Bruce Petros picked up a $15 guitar kit at a Colorado tourist shop while working as a tour guide. He put it together, kept building, and 52 years later his workshop, Petros Guitars in Hollandtown, Wisconsin, ships handmade guitars and ukuleles to players and collectors around the world. Paul Simon reportedly owns one of them.
What sets the shop apart isn’t volume, it’s intention. Each instrument is crafted for a distinct, refined tone, and Bruce describes the goal simply: lasting beauty in the instrument. His son Matt is now preparing to take over the business, and Bruce’s view on succession is refreshingly direct. A reputation can’t be sold, he says. It’s built in, and it continues on.
For those of us on the Suncoast, where family names still anchor plenty of local businesses, there’s an easy parallel. Craftsmanship and continuity don’t make headlines often, but they’re the reason some doors stay open for generations.
What’s a family-run business around here you’d hate to see close for good? Tell us in the comments.
