Most wouldn’t believe that The Abbey in West Hollywood, CA started out as a quaint coffee shop 26 years ago. Around 1991, nightclub owner and local Los Angeles legend, David Cooley, applied his skills in both hotel management and financial stockbroking to invest in a small coffee shop. That building would later become one of the busiest nightclubs in the United States. Five expansions later, The Abbey and its newer sister-venue, The Chapel (est. October 2016), are deemed some of the most popular nightclubs in the world. The clubs bring in roughly 2,500 patrons during the week and more than 5,000 customers on the weekend. The 14,000 square-foot venue attracts patrons from all walks of life (including celebrities) and was awarded twice by Logo as the Best Gay Bar in the World.
The Abbey and The Chapel
The Chapel was conceived back in February 2016, when Pat Rogers, owner of neighboring gay bar Here Lounge, sold the property to Cooley, who later connected the sibling properties. It was during The Chapel’s conception and development in 2016 that Cooley explored superior sound systems to match the aesthetic of his high-end food and bar nightclub.
“When I first started looking for sound equipment for The Chapel, I connected with Alex Montenegro at Sonus Systems, and without hesitation his recommendation was Pioneer Pro Audio,” said David Cooley. “Installation of the equipment began prior to The Chapel’s opening in October of 2016 and I was amazed by the quality of sound from the inside venue to the outside patio. It really made an impression on me… so much that when I walked over to The Abbey, I realized how poor the sound quality was!” Cooley’s customers felt the same, describing the sound quality at The Chapel as significantly sharper and more enjoyable compared to The Abbey’s.
In January of 2017, Cooley tapped Alex Montenegro of Sonus Systems to revamp The Abbey’s sound system to match The Chapel’s. Cooley and Montenegro worked out a budget and a schedule as they continued to converse alongside Pioneer Pro Audio for recommendations on the best equipment options for the upscale venue. “Pioneer Pro Audio and Sonus Systems were incredibly professional in listening to my concerns,” Cooley says. “They made the entire installation process relatively easy for me and I was more than satisfied with the end-result… Now both of my clubs look and sound great.”
DJ’s who perform at The Abbey and The Chapel are impressed with the new installation as well. Currently, the DJ booth at The Chapel is equipped with Pioneer Pro Audio’s newest XPRS full-range speakers and subwoofer. “I’ve had DJ’s like Grammy-Award winner Paul Oakenfold and DJ Dawna play sets and they are ecstatic with the quality of sound received in the DJ booth,” Cooley says.
The busiest nightclub in America has no plans of slowing down anytime soon, and is even taping for a reality series “What Happens at The Abbey” airing on E! West Hollywood natives and club-goers can expect to hear crisp music booming from The Abbey and The Chapel from Sunday through Saturday. “Overall, my customers are really receptive to the new sound and I’ve noticed it’s bringing them back… plus a few more,” says Cooley.
