Interview Tom Cassling, owner of Logan Square’s new musicians’ haven, Shake Shop

Woe is the local musician who damns the man and lives west of Western Avenue. Repair shops and gear centers are few and far-between in the wilderness of Logan Square and Humboldt Park, much to the dismay of the absolute crush of musicians who lives out there.

Fortunately there is finally string salvation, in the form of Shake Shop, just opened this past weekend at 3247 W. Fullerton. The A.V. Club loaded our [tape recording] gear in, and got all the rock ’n’ roll details from Shake Shop owner, local musician, and Northbrook native Tom Cassling.

A.V. Club: What’s the vision behind Shake Shop?
Tom Cassling: The main focus is on repairs for all fretted stringed instruments—meaning everything except violins—as well as amp and pedal electronic fixes. We’re also selling used guitars, amps, and vinyl. The front of the store is basically a rock ’n’ roll general store, so it’s a mixed bag of all sorts of stuff. There are records, books, and artwork from local artists who are involved in the music scene, like Darius Hurley who runs Criminal IQ records.

AVC: What makes you guys different from Guitar Center, Chicago Music Exchange, Andy’s Music, and so on?
TC: I can’t compete with other stores in terms of new inventory, like I can’t go direct with Fender or Gibson. They have minimum orders that start at around $10,000, and they force you to carry their shittier lines that no one wants. A lot of those places, like Guitar Center, sell those lines at or below cost to just get people in the door. Really, I’m not budgeted to work like that.

I just want to be an outlet for basic accessories and local work. My emphasis is mostly on repair, and I’d like to do custom builds eventually. I’m setting up a woodshop in the basement right now.

Initially, I’m reaching out to working amateurs, not collectors or people who have a guitar under the bed they pull out when the wife’s gone. I’m looking for people who aren’t professionals, but are in a band, play regularly, and have goals within that band. A lot of those people are either intimidated to get their gear repaired, or don’t know how to go about it. I’ve seen some people playing instruments that are in pretty severe disrepair, and I’m trying to lower the barriers for those people and create a more comfortable environment. We’re going to be open Tuesday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., weekends 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays by appointment, though I don’t want to sound standoffish. I’m here a lot. I’ll gladly open up to sell someone a 50-cent pick.

AVC: Are you going to cut struggling musicians a deal?
TC: My prices are going to be pretty comparable to everyone else’s, but I am willing to work with local musicians, because I do have the retail space. If they want to bring me their merch, and I can sell it and offer them credit toward gear repair, great. They can bring in records to sell, too. I’m also offering a discount to touring musicians, and quicker turnaround for people who are only in town for a night and don’t have two or three weeks to get their instrument tuned up.

AVC: Why open now?
TC: I was manufacturing bass guitars at Lakland Basses, a local high-end manufacturer, for about seven years. I’d been thinking about opening up my own place, but when I got laid off at Lakland, I just decided I was better off to do what I knew and strike out on my own.

AVC: Why Logan Square?
TC: I just like the neighborhood, and I know there are a ton of musicians out here. So many people go to Guitar Center out of necessity, too, but absolutely no one enjoys the experience.

AVC: What’s your background in music?
TC: I play drums in Daily Void and Tyler Jon Tyler. I’ve given guitar a stab in other bands, but nothing ever really got off the ground.

AVC: And you’re not selling drum accessories?
TC: I am going to sell sticks, heads, and hardware. I’ll sell used drums too, if I get them in.

AVC: Are you going to have in-stores or anything?
TC: There are so many venues all over town, big and small, including D.I.Y. spaces that pop up and close down all the time. I thought, originally, in-stores were something I might do, and this place does have a basement, but Chicago doesn’t need that. There are plenty of other things I can offer the music scene other than a place to have shows. Plus I’d rather go to shows without having to be on the production end of them.

AVC: As someone so familiar with music in town, what are a couple of bands that you’ve been really vibing on lately?
TC: There are a ton of bands that I love, and I love that more and more keep springing up all the time. Two that I’ve really been enjoying lately are E.T. Habit and Squish. E.T. Habit is doing something pretty different than most people around here. Its members have been in all sorts of other bands, but the new group sounds completely different than anything they’ve ever done before. It’s like early Alice Cooper, but somehow different. It’s pretty out there, and their live shows are great.

Squish is an all-girl band that’s on the punk end of the spectrum, like Liliput or Kleenex.

AVC: For lack of a better word, are you trying to create a “rock ’n’ roll clubhouse”?
TC: I’m definitely going for the hangout environment. I don’t want there to be any physical barrier between customers and repairs. I’m trying to demystify the process.

Tom Cassling and Shake Shop can be reached at 773.904.7690 or shakeshopchicago@gmail.com.