Hi-Fi Fo-Fum
38°37′52.5″N 90°19′9.6″W / 38.631250°N 90.319333°W
Hi-Fi Fo-Fum is an American audio equipment store that began at the dawn of the Hi-Fi era in the mid 20th century. The flagship store was located in Richmond Heights, an inner suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, and was in operation from about 1955 until 2011; another store was opened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in late 1960, closing in the mid 1970s. The Milwaukee store was located at 26th and Wisconsin; advertisements made word play on the stores' name with the phrase "Hi-fi-fo-fum, twenty-sixth and Wisconsinum."[6] The name is a variation on fee-fi-fo-fum, with the phrase "hi-fi" interpolated.
The store was founded by Ron Bliffert and the Big Bend store closed shortly after his death.[2] It is noted for carrying a wide variety of high-end audio and video equipment, for installing many custom sound systems in cars, for home installations of home theaters,[2] and for its long-running iconic radio advertisements, known to generations of St. Louisians.[3] At one time, there were five locations, in St. Louis, Milwaukee,[4] and Kansas City.[5]
Hi-fi Fo-Fum was given the award for Best Electronics (retailer) in 2010 by the St. Louis Riverfront Times.[3] Attempts by former manager Tony Dollar to keep the Big Bend store intact after Bliffert's death were unsuccessful, and the retail store was liquidated by Bliffert's daughter.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Stefene Russell (May 31, 2012). "A Conversation with Philip Slein, Owner of Philip Slein Gallery". St. Louis Magazine. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Hi-fi Fo-Fum closes after owner dies". St. Louis Business Journal. January 6, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ a b "Best Electronics – Hi-Fi Fo-Fum". St. Louis Riverfront Times. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ John Gurda (January 4, 2014). "The ghost of Grand Ave". John Gurda – In My Opinion. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "20-Market Hi-Fi Finds Mixed '74 Bag, Hopeful '75". Billboard. January 11, 1975. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
6.http://archive.jsonline.com/news/opinion/the-ghost-of-grand-ave-b99175844z1-238665261.html