I’ve never gone to Cuba, Illinois in my life. Quite frankly, up to a year ago, I had no reason to. Then last August something happened that made me want to visit this city located just a short distance from Peoria. Shandi’s Music & More opened up in Cuba!
I’ve known the owner of Shandi’s, Bob Long way back when he worked at Co-Op Tapes and Records here in Peoria. Years ago he opened Shandi’s in Canton, Illinois and that closed down when the horrible Canton explosion happened in 2016.
Last August marked the rebirth of Shandi’s Music & More in Cuba, Illinois and I made a note to go and check it out. Today is the day I go to Cuba, Illinois for the first time in my life to visit and shop at Shandi’s Music & More!
My friend, Bob Gordon who owns and operates another cool local store, Acme Comics is driving us to Cuba for this mini road trip. Always fun to hang out with Bob and I appreciate him driving us to Cuba, Illinois!
Here’s the Shandi’s Music & More sign just off the main drag into Cuba, Illinois and on this gravel road.
And there’s the Shandi’s Music & More building standing tall in the middle of this farm area. Let’s go inside and see what’s happening in there!
When you walk inside of Shandi’s it’s a true sensory overload due to all of the inventory packed in here! I didn’t take this shot of the store, it’s from their facebook page and it was taken about a year ago when it opened up, but this is a great representation of this place!
It takes your breath away when you walk inside!
There’s the esteemed owner and operator of Shandi’s Music & More, Bob Long!
Wonderful to see Bob again and he said business has been great in this Cuba location of Shandi’s Music & More. He said that people have made this a travel destination just to check out the unique store and his giant inventory of music and other unique items in here.
He also told me that my brother Jim designed the Shandi’s logo years ago and I didn’t know that! I have seen the logo many times online on social media and at his old store and I didn’t know that Jim designed the logo! That was a wonderful surprise and Bob said he had another brother-related surprise for me. Keep on scrolling to see that.
In the meantime, Bob said I was more than welcome to take photos in this unique and cool space and so that’s just what I’m going to do!
As you can see, there is a crazy amount of inventory in here and Bob prides himself in having one-of-a-kind selections to choose from. There’s lots of stuff in here you’d never find on Amazon or other online stores.
One very cool thing to note about Shandi’s Music & More is that all of the profits go to rescue animals that are part of the farm that is owned by Bob and his wife and is home to lots of rescued animals. Very nice!
In addition to Compact discs, cassette tapes, VHS, DVD’s, Shandi’s also has guitars and other musical instruments for sale.
There’s also collectible atugographed guitars on the walls in here!
They have a rock ‘n’ roll reading section with collectible and out of print books, magazines and other reading material.
Vinyl is making a big comeback and they have a nice selection of records here at Shandi’s. Check out that Frank Zappa album in the bottom left corner. Bob said that was a special Record Store Day release. I thought I had all the Zappa albums, but I don’t have this one!
Bob said customers travel from all over the country to this Cuba, Illinois destination.
I met Mike Mudd who traveled from Bettendorf, Iowa to check out the shop. Mike said he was very impressed with the inventory in here and he knows music. Mike’s a musician who’s been playing in bands in the midwest for over 30 years. He’s been playing drums with the band, Big Hair Mafia for the last two years.
Great to meet and chat with Mike!
I love the Shandi’s merch on sale in here. “Everything Else Just Sucks!” Ha ha ha!
And here’s the surprise Bob promised me, a framed piece of my brother Jim’s artwork with his business card on the back!
This was so cool, to get and I thank Bop for saving this through the years and giving it to me! It’s always wonderful to find a piece of Jim’s artwork! This was too cool and I thank Bob for this fantastic offering and gesture!
I purchased that Zappa album, a Shandi’s shot glass with the logo designed by my brother Jim and there’s the Jim/Swami framed Garbage art now hanging in the MBIP Headquarters Office! Mucho thanks to Bob Long for that wonderful surprise and it was a blast seeing him and hanging out at Shandi’s!
Thanks to Bob Gordon for driving and hanging out for the afternoon! Don’t forget to check out Acme Comics right here in Peoria!
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12809 E. Sinnett Chapel Road
Cuba, Illinois
309-338-9457
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