I love businesses in town that stay the same and are kind of “throwback” businesses. One place I drive by almost every day seems to really fit the definition of a “throwback” old school business and that’s Bridges - TV on West Main Street. I’ve always meant to stop in there and check the place out and so today that’s exactly what we’re going to do! To the MBIP Mobile!
Here we go rolling down Main Street to Bridges - TV. The store is kind of modest, with just a small sign in the lower right window letting you know that this is indeed, Bridges - TV.
I love the fact that they just crossed out the VCR part of their repair sign! Below that is a somewhat planned obligatory front window mirror shot. Even the neon “Open” sign is old school, let’s go in, I have a feeling that this will be like stepping back in time!
Wow, I was right! It feels like it’s 1976 in here! Check out the carpeting and paneling in here, I love it! I went to the back and that’s Tom and Tom behind the counter. Tom on the right is the current owner and that’s his son Tom on the left. Tom’s dad, Jim started this TV business out of his house back in 1955. in the mid ‘60’s they opened up the first retail store on the corner of Main and Bourland. They moved to Prospect and Forest Hill in 1971 and they’ve been in this location since 1980. They said I could wander around and take a few photos, so let’s wander and crank out some photos of this place!
The carpet and paneling in here are vintage '70's massage parlor style! It definitely takes you back to an era before computers, cell phones and tablets...oh my!
Tom said that in addition to selling TV sets, they do repair work and if you have an old TV that you’d like to get rid of, they buy them and then refurbish them and sell them in the store.
Here’s the back room and a shot of the store from the back.
No, thank you for letting me hang out and for the great vibe in this place! I hope you have at least 50 more years of business here!
The Renaissance Park Community Garden is right next door, so I thought I’d take a stroll though it while we’re here in the neighborhood.
This is a nice little community project and garden. It too has a bit of a throwback feel to it, especially...
This hippie, trippy, zippy table! I love it!
And it all happened on this day Mulberry Street style on West Main Street in Peoria, illinois . So there. We’ll see you all tomorrow!
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616 W. Main Street
Peoria
309-676-0433
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622 W. Main Street
Peoria
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Related Posts: Takin’ Care of Business @ Peoria Architectural Salvage, Technicraft and Shop Hop @ Modern TV.