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Nestled in the south downtown area of Waukegan, Illinois, Family Piano Co. is one of the newest Authorized Sauter Merchants*. Family Piano Co. is one of the most elegant piano stores in the United States. Opening their doors in November of 2006, Family Piano is celebrating 17 months of growing prosperity, doing wll enough to expand their new business with the adition of an exciting multi- purpose room aptly named “Joplin’s Java & Ragtime Cafe” which opened November of 2007. Now that all the construction dust has settled, Family Piano Co. is poised to offer their customers and friends a musical experience unlike any other retail piano store.
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The two owners, Alice Alviani and Mark MacLeod, are piano technicians by trade, with a combined experience of almost 40 years servicing pianos. Alice has been a self employed piano technician for the last 13 years, also selling refurbished starter pianos out of her home. Mark has been a piano rebuilder and service manager of two major piano stores in the mid-west- and has been an all around piano technician for his entire adult life. The two have very different backgrounds in the piano industry, but share the same passion and vision when it comes to pianos. “We sell nice pianos to nice people.” says Alice. “We totally support our customer, and look forward to long term relationships with them.”
Mark’s focus is on piano service: “We approach the piano from the inside out. Our thorough knowledge of the instrument allows us to be very honest with our clientele.”, says MacLeod. “I have learned a lot over the years about both the piano itself, and about retailing. What you see when you walk into our showroom is a warm inviting space that is elegant and comfortable.”
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Alice adds,”To top off the showroom is our panoramic view of the Waukegan River. It looks like a state park here in the summertime. The leaves on the trees are so full you can’t see anything beyond the beautiful ravine!”
Family Piano Co. became an Authorized Sauter Dealer* in 2007. “It was a given when I met Alice and Mark. The enthusiasm and dedication to their profession just mesmerized me. For the Illinois market we knew that we needed people who would go the third and fourth mile in their service and be a cut above any regular piano merchant” says Basilios Strmec, National Sales Director for Sauter Pianos.”However, I was not prepared for what I experienced when I visited the store- the combination of highest quality instruments, a workshop area, and an adjacent coffee shop with regular live music was unlike anything else I had seen!”
Alice and Mark had played a Sauter during National Conference of the Piano Technicians Guild in 2007. “The Sauter Piano in the hallway of the Piano Technicians Convention was so gorgeous to play, it almost made me cry….then to be asked to become an Authorized Sauter Dealer took my be surprise”, says Mark. “After a career of working with pianos, I can honestly say that we’re representing the finest piano in the world.”
So come and visit Family Piano Company, have a fresh doughnut, and some coffee, enjoy some music and browse the beautiful Sauter’s instruments available.
Family Piano Co.
114 South Genesee Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone: 847-775-1988
www.familypianoco.com
alice@familypianoco.com
mark@familypianoco.com
Note:
* The term Authorized Sauter Dealer is trademarked.
Photo 1: Alice Alviani and Mark MacLeod at the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, with a Sauter Delta.
Photo 2: Hoppin’ at Joplin’s Cafe. The coffee shop area is part of the store.
Photo 3: Alice Alviani, Mark MacLeod, Ulrich Sauter (6th Generation Owner of Sauter Piano Company) and Basilios Strmec (National Sales Director USA) at NAMM 2008.
Photo 4: View of Piano Room
Photo 5: Joplin’s Cafe
Internet Links: www.joplinsjava.com
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