Dark Horse Music Store will move into Historic Downtown in early 2017.
It began as a way to earn gas money.
At 16, Michael Wilson began offering drum lessons to Plant City residents. With no studio space of his own, he traveled to his clients’ homes.
Seven years later, Wilson, the founder of Dark Horse Music Store on Wheeler Street, is still offering lessons to students — along with instrument rentals, repairs and
audition preparation.
The business has grown so much that 23-year-old Wilson and his team have outgrown their 700-square-foot Wheeler Street space in under one year. By the start of 2017, Dark Horse will have relocated into a 3,600-square-foot facility on Northeast Drane Street in Historic Downtown.
“It’s mind-blowing,” Wilson said. “I’m just amazed. I get to do my dream job every day, and I’m only 23.”
Drumming Up Business
Formerly known as Mikkeal Music Company, the upcoming move won’t be the first real estate change for the business.
After his client base grew for the first time, Wilson converted his garage into a makeshift studio space. When the business grew again, Independent Christian Assembly Church offered Wilson a store location off of Alexander Street.
“It was always just lessons at that point,” Wilson said. “It’s steadily grown every single month. I have really good help.”
Dark Horse opened its current location at 1103 N. Wheeler St. in February 2016. But with over 80 private classes every week, Wilson quickly realized the business would need a larger space.
“We don’t have room for inventory,” Wilson said. “We’ve outgrown this space. I feel like we’ll be able to network with Plant City better.”
The expanded space will allow Dark Horse to continue to serve neighboring communities, as well. Besides Plant City, the business has students based in Mulberry, Lakeland, Riverview and New Tampa.
As the space has grown, so have the services Dark Horse offers. The shop now offers rentals for schools and instrument repairs. When the new location opens in early January, Wilson plans to incorporate a studio recording space. In the future, the shop also would like to offer dance classes.
The new Drane Street location will include eight studios and six themed departments. Wilson hopes lighting effects and themed displays will allow Plant City residents and visitors to see the shop as a downtown attraction.
“I just want people to come see it,” Wilson said. “We put a lot into the design of the store. It’s going to be something to come see. We’re hopefully going to have a few rare instruments and some vintage stuff on display.
We want to have an art aspect as well. Each student room looks like its own house.”
Though Wilson would like to franchise the business within the next five years, the shop’s primary location will stay in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.
“I’ve got a pioneer spirit,” he said. “There’s not something like this here already. I just saw a gap in the market.”
The store will be closed from Sunday, Dec. 22, to Sunday, Jan. 1, to open the new location. Dark Horse plans to open the Drane Street store Monday, Jan. 2, 2017.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com,
