with an elevated, hands-on experience.

For the past sixteen years, and as “the go-to technicians for an ever-growing number of clients,” (Willamette Week) the team at Eastside Guitar Repair has always operated in SE PDX at prime locations on Hawthorne and Division. However, owner and luthier Ryan Lynn, “one of Portland’s most sought-after luthiers,” (Willamette Week) saw a dearth of music shops in Portland’s northern neighborhoods and recognized an opportunity to fill that void:

“Brad, the owner of Rhythm Traders, has an excellent building in a central location, easily reachable from all corners of Portland. I knew I wanted to increase accessibility for my customers while improving the aesthetics and design of the shop for my team and clientele. So when I found out there was space available in Brad’s building, I was immediately interested. I have a ton of respect for the way Brad runs Rhythm Traders, and this move offers a fantastic opportunity for all three businesses to grow together and better serve our music community.”

- Ryan Lynn, Owner, Eastside Guitar Repair

Hank’s Music Exchange, established in 2022, made the most out of limited space in the front of the Eastside Guitar Repair shop creating major impact with high volume sales. Owner Hank Failing is no stranger to the Portland music scene, having been active in local industry retail for over twenty-five years. Once he opened his own store, the former manager of Old Town Music quickly drew a cult following based on his encyclopedic knowledge of music gear and extensive list of contacts. 

The creation of a larger collective musical community.” (Eleven PDX) Now, two years in, Hank’s Music Exchange will increase floorspace by fivefold, with inventory expansion sure to follow. The new space offers an improved layout to ensure a more comfortable shopping experience and includes two isolated practice rooms dedicated to in-store gear testing.

Rhythm Traders' owner Brad Boynton shares his thoughts:

“We wanted to show our commitment to Portland area musicians by providing a space where the hang is still alive - a place where players can demo the instruments, receive expert advice, take lessons, and get their gear repaired all under the same roof. When Ryan and Hank came to talk about working together, we realized we shared the same commitment to our communities and to brick-and-mortar retailing itself.”