I recently found out that Flores Music is celebrating their 60th anniversary here in Peoria this year. I did a Shop Hop there over three years ago and I think that in honor of this monumental 60th anniversary, we’ll go back and do another one right now. And so away we go...
To Flores Music! This store has been here on the corner of War Memorial for as long as I can remember...but I don’t really remember last night, so maybe they just moved here! Let’s go in and see what’s happening inside of this family-owned musical shop!
It’s huge in here and loaded with musical instruments and accessories. Hey, check out the front counter, I see a familiar face over there...
It’s Jesse Flores, the man who started this local musical empire! Jessie’s a musician and he started this business 60 years ago and his family has joined his ranks in the business...
There’s Jesse with one of his saxes, he still gives lessons and he told me that he still gives about a dozen sax lessons a week. Below are two of his sons that are managing the store now, that’s Victor to the left with the guitar and Tony to the right. I’ve known these guys and the whole Flores family since we all went to high school together. Linda's been my friend since high school and later I worked with Becky at Fleming Potter and Mike is married to my friend Beth! I have a tangled web of memories of being friends with the Flores family and grateful I got to know all of them, they’re a great Peoria family!
Victor’s not the only one jamming on guitar, that’s John Miller below him. John’s a veteran musician from Peoria and lately you can find him playing at 2Chez, Broken Tree and the First Friday’s in the Maxam building among other venues.
There’s photos and memorabilia on the wall next to the front counter with pictures from Matt Sorum from Guns ‘N Roses, photos and a drum head from Rascal Flatts, jam sessions and a poster for the upcoming Whaleapalooza in honor of Bob “The Whale Miller.
Here’s some vintage Flores photos on the wall, the top one is Mike and Jesse with Buddy Rich, in the middle is Jesse with Stan Kenton in the Pere Marquette in 1963 and the bottom is a PJ Star article on Jesse Flores back when he was juggling a job at Caterpillar and his music career after hours.
Victor and Tony had to get back to managing things at the store but said I could wander around and take some photos, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do! As you can see there’s a great selection of guitars in here!
And here’s more over here. I love the Link Wray model in the third photo and there’s a Paul McCartney Hofner bass look-a-like in the bottom photo. Nice!
If you prefer acoustic guitar, there’s a whole room of them in here.
There’s some teeny-weeny guitars up here on the wall with teeny-weeny cases below them. When it comes to music, size doesn’t matter!
Flores music isn’t just limited to guitars, this is the place for all of your musical needs from drums to cymbals to keyboards, banjos and there’s even Santana bongos in case you want to try to get Michelle Branch to sing along with you!
Up in the front of the store is all of the accessories for your instruments you can imagine. There’s pedals, straps, strings, metronomes and a Blues in a Bottle kit to give you a Lovin’ Spoonful flashback!
If you don’t play a musical instrument there’s no need to fret (pun intended and I’m cracking myself up over here, I tell ya!) They offer music lessons daily! Thanks to the Flores family for a fun tour and for the friendship through the years! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
Flores Music (Peoria Location)
922 E. War Memorial Drive
Peoria Heights
309-682-4553
facecrack page
Flores Music (Pekin Location)
523 Caroline Street
Pekin, Illinois
309-346-5416
Twitter page
Related Posts: Shop Hop @ Younger Than Yesterday, Maurie’s Fine Candies of Pekin and Moxie’s ReSale Boutique.