Ferdinand’s Wigs is the only full-service wig store in Peoria. Sure there’s other stores that sell wigs, but Ferdinand’s is the only store to only sell wigs and it’s locally and family-owned as well, which is a big plus in my book. I’ve got a little bit of a history with Ferdinand’s here on the MBIP blog. The first time I went there, this blog was just a little over two weeks old and I was told the owner wasn’t around and was kind of told to leave. So I went and got a six pack of Schlitz and made a note to go back there. It took a while, but about three years later I returned and this time I did a fun blog from there. In the time since I first went, I met my friend Amber (again) and found out her mom Diane worked there for a while. This time I dropped their names and I was in like Flint and proceeded to get Wiggy Wit It!
Here’s what the place looked like when I went there last year.
I recently drove by there and I was shocked to see the building looking like this!
At first I felt a little sick and thought that Ferdinand’s Wigs had gone out of business. But then I looked a little closer at the sign on the door and I found out that they’ve just moved. And not too far away either, that address is just minutes away from this one, let’s go check it out!
I told you it was close, it’s just a few blocks down the road near Donnelly’s Pub! The sign says it’s on the side of the building...
So I followed the other sign on the building and found it! It looks just like the former store on Sterling outside here, they have the same sign and I’m glad they still have the cool red oval awning over the doorway. Let’s go inside and take a look at the new Ferdinand’s Wigs!
Wow, it looks just like the other store that was on Sterling for years! The layout is the same and look at all the wigs in here!
A familiar face was over here by the wig display on the far side of the display room, it's Alicia who we met on our last trip to Ferdinand's Wigs! She said they’ve just been in here for a few months and everything is going well. It’s great to see Alicia again and she said to say hi to Amber and Diane, so hello Amber and Diane!
Here’s a great story in the PJ Star written by MBP pal, Steve Tarter about Ferdinand’s Wigs. There’s a photo of Alicia with the woman who’s the founder of Ferdinand’s Wigs, Myrna Hawkins. Myrna started the business back in 1962 and is still involved with the day to day operations. She's also Alicia's grandmother, making this a family business here in Peoria. You can read this entire story by clicking right here.
There’s a desk in the back of the store which has pricing information on some of the wig services they provide including shampooing and they also have a line of their own Ferdinand’s wig products that are locally made right here in Illinois.
And of course, there’s wigs. They have a huge inventory to choose from and Alicia told me that clients here are all ages and from all walks of life. Part of the business deals with women who are undergoing chemotherapy and have lost their hair and others are women looking for a different style to wear now and again.
I love the hand-painted mannequins in here, they are creepy cool and I kind of get hypnotized looking at them. The second to the last photo looks a little like Laraine Newman from the original cast of Saturday Night Live and the bottom photo makes me think of those kooky Kardashian sisters. They come in threes, you know!
Alicia told me that some of these mannequins are over 40 years old and she’s holding the oldest one in the shop in the bottom photo. She thinks this one has been there since the ‘70’s!
I snapped this obligatory mirror shot at the station where you try the wigs on, so it only made sense for me...
To have a seat and have Alicia try one on top of my very own noggin!
I got Wiggy wit it! Sadly, I look a little like a geriatric version of that goofy kid actor Mason Reese in this, so I think I need to come back and try a different style! Thanks to Alicia for letting me hang out and take photos of the new and improved Ferdinand’s Wigs at their new location! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
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4505 N. Rockwood Drive - Suite # 3
Peoria 309-682-8423
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Related Posts: Six Pack Of Schlitz (Originally Headed For Ferdinand’s Wigs) and Gettin’ Wiggy Wit @ Ferdinand’s Wigs.