Early one Sunday morning while I was sitting at my kitchen table sipping my tea and enjoying my toasted English muffin  a N.Y. Post headline caught my eye: “New York’s most wanted: Highly eligible A-list of bachelorettes!”

I just had to check out this ‘A” list-Can you blame me?

After eyeing over the usual, glamorous suspects, I discovered that not only were six of them tied to rock and roll and to 48th street, but two of them had come to the store as sweet little pre-teen customers, back in the day.

The Three Tied to Rock: Sofia, Uma, and Nicole. First, actress and director Sofia Coppola (she was in  “The God Father III,” and recently directed “Lost in Translation”), was top on the list. We all know that she’s the daughter of the big guy, but few people realize that she’s also the cousin of the popular classic rock radio DJ Marc Coppola.

Marc is a regular visitor to music row and is building quite a vintage guitar collection. He owns the mostly Fender strats but is also into old Gibsons & Gretsches.

The newly single Uma Thurman made the list, which was strange cause I had just about a year ago I sold Ethan Hawke (her recent ex husband) a beautiful Taylor acoustic guitar. Maybe that is why Ethan was acting very peculiar  having his ‘assistant’ do the talking for him and all?

Anyway, I guess he’ll have plenty of time to practice now!

“Ahhhh, my phantom fling, Nicole Kidman. I had a feeling she would be placed in the company of these princesses”, I nod to myself as I finish the second half of my muffin. (By the way, rockers take note: It has been well documented that Nicole has been seen around town with rocker Lenny Kravitz.-I just knew  Nicky has a thing for guitarists!)

But there were two less known girls on the list who really threw me for a loop. The first was the niece of one of my former colleagues from music row: Ally Hilfiger of the popular MTV’s “Rich Girls” reality series, is the young daughter of fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger’s and also the niece to one of my old west 48th street colleagues Andy Hilfiger. Andy an accomplished musician and not a bad guitar salesman either back in those days.

And finally,   Ms. Jennifer LeRoy. For those of you that might not recognize her by name, Jennifer is the CEO of her late father’s businesses which include the very swanky and world famous “Tavern on the Green” restaurant.

But when she was barely a teenager, she stopped in the store to purchase her first guitar. She was timid and sweet, showing no signs of privilege: I had no idea of her familial connections. I worked with her patiently, nonetheless. I thought she was just another one of those countless big-eyed kids that visits music row.  We sat down on the stools we have scattered around the store and went over the guitar in detail; She asked many questions and I was charmed by her inquisitiveness. She listened carefully, and chose an inexpensive, student type instrument that seemed perfectly suited for her needs.

After the extended tutorial, she told me that she had to ask her father’s permission about the purchase and would be back in a few days. She stood out in my mind because she was  considerate enough to ask for me to complete the sale when she returned as promised.

After a few follow-up calls (she was experiencing some problems with the guitar) she brought it back to the store so I could make some adjustments. “I hate to bother you, you have been so helpful to me,” she said over and over again. As she headed out the front door, she said: “Steve, thanks so much, I am going to tell my father how nice and helpful you have been to me.” I smiled and said to my self: “Another satisfied customer.”

The very next day the phone rings at the store. It was Jennifer   and she explains to me  that her dad insists on treating me and my date to dinner this Saturday night at Tavern — since he owns the place.  Wow, even a longhaired hippie rocker like myself heard of “Tavern on the Green.”

I took this girl I just started dating, she was a cranky part-time model and daytime soap opera actress. Of course I met  her a couple of months earlier on music row.  She was a  ‘looker’ but if she lived in Kansas a house would have fallen on her!  A real witch if you know what I mean, but what the hell I thought (incorrectly )– that maybe this would spice things up a bit, impress her.

Lessons Learned-

1. You never know who that customer is in front of you and you should always attempt to treat every customer the best you can.
2. If your date is a pain in the ass during a cheap & casual date , she will still be a pain in the ass during a luxurious dinner at the glitzy and world famous “Tavern on the Green!”