Two years ago, Justin Vogel was handing over the keys to Right Coast Pizza, which would later become Fusco Pizza in downtown Greeley.

Now it’s back in the same building at 811 8th Avenue with another business called Greeley Guitar Lounge. Fusco Pizza closed this summer.

The new business venture offers a variety of guitar brands, from Gibson, Fender, BOSS, Jackson Guitars to others, as well as repairs and guitar accessories. He said the hall will soon have staff offering guitar lessons.

Vogel had mixed feelings about reopening in the building where he opened his restaurant in 2015.

“I mean, restructuring everything I put into it… it was a little frustrating, but it was good,” he said. “(It was) positive.”

Vogel said closing Right Coast left a sour taste in his mouth and that he wanted another chance to run his business. But it took some convincing to make this new business venture a reality.

“My wife (Erin) helped convince me. “He supported me,” he said. “This idea had been in my mind for a while and it wouldn’t leave. Everywhere I looked, I saw that society needed it. He was supportive.”

Vogel, a Greeley native, has been playing guitar since he was 12 years old. From playing in bands, working at radio stations in Oklahoma and hosting live events, to building his own guitars, his love for the instrument and music is felt as soon as he walks into the room.

The salon has been open for several weeks and the official grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, November 9th. The store is open every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Just as he makes his passion for guitar and music felt in his old and new spaces, he is also working to share it outside his doors. He said he has been working with the charity Youth for Christ for several years, hoping to launch a program next summer aimed at getting guitars into the hands of young people in the community.

While serving hot, fresh pizza makes people smile, Vogel is more excited about bringing the love of music back to the community as a business owner.

“Opening a restaurant is work,” he said. “This borders on fun. Selling someone their first guitar is so much more life-giving. (Serving pizza) is fun, but seeing someone buy their first instrument is so satisfying.”

To see what else the salon has to offer, go to: greeleyguitarlounge.com.