We’ve been to Craig Moore’s Younger Than Yesterday record store twice since this blog has begun and you can check out those posts, here and here. But there’s a second store that’s part of the Craig Moore conglomeration on University Street and it’s a store called, Strawberry Fields. Let me take you down, ‘cause we’re going to...
Strawberry Fields and in this Strawberry Fields, everything is real. Come along, I'll show you.
We have to enter Strawberry Fields through Younger Than Yesterday...it's kind of like going through Roger McGuinn to meet John Lennon, if you know what I mean. If you don't, you probably won't appreciate this post, so maybe you should just go eat some Kibbles and Bits or something. Anyway, if you get it, follow my nose, wherever it goes.
Let's go in and start this Shop Hop.
Well now, there's a familiar face behind the counter...
It's the owner of both Younger Than Yesterday and Strawberry Fields, Craig Moore. Craig agreed to take us on a tour of Strawberry Fields.
And a Blue Meanie points the way forward.
Wow, this place is jam-packed full of fun and cool things, we won't be able to see everything, but I'll try and point out some of the highlights in the store. To get the full experience, you need to stop by in person.
Mike Nellas is behind the counter. When he's not being slave-driven and pistol-whipped by Craig here at the store, Mike's a musician that we saw at the Jim McCarty show here at Younger Than Yesterday and he's also a member of The Brazilionaires who play regularly at The Black Rabbit and The Rhythm Kitchen.
Ceramic pipes and smoking materials are available in the front case here at the store. After a few puffs, you'll find yourself saying...
There's lots of fun little knick-knacks and paddywhacks all over the store, those little troll dolls take me back to my youth when I was a little troll.
Here today, Gonn tomorrow!
Wow, a reel to reel tape machine. I haven't seen one of these in years. You can't buy it though, as Craig explained to me that the coolest things in the store aren't for sale. Ha!
Younger Than Yesterday is almost all vinyl, but here at Strawberry Fields you have a huge selection of compact discs to plow through. I took the time and counted them all and right now there's over 79,793 compact discs in the store. Whew!
This unit features pop cookie jars including The Beatles, Snoopy, The Grinch and if you look close enough there's an obligatory mirror shot of Yours Fooly in there too.
There's some Bond Girls hanging out up near the ceiling.
And beneath them in more ways than one are the South Park Wacky Wobblers. The Wack Pack lives on!
Here's some mugs for the Trekkies out there.
Gumby!
Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious, together again on the wall at Strawberry Fields.
The good thing about this Jesus flashlight is that if it breaks it can fix itself. Now pick up your mat and walk!
How does Michael Jackson pick his nose? From a catalogue, of course! Oof, I'm sorry, that's Bad!
This Charlie Sheen bobble head doll brought back a Radio City Music Hall flashback for me.
Phil Spector had his Wall of Sound and Craig has his Wall of Incense. He needs to add some peppermints to really complete this picture.
Craig's got a lot of Halloween goodies stocked up in here for the upcoming holiday including this frightening Heath Ledger Joker mask.
Since the name of the store is, Strawberry Fields, you can bet that there's tons of Beatles collectibles to be had in here, let's take a look at some of the items for the Beatlemaniac that's going to be on your upcoming Christmas list.
Neon John hangs on the wall looking down at the festivities and hoping that he's passed the audition.
Four fab puffy Beatles dolls stand at attention inside of this case.
Place a steak on these plates and you can, "Meat the Beatles." Ouch!
Craig told me this painting of John and Yoko was given to him by a customer in the '80's at his Peoria Record Company store that he had on Main Street back then. Very cool!
There's vintage magazines and Beatles books to peruse in this case. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Check out the vintage pins from 1964! I love the, "Help Stamp Out The Beatles," one!
As always, I make a purchase at every Shop Hop and here's what I got at Strawberry Fields: A Michael Jackson button, that Uncensored magazine and a Jesus flashlight to help show me the way. Thanks to Craig and Mike for the tour, it was a ton o' fun hanging out in there and I will be back, you've been warned! We'll see you all tomorrow!
Strawberry Fields
2613 University
Peoria
309-682-1116
Bonus Linkage!
Just about a year ago I wrote an essay about the first time I heard the song, “Strawberry Fields” on the radio, over at my old blog, Tripping With Marty. You can read about that right here, if you are so inclined.