Four decades of doing what he loves.
A Custom Car Stereo Center is a family-owned, owner-operated shop on Atwood Avenue in Johnston — and it all started with a Matchbox car.
Owner. Installer. Lifelong car guy.
As a kid, George’s Matchbox collection could stretch down the street and back. By 15 he had his first project vehicle — a 1974 Chevy Blazer that became “King Kong,” the monster truck half of Rhode Island (and the local police) knew by sight.
After automotive and auto-body vocational classes at Cranston High School West and years of hands-on, self-taught builds, he opened the shop at age 20. The technology has gone from 8-tracks and cassettes to CDs, Bluetooth and CarPlay — and he’s kept up with every generation through ongoing industry training, seminars and conferences.
Today George still personally services the vehicles that come into the shop. That’s the difference you feel when you call: you’re talking to the person who’ll actually do the work.
“From a basic sound system to a fully customized one — if it rolls, floats or flies down a trail, we’ve probably wired it.”
— George Arakelian Jr., Owner
The first project
A 1974 Chevy Blazer — two years of work that became the monster truck “King Kong.”
Opens the shop
A Custom Car Stereo Center opens on Atwood Avenue in Johnston, RI.
State & municipal vendor
Tint, strobes and cages for the RI State Police, plus local police and fire departments.
Columnist
Monthly car-audio column for MotorHead Magazine as “Dr. Volt.”
45 years & counting
Still family-owned, still hands-on, now with CarPlay, dash cams and smartphone remote start.
What you get at our shop.
Guaranteed work
Every installation is warrantied. If something’s not right, we make it right.
Trusted with the keys
Police, fire and State Police fleets have trusted us for decades. Your car is in good hands.
Any vehicle
Cars, trucks, Jeeps, boats, golf carts, ATVs, motorcycles, hot rods — and monster trucks.
George’s collection
A 1969 Camaro RS/SS, a limited-production 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Car, and the gem of the fleet — his 1986 Chevy pickup daily driver. Plus, there’s always a project in the works (currently: a Chevy monster truck for the family).
Giving back
Bike runs, car shows, youth baseball and soccer sponsorships, donated services for Johnston’s police and fire departments, and a new sound system for the local school. George also shows his own cars at Show & Shine and 4x4 events.
Ready to upgrade your ride?
Stop by the shop on Atwood Ave or give George a call. Honest advice, a straight quote and clean work — every time.