Fan Guitar and Ukulele

Fan Guitar and Ukulele is Richmond’s hometown guitar and ʻukulele shop — a small, family-run room on West Main Street where the sound of the South Pacific still rides the strings. Owners John and Genie Gonzalez del Solar opened the doors in 2012 after years in Hawaiʻi: John, a VCU Music grad and U.S. Navy Band guitarist, was stationed in the islands, fell in love with the ʻukulele, and worked the floor, lesson studio, repair bench, and eventually management at a North Shore Oʻahu music store. Genie and John packed that aloha east and built a shop that still feels like the islands without the tourist trap — careful setups, honest advice, lessons, and instruments chosen to keep people playing. Stop in for new and used guitars and ʻukuleles, repairs and setups, and a lesson path that starts friendly and stays ʻohana. Every instrument is inspected and set up before it hits the sales floor so you can get to the music faster.

Owners John and Genie Gonzalez del Solar opened the shop in 2012 after returning to Richmond from Hawaiʻi. John (VCU Music ’02) played guitar in the U.S. Navy Band, was stationed in Hawaiʻi, learned the ʻukulele there, then taught, sold, repaired, and managed at a North Shore Oʻahu music store before the couple brought that aloha home to Main Street.