Longstanding rumors have proven to be true: Guitar Center, that monolith of modern musiciandom, will open an Athens-area location next month.

The store, which will be located on the Oconee Connector in the new Epps Bridge Centre development that also houses a Gap outlet, a megaplex and a bunch of other chain-y type stuff, will celebrate its existence Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. with a Grand Opening shindig featuring equipment sales, freebies and a performance from Atlanta Americana outfit The Deadfields.

Guitar Center has long been a source of ambivalence for the larger music community. On one hand, an Athens location means lots of potential jobs for underworked musicians, which is very good. But the company's bottom-line approach to product and pricing presents a very real threat to locally owned shops like Chick Piano and Musician's Warehouse. Which is not so good.

So. Whatch'all think?