Missouri City resident Steve Eller has been playing guitar for 35 years. He turned what had been a passion and a part-time hobby into his full-time livelihood when he opened Smack Guitars in 2006, selling instruments and providing lessons.

“I called it Smack Guitars because it’s smack dab in the middle of Fort Bend County,” Eller said.

The original store Eller opened was ambitious, he said. The 4,000-square-foot facility was located on Hwy. 6, also in Missouri City and employed 12 people. Eller, who also does recording work, decided keeping up such an operation was more work than he wanted. So in 2013, he moved Smack Guitars to its current spot, a storefront in Township Square at 3434 FM 1092 in Missouri City.

“After six years of working seven days a week, I decided to downsize,” Eller said. “We had two or three of everything for sale.”

At the Township Square location, Eller has only a few employees who provide lessons as well, most of whom are former students of his. Eller said his students range in age from 4 to 75 years old. His wife, Dixon, works behind the counter and helps with operations.

Smack Guitars offers instrument repairs and lessons along with sales. Eller mostly sells guitars, although a few other stringed instruments are interspersed with the rows of guitars that hang from the showroom walls, such as a mandolin here and a banjo there.

In addition to guitar, Eller also plays drums, bass and keyboard.

“I used to enjoy selling guitars because I liked explaining the different guitars, their sounds, the different equipment, but since [then], I found I really like teaching,” he said.

Smack Guitars

3434 FM 1092,  Ste. 350, Missouri City Hours: Tue.-Fri. 3-6:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Closed Sundays and Mondays 281-499-7128 www.smackguitars.com