For five years, Uncle Jon’s Music store in Westmont has been providing music lovers all their musical needs while maintaining a warm, family atmosphere.
Uncle Jon’s, 33 N. Cass Ave., is owned by Johnny Kostal Jr., and his father, Jon Kostal Sr. The family has lived in Westmont since Johnny was a boy.
“When we opened the store, we wanted a place with that kind of a family, local atmosphere,” Johnny Kostal said. “And our name reflects that.”
The store just celebrated its fifth anniversary last month with a party that featured live music from local bands, a raffle for a new guitar, free hot dogs and storewide sales.
“The event was a big success and brought a lot of people to the store,” Johnny Kostal said. “It’s something that we could consider doing every year.”
Uncle Jon’s sells musical instruments, accessories, amplifiers and electric, steel and acoustic guitars. While the store does not carry the big brands such as Yamaha and Fender, Johnny Kostal said all their instruments are top quality and all are tested before they go up for sale.
“We sell instruments in a much more personalized setting here,” he said.
Notable
Uncle Jon’s offers musical instrument lessons on guitar, bass Guitar, saxophone, flute and clarinet.
& quotable
“We get a wide variety of people for our lessons, ranging from ages 8 to 88. Most of the kids want to learn guitar, as the Guitar Hero game seems to have got them more interested in it.”
Philosophy
“We pride ourselves on being local, as I grew up in Westmont. We try to maintain that local, personal feel when it comes to our customers. The bigger music stores can’t do that.”
Favorites
MUSICAL INFLUENCES Jazz saxophone players like Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon
INSTRUMENT Saxophone
TYPES OF MUSIC Jazz
INTERESTS Playing in the jazz-swing band called the Flat Cats
