In a nondescript building on Rutherford Street, tucked alongside a tobacco shop and a barber, sits a wonderland for audiophiles who drive in from as far as Texas and New York to browse receivers, amps, tuners, speakers, turntables, and tape decks. Cherry Vintage Audio, owned by Albie Frates, is chock-full of audio systems set up throughout the store, each showcasing equipment from the 1960s through the 1990s.
On his website, he says equipment from the ’70s and early ’80s represents “the golden age of HiFi, where much of it was built heavily, with good design, great sound, and stunning appearance.” For each setup, Frates includes full descriptions of the items, including their unique features and how they work. He also offers beer-themed lighting, unique posters, and other “objets d’art.”
Frates opened Cherry Vintage Audio in 2014 on Cherry Avenue in Long Beach, California. He has more than 50 years of audio experience, including showroom design, electronics repair, and marketing, and notes that he has retired from multiple careers but is always pulled back into the world of audio. He relocated to Greenville in 2017.
He makes his own rules, including only opening two days a week (Friday and Saturday), though he’ll open up on other days by appointment. He prefers not to ship (“We will sometimes consider shipping,” his website notes, “but that requires a phone call to discuss first.”). And feel free to browse his excellent collection of albums—but those are not for sale.
Cherry Vintage Audio
hifi-buy-guys.simdif.com
500 Rutherford St., Greenville, 864.238.1102
