SAN JOSE — Guitar Wars opened a new store in downtown San Jose’s SoFA district with hopes of bringing sales and more to an urban core that for decades has suffered from a dwindling retail base.

“There is a great music scene here in downtown San Jose,” said Carlos Gascon, a co-owner of Guitar Wars, which relocated and opened Dec. 1 at 447 South First St. after closing its prior location in South San Jose.

The store is next to Pete Be Center, whose owner is preparing the opening of a venue for music shows, entertainment, and other live events at 439 South First St.

“We hope to be part of all of the music and entertainment activities in SoFA and to serve all of that,” Gascon said.

The co-owners of Guitar Wars hope the new store will be a kind of one-stop shop, offering more than retail it

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