What company was originally called 'Sound of Music'?

Best Buy was originally called Sound of Music. Richard Schulze and a business partner opened the first Sound of Music store in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1966, specializing in stereo equipment and home audio.

The company expanded through acquisitions and became publicly traded in 1969. A major turning point came in 1981, when a tornado damaged its Roseville, Minnesota, store. The company held a clearance event called the “Tornado Sale,” discovering that customers responded strongly to low prices and a warehouse-style shopping experience.

In 1983, the board approved the new corporate name, Best Buy Co., Inc. The first Best Buy superstore opened that year in Burnsville, Minnesota. The name change reflected the company’s shift from a specialist stereo retailer toward a broader consumer-electronics business.

A common mix-up is confusing Sound of Music with the 1965 film or the stage musical. In this question, Sound of Music refers to the former American electronics retailer that became Best Buy.