For over 140 years, C.V. Lloyde has been a musical store in downtown Champaign.

History

The C.V. Lloyde Music Center dates from 1867, the same year that the University of lllinois was chartered. Its downtown storefront has changed locations several times over the years, but all have been within three blocks of the intersection of Neil Street and University Avenue. Founded as the Lloyde and Peterson Book and Music Store, the ownership changed when D.H. Lloyde bought out Peterson. In the early 1940s, the music and book operations were separated, with C.V. Lloyde Sr. taking charge of the latter. Both operations, however, continued at the same location at 103 N. Neil for a period of time. C.V. Sr. was absent in military service during the latter years of World War II,leaving the management of the store to Margaret Fleshner. Upon his return, Lloyde moved the business to 313 N. Neil adding pianos and sheet music. After five years, Lloyde again moved to 321-323 N. Neil and adding electric organs and records to the offerings of the business. When C.V. Lloyde Jr. joined his father, the ever expanding business added electric guitars, amplifiers and
brass instruments. Around 1960, the business moved to its present location at 102 N. Neil.ln the 1980s, under the management of C. V. Jr., the business became know as the C.V. Lloyde Music Center. The business currently does major work for the University of Illinois, installing sound systems in the Assembly Hall, Stadium and other sports venues. With the entrance of Stephen Morris, the business is expanding still further into video and digital system integration and control.