A Passion for Pianos
In 2001 Maurice Unis and his eldest son, Brian, opened Classic Pianos - next to the Aladdin Theater - at 3003 SE Milwaukie Avenue in a historic building that had earlier housed a violin maker.
As soon as the shop was established, there grew up around Classic a very diverse community of piano-related businesses ― craftsmen and technicians dedicated to the restoration of fine old instruments, a piano moving company, and piano teachers working out of studios that had once been part of The French School.
At the end of 2005, Classic acquired Cascade Music – Portland’s exclusive Yamaha dealership, a Hollywood District landmark for over 40 years.
Maurice Unis closed Cascade’s business and consolidated his piano enterprise into his further- expanding Classic Pianos “campus” at the east end of the Ross Island Bridge. The expansion includes a newly remodeled, acoustically-enhanced, Recital Hall that occupies the space adjacent to the Aladdin Theater.
Continuing a fourth generation of dedication to the piano business, all three of the Unis sons have been involved with Classic Pianos of Portland.
Brian, Maurice’s eldest son, is head of operations – having been raised in the “piano world” all his life and trained by his father in all phases of the piano business. Aaron, the middle son, was first schooled in the piano shop after graduating from University of Oregon - then headed up Classic’s Concerts & Events Division until January, 2008 when he left to take a teaching sabbatical in India. Taylor, the youngest son, while still in college, was first trained in inventory and floor arranging; also in piano moving and storage for A-Z Moving. Today he has joined the Classic team full time in selling and customer service.
