Martin Guitar Expanding Into Forks

Martin Guitar is expanding.

The Nazareth-based company will be opening a large distribution center in Forks Township later this year, according to Gregory Paul, Vice President of Corporate Operations for .

The building, at 1100 Conroy Place in the former Famous Smoke Shop building, was purchased for an undisclosed amount.

In June, Famous Smoke Shop relocated to a new 60,000-square-foot facility at 90 Mort Drive, also in Forks. That building includes a warehouse and distribution center, retail store and restaurant.

“We’ll be doing modifications and going for LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] certification of the new location,” Paul said. “It’s an addition to our footprint. We now ship from three locations, and this building will serve as our [consolidated] distribution center.”

Paul said that although the business has been hiring this year, additional employees likely will not be needed at the new facility. He expects the move to be completed by October of this year. To celebrate, an open house is planned at the main facility in Nazareth at 510 Sycamore St. during the holidays.

“We’re glad to be using an existing structure,” he said. “We value the creative re-use of buildings.”

Founded in 1833, Martin Guitar is the oldest maker of guitars in the world and serves a worldwide market. The company also sells strings and ukuleles. Some 7,000,000 strings were sold last year alone, according to Paul.

The company offers guided tours of the production floor, and the Martin Guitar Museum is open daily to visitors.