THE T-SHIRT CLUB 
FOR GUITARISTS

Longtime friends Rob Mondi and Frank Agnello had a lifelong dream of opening their own guitar shop, which became a reality with the opening of the Aurora Music Company in DeKalb, Illinois. As childhood neighbors, they bonded over Frank’s dad’s vinyl collection and both played in a few bands in high school (Frank’s first guitar was a 1963 Gibson SG; Rob’s was a black harmony strat style sold in the Sears catalog). However, their passion wasn’t in the playing and performing, but in the collecting, tinkering, modifying, and building of instruments. 

Rob and Frank created Aurora Music to be like the shops they grew up with. Frank notes that the kids who are coming in today will be the next generation of musicians and industry leaders, and to “see the excitement and passion they have brings back all those same feelings we had when we were that age… being able to provide a place to feed that is beyond words.”

In addition to selling vintage classics by Ibanez, Hammer, B.C. Rich, Jackson, Harmony, Gretsch, and Fender, they have a full luthier shop where custom builds, modifications, repairs and their own line of Aurora Guitars are built. Frank is a self-taught luthier and has worked on and built guitars since the 80s and worked as a mechanical engineer since the early 90s. And Rob is self-described serial entrepreneur. Their complimenting skill sets give the duo huge synergies and ultimately great success.

After 40 years of friendship, they’ve only ever had one fight that remains unresolved: Which band is better -- The Who or The Rolling Stones?