MOULTRIE — Eric Foster-Whiddon will be fulfilling a long time dream when he opens a new coffee and guitar shop in downtown Moultrie.

Foster-Whiddon said Beans and Strings, located on the courthouse square next to Books & More, will open for business Monday, Jan. 11. It will serve primarily as a music instruction business, but it will offer a variety of coffee products, guitars and other items.

The idea behind having a coffee shop and guitar shop combined can be found in how both encourage a sense of community, Foster-Whiddon said. Each place allows people the opportunity to come together and share a common interest, and he and his wife, Vanessa, thought putting both together would be a really good idea and create a place for community.

The love of coffee first came from working at the Bean’ry in Athens, Ga., and Foster-Whiddon said he has wanted to be involved in a coffee shop since then. He will be serving Jittery Joe’s Coffee, also from Athens, which he describes as the best coffee he has ever tasted.

“If you want a good cup of coffee,” Foster-Whiddon said, “we’ll have it.”

In addition to the Jittery Joe’s Coffees, Foster-Whiddon said there will be everything found on the menu at Starbucks and more, including coffee blends and espressos. It will also offer fruit smoothies, iced drinks, pastries, soft drinks and hot chocolate and will have free wi-fi available.

In addition to the coffee selections, Foster-Whiddon said there will also be a selection of new and consignment instruments available at reasonable prices. It will emphasize guitars, including acoustic, electric and bass guitars, amplifiers and strings, but additional instruments would also be available to order.

“Pretty much anything you’re looking for,” Foster-Whiddon said, “I can get it for you.”

Foster-Whiddon said his goal is not to have the shop be a place similar to Guitar Center that will have a huge selection available. He will carry only quality instruments and accessories that he would tell his students to use.

Visitors to Beans and Strings will also be treated to live music on a regular basis, Foster-Whiddon said. He wants to focus mainly on having local acts come in, including regular open mic nights, but he is open to bringing in acts from outside the area. His primary goal in having live music is building on the community here, he said.

“I want to help highlight the music community here,” Foster-Whiddon said. “There are some really talented people in this community.”

Foster-Whiddon said the shop will also do other fun events once it is open for business. Some of those would include game nights, coffee education and tasting nights, singer/songwriter nights and listening party nights.

Foster-Whiddon said the shop will feature three studios available for him, and potentially others, to teach guitar lessons and find the music they love. One room will be designed for bands to play together, and he will teach the fundamentals of playing in a band.

“My goal is to get (students) to fall in love with the guitar and connect them with people to play the type of music they love and want to learn,” Foster-Whiddon said.

The studios will also be open for people to use, whether for playing guitar or studying, Foster-Whiddon said. Anyone who would like to use a room can do so until 2 p.m.; call ahead to be sure they are available.

Foster-Whiddon said he began playing guitar when he was 15, and he has been teaching guitar lessons since 2001 when he served as a youth pastor. He has children as young as 5 years old up to senior adults. He enjoys teaching guitar and helping his students find their talent for playing just like himself.

“When I first started playing,” Foster-Whiddon said, “I had no clue I could play and how much I’d love it.”

In addition to his time serving as a youth pastor, Foster-Whiddon said he has played in several bands since 1994. He played in bands throughout high school and college, and he most recently has played with Good Boy Elvis, joining Seth Merrill, Bryan Summerford and Jason Gaines. There is a possibility the band may play at the shop every so often.

Foster-Whiddon said he has wanted to be a shop owner for a long time, with the idea always in the back of his mind. He is very excited about the potential to making some connections in music here. He acknowledged some nervousness, but said he has a lot of excitement about it.

Beans and Strings will be open every day but Sundays and will be open at 6:30 a.m., Foster-Whiddon said. Anyone who would like to pick up an order for breakfast can do so by calling ahead, and the shop will even offer curbside pickup service.

For more information about the shop or for guitar lessons, call Beans and Strings at 985-0093. Information can also be found at its Web site, www.beansandstrings.com.