Abt Electronics Celebrates 80th Anniversary Expanding Showroom to Feature Elite Kitchen Appliance Brands

The idea for the Inspiration Studio was dreamed up by and is dedicated to Bob Abt, the Abt family patriarch who sadly passed away last year before he had the chance to see his dream come to fruition. "We're always updating our retail environment to stay on top of the latest trends and technology, but my dad's goal was to always do it in a way no one else was doing it," says Jon Abt, one of Bob Abt's four sons who share the title of co-president at Abt Electronics. "His vision was to create a completely unique and unexpected space that showcases the best luxury appliance brands available and exposes Abt's customers to innovations in kitchen design." That idea led Bob to contact an old friend and colleague, internationally renowned kitchen designer, Mick De Giulio. Mick owns de Giulio Kitchen Design and has worked with the Abt family for over 25 years. "His motivation was to provide the best customer experience, as in everything that Bob did," recalls De Giulio. "And to do that, Bob wanted quality to be felt at every level in the new space, in his words, 'first class.' " Bob gave Mick total artistic freedom to bring his vision to life through Mick's unique style and creative eye.

The result is awe-inspiring and features many one-of-a-kind designs and high-end appliances that can only be found at Abt. "We named the space the Inspiration Studio because dad was an inspiration to the entire staff at Abt who respected him not just as a boss, but as a mentor," says Mike Abt, Jon's brother and co-president. "We also hope the kitchens Mick designed will inspire our customers to explore new ideas while shopping."

Some of the more original and impressive items featured in the Inspiration Studio include Sub-Zero ovens with no handles that open with one touch, Thermador's Freedom Induction Cooktop with a large, fully usable surface, Dacor's in-home wine station, La Cornue's custom oven with gas burners and an induction top as well as a gas and electric oven all in one, La Cornue's Island and Range set-up valued at over a quarter of a million dollars, among many other high-end appliances.

The twelve interconnected spaces are each devoted to a particular manufacturer, showcasing its own style. "I wanted to challenge conventional design and inspire visitors to think differently about kitchens and appliances," says De Giulio. Also impressive is that each space allows live cooking demonstrations, as they are fully functioning. All of the architecture, interior design and decorative lighting is by De Giulio and designed with the sole purpose of bringing Bob Abt's dream to a breathtaking reality.

Accentuating De Giulio's design is colorful artwork throughout the Inspiration Studio that tells a special story. Giclée prints were produced from paintings by autistic children. The paintings were created especially for the studio by children at Have Dreams, a Chicago-area nonprofit serving young people impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and coordinated through the For Autistic Kids Foundation, established by the Abt family to raise awareness and funds for children with ASD.

Press inquiries for Abt Electronics:
David Viggiano
O’Malley Hansen Communications
[email protected]
773-580-9721

Press inquiries for Mick De Giulio:
Serina Aidasani
Gita PR
[email protected]
917-815-0244

Abt Electronics was founded in 1936 when Jewel Abt loaned her husband, Dave $800 to open a small electronics store, Abt has grown to become the largest independent, single-store retailer of electronics and appliances in the country. This third-generation family-run business is known for its award-winning customer service from its team of over 1,300 expert staff members. Its Glenview, Illinois-based location boasts a 117,000 square-foot showroom on 37 acres. The company has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune as one of the Top Workplaces in Chicago for six consecutive years, taking the #1 position in 2012 and 2011.  Abt services customers nationwide through its ecommerce website, where customers can receive advice and customer support through the site's live chat feature, email and toll-free phone number. Abt is known for being an eco-friendly business and has an award-winning green program that includes diesel trucks, windmills, solar panels and a generator that provides electricity for nine hours of the day. Abt also has an on-premises 12,000 square-foot recycling center that takes in over 8,500 tons of waste per year, including 95% of the company's own waste. In the center of the showroom is a beautiful atrium where customers gain access to its many boutique stores-within-a-store such as The Apple Boutique and the Connect Computer Store. Abt is known for its weekend treats providing free, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and coffee for its customers every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. For more information, visit www.Abt.com.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO4XfI4mzw0&feature=youtu.be

SOURCE Abt Electronics

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