J&R in the News

by Elizabeth Weinstein

Who: Rachelle Friedman, 50, co-chief executive, J&R Music and Computer World, a music and electronics retailer.

Where: 23 Park Row, New York, N.Y.

What you see: A pastel paradise tracing a 30-year career in the music and electronics business. Mrs. Friedman, who founded the landmark retail store with her husband, Joe, in 1971, wanted her office to reflect "a woman's tastes without being too frilly." Visitors who first encounter the pink marble desk, pink chairs, studded doors, and light blue walls "don't expect to see a woman in a high position," Mrs. Friedman says. But beyond the feminine décor, the hard business portion of Mrs. Friedman's work shows through in the form of pictures, awards and a long wall of framed albums by famous artists. The focal point of the room lies just behind Mrs. Friedman's desk. There, a huge mirror reflects the evolution of J&R's business with inscribed images of records, cassettes, CDs, DVDs and the store's logo. In the mirror's reflection, visitors see a giant silver plate encased in glass on the opposite wall. The award, along with the book of drawings by children, was given to Mrs. Friedman by the Brooklyn-based Ohel agency and represents her years of charitable work with the social services organization. Two hand-painted electric guitars by artist Peter Max stand just under a long wall of framed photos. In each of the 37 frames, Mrs. Friedman stands out against such luminaries as Kenny G., Gloria Estefan, Colin Powell and Princess Diana. A picture of Mrs. Friedman and Tito Puente was taken at Mr. Puente's final appearance at her store, just before his death. Among the rows of platinum albums on another wall is a picture of Mrs. Friedman and Michael Jackson at the star's home.

What she sees: "I wanted to bring the comfort of home to my office because I basically live here. What I love about my pictures is that they show how we started as a mom-and-pop store and now we attract a huge celebrity following. In about two years I'll be moving all these mementos to another office because we're making this into retail space...but I think I'll go back to a more traditional look for my next office."