Denton man builds Little D Guitar Shop into successful labor of love

by Stan Ascher

DENTON — How are people surviving in this difficult economy? Gregory Lange, owner of the Little D guitar shop in Denton, does it by growing slowly, staying out of debt, and forging ties to the community.

At his little store just off the square on Austin Street, he greets customers from behind a work bench surrounded by guitars in various states of repair.

He started out working as a carpenter specializing in remodeling homes and refrained from taking any business loans to get Little D Guitars off the ground.

"I was a bit intimidated by stepping off into a kind of risk and didn’t want to over extend myself financially on what seemed like a risky business," he says.

He spent three years learning the art of repairing stringed instruments under local guitar legend Christopher Savino. After that, he started his business out of his home and ran it there for several years. He spent a lot of time researching the Denton market while working under Savino.

"I think it’s important to try to know what you’re getting into to know if the market can support the business you want to supply," he says.

Three years ago, he moved Little D into its current location. He uses the back part of the building to house his remodeling business.

Jennifer Martin is typical of the regular customers at Little D. She comes to Lange’s shop time and again, and likes the small-town friendly feel.

"He was recommended to me by another musician locally and he’s taken very good care of me," she says. "I just like somebody that knows me and knows my name when I come in the door, someone I can trust."

Many residents of Denton also know Lange through his role in the locally popular Americana- Reggae band Tenacious Root.

Lange is optimistic about the future of his business and laughs heartily when asked about the secret to his success.

"I must be good at what I do I guess because people keep coming back," he says.

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