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Around 1999, John Ferolito Jr. decided that there was potential in the brand and purchased it pre-emptively from his father (John Ferolito Sr, co- founder of the famous Arizona Iced Tea Beverages). He and business partners Brendan Cohen (who would become CEO of the 'new' D'Angelico brand) and Steve Pisani sat on the brand for almost 10 years, sorting out their business strategy to breathe life back into the craft. The name notoriety preceded them, so it wouldn't be hard to get any musician worth their salt to endorse, however they still had the task of matching that eye-stopping quality that the originals were known for. By touring the most prominent music festivals and putting their guitars in the hands of stadium packers such as John Mayer and Chet Atkins, as well as sponsoring some up-and- coming artists, the exposure was set. D'Angelico guitars have become all the talk and successfully rose back on the scene. The 'Met'(Metropolitan Museum of Art) has since chosen to feature their product as a bonafide exhibition honoring the original Italian-American master luthier's craftsmanship. Today, the company's business prospects have fared well and, according to Cohen himself, with last year's expected sales revenue topping $5 million, that trend is expected to continue. When asked about what compromises the brand might make to garner an even wider audience of clientele, Cohen insisted that stylistically there was no compromise, the look is the pride of the brand. However, new models are already under wraps for Spring 2017 which offer more modern sounds, and a broader price margin which will ultimately drive up interest and sales in the long run. While the official monicker of the series has yet to be decided, they will add new aesthetic approaches to the catalog of existing archtop body designs, as well as feature new D'Angelico engineer designed pickups. A new acoustic model may be underway as well. D'Angelico Guitars has set out to be a riveting audio-visual sensory overload, and their newly-renovated luxury showroom does not disappoint. Located on West 28th Street in Chelsea, the showroom features a legion of gold plated laminated flame- maple artistry strewn up on every wall. The multi-purpose showroom not only gives aspiring artists and collectors a direct outlet to demo the most sought after instruments of the collection, but also a valuable chance to interact one-on-one with the team behind it all. Master luthiers, engineers and the CEO have set up office in this residence and are intent on showing you why D'Angelico is still the real deal, inside and out. The Showroom is also a fully- functional venue outfitted with a bar, lounges and a superior soundstage for more intimate performances. From a modest craftsman's corner of Little Italy to a mecca of musical connoisseurs, D'Angelico's crowning achievement has secured the name and tradition for years to come. VUE ON LIFESTYLE V U E N J . C O M 90

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