About Fortuna Music Mart
Fortuna Music Mart is a store that combines an appreciation for value, a concern for the community and a sense of humor. We are the go to store for finding the best instrument for the best price in the Northern California region. We do this by shopping for our instruments just like a good customer shops for anything. We do a lot of research about the quality of the products we carry and try to find every bargain we can. We pass on our saving to our customers and make certain that we can honestly say that we don’t carry any instruments that we wouldn’t personally use. We are a musician’s better friend. We also manage to do this in a manner that makes Fortuna Music Mart a fun place to visit. Our employees like each other and like people. We are your friends. Your goofy but nice musical friends.
The name "Fortuna Music Mart" came into existence in January of 2002. Before that date a store called "Souza’s Music Service" was in the same location. Jay Byker, owner of Fortuna Music Mart, purchased the store from Ray Souza and changed the name to fit his own history. As it happens, the name "Music Mart" has a long standing Fortuna History. Jay worked at the original "Music Mart" when he was a student at Fortuna High, back in the 1960’s. Jay’s father, Henry Byker, sang at the grand opening of the original "Music Mart" in 1954. Jay’s sister Joan and brother Jim both worked at the original "Music Mart" before his tenure. The original "Music Mart" was owned by Lloyd Anderson. Mr. Anderson was the former music teacher of Fortuna High. The current "Fortuna Music Mart" is owned by Jay Byker, the former music teacher of Fortuna High. The circle of life goes on. Jay Byker is currently the music teacher at Hydesville Elementary School, as well as a private teacher.
The very first Music Mart. Fortuna Rodeo Band inside the Music Mart
The employees of Fortuna Music Mart include:
Ian Goble – store manager and guitar hero. And banjo! Ian has been working in the store for more than ten years. (Through the changing of the guard.) He is a great musician and really nice guy.
Nicky Goble – internet queen. Nicky keeps using logic and reason to make us get more organized. She has a great laugh.
Audrey McCombs – the tuba queen and clerk. She somehow knows every person in Humboldt County and is the biggest Beatle fan the world has ever known. Audrey has a tatto of Paul McCartney's signature on her arm. Yes! He really signed her. The video is posted here on our site. 
Mike Mathiesen- store clerk and drummer who likes to drum on EVERYTHING. Watch out!
Skip – band instrument repairman, guitarist and smart guy. Skip knows a whole lot about making musical instruments work the way they are supposed to work.
Jay Byker – store owner, cat lover, music teacher and check signer. Jay is from as family of musicians. He likes to talk about music. Mostly he likes to talk. He is married to the best singer he has ever heard.