This holiday time of year always floods my memory with thoughts of being younger and all the exciting times that the Christmas season brought back in those days. If you’re around my age, you remember that Sheridan Village was a hub of treasured Christmas memories from days gone by. On Monday I found an old picture of Bergner’s in Sheridan Village from years ago and posted it on facecrack, here’s the picture:

It turned out I wasn’t the only one nostalgic for Bergner’s and Sheridan Village holiday memories. That picture has gotten over 380 “Likes” and lots of comments. You can check that out here.

I found three more vintage Sheridan Village photos online and thought I’d share them with all of you, they’re posted below, enjoy!

Here’s a picture of the original, iconic Sheridan Village sign being erected. This was quite a job in those pre-Viagra days. (Rimshot.)

Another shot of the sign this time with an airplane pointing at it. I’m guessing “Wrongway” Feldman is the pilot of the aircraft.

You can see some of the stores in the background of this shot, there’s Kresge’s, Klein's, Prospect Furniture and of course Bergner’s. Last year around this time I took a trip out to Sheridan Village to see what it was like out there these days. It was kind of an empty and sad place compared to the old days. I thought we’d make this an annual trip here on MBIP and so, in true Beach Boys fashion, let’s do it again!

I sure liked the old sign better, I wonder what happened to it? If anybody out there knows, please inform me via comments or email me. Or just hang out at Mike’s Tavern, eventually I’ll show up!

Okay, let’s start down at this end and take a little tour of Sheridan Village in 2014. Right off the bat I see a sign that doesn’t look too promising...

Ruhl & Ruhl, these are the same guys that were trying to rent these stores last year. A whole year without rent? How do they stay in business. No way would I suggest that this is a front for a crystal meth lab...but I do smell Funyuns in the air. Has to just be a coincidence...let’s just keep on moving before we get hit with a lawsuit!

Another vacant store down here...

I think we need to cue up the Sex Pistols!

Okay, enough of these empty storefronts, let’s see some of the retail outlets actually doing business in here...

Of course there's a nail salon, because there’s not enough of those in Peoria.

Here's a place that gives all men a shiver down the spine—a tuxedo and bridal shop combined into one scary-ass store.

If you're looking for a quick way to get to China, I guess this is the place to go.

Here's the place that I think keeps this shopping center afloat, this massive HyVee grocery store. It's rumored that Jimmy Hoffa is buried in the Pop Tart section of the store, but I have no facts to back me up, so don't quote me on that.

This statue is still here and it still gives me the creeping heebie jeebies.

The mother and son look unnaturally attracted to each other and the father has the look of a homicidal maniac three seconds from slam-dunking his son into the sidewalk because the boy is squeezing his head like a package of Charmin toilet tissue. And we all know that you're not supposed to squeeze the Charmin!

Okay, here's the store that we all remember from Sheridan Village: Bergner's. The outside of the store looks the same as it always has...

The big open front door is gone and so is the giant whooshing heated floor fan that used to greet you as you walked in the door.

I think these drinking fountains have always been in this spot of the store as you first walk in.

At first glance the store kind of looks the same but I sure miss seeing Peanut Butter Heaven and the vinyl record department in here.

It's been seven hours and fifteen days since you took your love away. I go out every night and sleep all day since you took your love away...

Most of the Christmas stuff was upstairs last year, so let's go see what's up there this year.

So far there's just a bunch of dishes giving me a Seinfeld flashback. And I'm just going to ignore that box over there on the far right.

Here's the Christmas section complete with "Cheer" and some Christmas trees...

But sadly none of them talk anymore, I'm guessing they all text these days.

One last blast from the past: Bergner's Talking Christmas Tree. That thing always scared the living shit out of me! You can read more about it here and we'll see you all tomorrow!

Sheridan Village
4125 N Sheridan Road
Peoria
309-688-2406

Little Village

Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!