Spotlight on local business
DeVoe’s Music named February Business of the Month.
The February winner of Lansdale’s Business of the Month award is one that has given the gift of music to countless local students over the better part of a century.
DeVoe’s Music Inc., located at 51 E. Main St., received the award last week from Borough Councilman Steve Malagari, who said he’s one of those students turned musicians thanks to DeVoe’s.
“Having played an instrument myself, and taken lessons, the school programs that have been around since I was a student have been very valuable to a lot of individuals who’ve learned music over the years,” Malagari said.
“Without these programs, I don’t think my parents would’ve been able to afford an instrument, and I know a lot of other parents wouldn’t have been able to either,” he said.
DeVoe’s was originally established in 1924 in the basement of a home in Northeast Philadelphia by the grandfather of current owner Armen DeVoe Jr., Malagari told borough council last week. As he spoke, a slideshow displayed photos of instruments, music, and employees at the business, and their trademark message sign on Main Street, which read in this case: “Spit happens — Instruments cleaned here.”
“During the Great Depression, Armen’s grandfather would purchase military surplus instruments, completely overhaul them, then sell them to schools and musicians as far away as the Philippines, through one of the first mail-order campaigns in the industry,” he said.
After World War II, the business began working with school districts to develop elementary school music programs, and helped pioneer the tactic of renting instruments to students for use in school.
“By offering instrument rentals as a new concept to make learning an instrument affordable, DeVoe’s provided an opportunity to students who may not otherwise have gotten that chance,” Malagari said.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Armen DeVoe Sr. helped found a state advocacy group of music educators that helped push for school music programs to be preserved during an era of budget cuts, after a move in 1968 to the Lansdale storefront they’ve occupied ever since.
“Armen and his three sisters all attended the North Penn School District, and were all proud members of the North Penn Marching Knights,” the high school marching band, Malagari said.
Armen Jr. took over the family business in 1996 and has continued the family tradition of giving back to the community by offering scholarships to students, sponsoring local sports teams, backing community musical programs, and donating to projects tied to keeping music in the greater North Penn area.
“Want to learn a new instrument? You’re in luck: DeVoe’s also has talented instructors providing lessons to musicians of all ages, from eight years old to adults, right in their studio location on the second floor of their building,” said Malagari.
The Lansdale location serves students and schools in the North Penn, Quakertown, Souderton, Upper Perkiomen, Abington and Methacton school districts, Malagari said, in addition to private and parochial schools in the same area, and others in New Jersey. Free parking and gift cards are available, as are lessons, music, and anything else an aspiring or expert musician might need.
“Looking to get your old instrument from when you were a kid repaired? Or need a repair before a big concert? No worries, they have a skilled repair technician on site daily, Monday through Friday,” he said.
“As their website says, ‘Our success depends on your happiness, and we love to see you smile.’ Thank you for everything you’ve done in the North Penn community, and the greater area. This is well deserved.”
DeVoe’s Music is located at 51 E. Main St. in Lansdale and is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information call (215) 368-3395, visit www. DevoesMusicStore.com or search for “DeVoe’s Music” on Facebook.