Made In Chicago: Grand Piano Haus
(CBS) -- For Jeffery Tasch, music is in his blood.
"Once you sit in front of a piano, everything else about your day, if you had a bad day or whatever, it goes away. Music is part of our family."
So it only came natural he would own a piano store.
"My father studied violin building in Germany. In 1955, he graduated and started working in violin stores throughout Germany, Switzerland and Italy. In 1965, he emigrated to America."
But Fritz Tasch had to give up the craft because he developed a reaction to wood dust so he opened up a guitar store called the Sound Post, a music specialty store in Evanston.
"I grew up in the music business. This is what I know," said Jeffery Tasch. "At one time, my father had three music stores. One of which eventually turned into Grand Piano Haus in 2003."
Made In Chicago: Grand Piano Haus
But Grand Piano Haus in Skokie is more than just a piano store....it's a 9000 square foot building that houses more than 100 upright, grands and hybrid instruments.
"I think we have some of the best pianos on Earth here in our shop," said Tasch.
The Taschs show off their prized pianos in several acoustically accustomed showrooms including a recording studio and stage he designed and built himself.
"So I built this room I said why don't we build a studio hall to cater to fine pianists."
Tasch says competing in the piano industry can be a tough..especially with big box stores and ever evolving technology.
"The industry is contracting. There are so many new ways to be entertained today. We not only have TV and radio but the Internet, we have these video games in competition with us," said Tasch.
Technology he says is key in staying competitive to keep Grand Piano Haus relevant.
"We want to help clients understand what sound is what to look for in a good piano. We have products that are designed to bring the interest back in music." Interest he hopes will keep the music alive for generations to come.
For more information, visit www.grandpianohaus.com.
