Where did you buy your first audio gear?

Audio Consultants, Evanston IL, 1970s. Simon (the owner) retired in 2019, and closed up shop. Helluva run (opened in 1967!), and it was a terrific store.

When I was in law school, living in a cheap apartment in the early 1980s, there was an electronics store that sold used stuff. I bought an Aiwa tape deck and a cheap reel to reel. I was an aspiring musician playing in a band and writing music. I used it to record songs I was writing and would bounce tracks back and forth between the tape deck and the reel to reel. Also used the cassette deck as a master from a PA System to do a "studio" recording (I call it more of a "psuedio" recording) of songs we were playing.

The original (pre-Best Buy) Magnolia HiFi in Seattle and Bellevue. 

Manufacturer's Marketplace in West Roxbury MA.    Great store, had the best close out deals.   I purchased many things there in my early teens.   My first CD player , a Sony CDP 101 was purchased there.   Bought my first receiver there , JVC RX44.