Most of BYU's students have journeyed to Provo's historic Center Street, but few know about the hidden gems that dot the tree-lined street.

The eclectic assortment of shops, restaurants and entertainment options allow visitors to figuratively step into another world as they absorb the culture and personality radiating from the workers that make these businesses come to life.

"If you earn someone's business, you'll get it," said Ken Stika, the owner and sole worker at The Great Salt Lake Guitar Co.

From the street, Stika's shop looks simple and unassuming, but just below the "The Great Salt Lake Guitar Co." there is a telling painted banner with the inscription, "Service & Value." These are the qualities that Stika seeks to deliver to his customers.

As you pass two glass window cases displaying some of Stika's guitars, the front door gives way to a dusty workshop, where Stika sits repairing broken guitars. For the past 20 years he has run his not so little shop. Just past his workstation lies a large showroom, displaying Godin, Seagull and Norman guitars.

In the very back, guests will find a broad assortment of abstract art, a collection of photographed graffiti painted on the sides of trains passing through Provo.

"My subject matter just rolls into town," Stika said. "I do it for the enjoyment of it."

Upstairs, the attic has been converted into a guitar-making workshop where Stika spends about 120 hours to create one handmade guitar.

Stika's shop is a tribute to the value of a customer driven business.

"You don't have to be cash register driven," Stika said. "Take care of your customers and they'll take care of you."

Across the street visitors will find a very interesting shop, "Jim's Gym."

Although the gym may be small in stature, it makes up for it in character.

The simple slogan describes the gym's promise, "The Body Exchange."

Jim Campbell, a Provo City police officer who has been working out for more than 20 years, said he loves lifting and loves helping others.

Jim's little gym stands in defiance to the large commercialized gyms that seem to dominate the exercise market.

"Don't come here if you want a pick-up place," Campbell said.

Campbell's message to customers is simple and clear. If you want to get in shape and you don't know how, come and I'll teach you how to do it right, he said.

"If you want to lift and get results, this may be the place for you," Campbell said.

After a workout, visitors would be wise to visit a near-by delicatessen.

Sensuous Sandwich has been in business for the last 20 years. Although the business hasn't been on Center Street that entire time, it has already laid significant roots in the community.

"We are a laid back place," said Almond Bethers, owner of Sensuous Sandwich. "We know our customers by name and we have a lot of fun."

This Center Street sandwich stop is filled with comic relief. All the walls are covered with hysterical posters, and each table is covered with comics.

Bethers is very proud of the store's "24 Inches Club."

Customer's that purchase a 24-inch sandwich and eat it in less than 30 minutes, win a free T-shirt, get their photo put on the wall and receive a free medium drink each time they return with their Sensuous Sandwich shirt.

"The record was broken last week," Bethers said. "The new guy ate the sandwich in 1 minute and 55 seconds."

Bethers said watching customers down the 2 foot long sandwiches isn't a beautiful experience, but it's a lot of fun.

A couple shops up the street, visitors will be overwhelmed by more than 300,000 rare and used titles at Pioneer Book.

"At Borders and Barnes & Noble you just can't find what you can here," said Ryan Roos, a sales associate at Pioneer Book.

Visitors can spend as much time as they want wandering through the maze of curvy-mismatched bookshelves as they seek to find the perfect book. Although it may seem disorganized, all the books are divided into sections like classics, mystery, religious or travel.

Part of the experience is searching through the shelves to find the book that is right for you, Roos said.

Many of Pioneer Book's customers come in search of rare titles.

"I collect old books," said Allison Palmer, a student majoring in English and editing.

Palmer, like many other customers, loves the floor to ceiling books.

"I found a complete work of Lord Alfred Tennyson, a 1914 edition," Palmer said.

The only way students can really experience the random assortment of titles is to visit Pioneer Book and take a deep breath of the "essence of book" air.

After finding the perfect book, hopefully visitors will have worked up an appetite for dinner.

Travel just east of University Avenue to a row of delicious restaurants.

Guru's is a unique arrangement of design and flavor. The trendy restaurant is colorful and climatic.

"Primarily, we're known as a laid back place where people can relax," said J Sherman, one of the partners that owns Guru's. "It's a place where you can relax."

Sherman said he hopes customers will be able to enjoy the fun atmosphere they try to create.

"BYU is very structured," Sherman said. "There are a lot of rules you have to follow; here you can relax."

Sherman said that the owners work to have something for everyone.

Guru's wide variety of food includes: salads, pastas, wraps, soups, burritos and tacos that represent a wide range of flavors.

These hidden gems are only a couple minutes away from BYU's campus. The unique culture can only be felt when visitors decide to take a stroll and see what Center Street has to offer.