With neighborhood mom-and-pop music stores increasingly being barged out of business by soulless big-box behemoths like Guitar Center and online outlets, Mugzey Muzic flips an unfashionable finger in the face of pure-profit maximization. Opened in 2012 by 25-year musical instrument retail veteran, and former Guitar Center employee, Louie Concotilli, it has not only survived but multiplied. It moved into much larger premises last year, just a few doors deeper into the easy-to-miss Canyon Country strip mall it shares with a recycling center, massage parlor and pawn shop. Mugzey Muzic defiantly thrives on patient, personal service, which is unwavering, regardless of a customer's budget or intentions. It also has pleasant-surprise prices, and community-building features such as its “Acoustic Kitchen” jam room and “Vinyl Vault” full of used LPs. At any given time the ever-genial Concotilli, who boasts an incredible instant-recall memory for names, offers around 75 mostly used guitars, as well as amps, drums and keyboards, plus repairs, rentals and lessons.

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