Guitar shops in the Houston area?

[Biz Prof]

My 20-year-old son is starting a summer internship at Albemarle Chemical in Houston in late May, and while he's only been playing guitar about 9 months, he's gotten quite good already and thus, loves to visit guitar shops. Any recommendations as to what haunts he might like to try that are in that area? 

Also, it's a 16-hour drive. I've suggested he drive as far as Baton Rouge (11 or so hours), spend the night and catch some rest, then drive the remaining four+ hours the next morning so that he can have some time to settle into the corporate apartment. In terms of finding a decent hostel and restaurant, does that suggestion make more sense than him stopping earlier--like, in Mobile?

Thanks in advance for the tips.

[Willie G. Moseley]

Presuming he's gonna be on I-85 South, I-65 South and I-10 West  I'd suggest driving as far as maybe the Mississippi gulf coast. No real 'big city' around so no rush hour traffic jams, etc. 

In 2010 I had a similar-length journey along interstates I-85, I-65 and I-10 from east central Alabama to New Braunfels (almost to San Antonio) but stopped in Beaumont; that was far enough for the first day. and I zonked out at 6:30 PM when the sun was still way up. 

As for Houston shops, I've only visited Rockin' Robin, which is kind of an institution/tradition. They had a buncha autographed guitars on the wall and I'd think such a display would appeal to and perhaps inspire neophyte players.

[Rich_S]

When I lived in League City in the 2000s, my local store was Danny D’s Guitar Hacienda.  No idea if it’s still there, they’re had a couple major floods since then.

[Hamerica]

If he is a lefty Fullers Vintage is a must.  There is a shop in Katy Texas the name escapes me at the moment.  They have had a couple of nice Hamers over the years.  
 

Hamerica 

[Biz Prof]

The "boy" (there's some '60s-era Western TV show lingo for you) bought himself a nice custom ordered G&L Bluesboy the other day. Apparently, a Charlotte-area physican unloaded some boutique gear at Coleman Music after giving up on learning guitar. Nice score for the lad.

Luke's been practicing "Since I've Been Loving You" for weeks and can now channel his inner Page properly with a Tele-style.  He's already named this one "Good Orange", and he'll be leaving it and his Marshall in my care this summer while he takes my Yamaha THR and one of my import guitars to Houston.

 

 

[Stike]

I haven't been to Houston in almost 25 years, Rockin Robin was cool then. My fat ass would be more interested in eating some Viet Cajun food.

https://www.foodandwine.com/how-the-vietnamese-diaspora-created-a-whole-new-cuisine-7113427

[Jeff R]

There is a fretted repair/upgrade workshop that does custom pickups and custom guitars in Baton Rouge. But Its name escapes me.

[kizanski]

19 minutes ago, Jeff R said:

There is a fretted repair/upgrade workshop that does custom pickups and custom guitars in Baton Rouge. But Its name escapes me.

I know the place.

Coonass Wit Toolz, or something like that.

[lang]

11 hours ago, Biz Prof said:

He's already named this one "Good Orange"

This is the best.

I truly hope his next guitar is a red beater that he calls "Bad Apple"

[Biz Prof]

1 hour ago, lang said:

This is the best.

I truly hope his next guitar is a red beater that he calls "Bad Apple"

Lol.  I'll give him that advice.

There's actually an inside joke behind that moniker.  His maternal grandmother is gem of a person who has some personality quirks (who doesn't?), one of which is repeating a comment several times in a conversation.  A couple of years ago when Luke was still in high school, his FFA chapter conducted their annual holiday fresh fruit sale, and in support of that fundraiser, Grandma bought a box of seedless oranges.  Upon visiting our house a few days after the fruit was delivered, she remarked about how delicious her oranges were.  A couple of minutes, later, she brought it up again ("Those are some good oranges!"). Then, before she left, she asked if we had ordered any of that particular citrus fruit.  To her dismay, we had not.  She later bid us goodbye and left with one last, "Those really are some good oranges!"  The phrase has now become codified in our family lexicon as a stand-in for any sort of exaggerated praise.   The lad loves his new guitar, and it's orange in color.  Thus, "Good Orange."

[Biz Prof]

1 hour ago, Jeff R said:

There is a fretted repair/upgrade workshop that does custom pickups and custom guitars in Baton Rouge. But Its name escapes me.

I bet its located in a shack!  

In all seriousness, Jeff, I have turned him on to the Fret Shack. I've also let him know you do work by appointment, so he'd have to contact you ahead of time.  Hell, right now, he's not 100% settled on where his overnight stop will be, although I've certainly recommended a hotel somewhere in/around the Red Stick.