Tower Records: Going out of Business

I was driving by a Tower Records yesterday 10/13. A guy was puting up the "Going out of Buisness" banner.

Regular popular music is only 15% off at the moment. "World" music is 20% off. "World" is where the Hawaiian & tiki music is kept.

Tower's usual sales are actually better than the current sale. I am sure that within 3-5 days the sales should get deeper. Not sure what the closure schedual is.

Call your local Tower before you head over.

i'm really gonna miss tower records. it started a couple miles from where i live when russ solomon started selling the old 45s from the jukebox of tower drugstore, which his father owned. when i was growing up(60s, 70s) tower was the place to be. the people who worked there were like rock stars to me. it was exciting to see how popular tower had become all over the world. all sacramentans were proud of tower. it's a sad day.

Cool history Kingstiedye.

... Thanks for the heads-up NoNaMe. I'm already in mourning.

The local Tower Records here in Maryland closed about 6 months+ ago. At the time their customer base had already shrunk probably due to $$$ & other factors. Now overall CD buying selection at retail outlets stink. IF your looking for CD catalog depth, your better off jumping in the 10ft.+ section of the dive pool (sic)

I can't really cry for Tower, cause I remember when we used to buy our records (yes, this was back in the vinyl LP days) from individually-owned music stores. These were small shops that were run by people who were passionate about music. We would drive to Long Beach to buy blues records from a guy who knew all the artists. He would just hand us stuff as we walked in the door, knowing what we liked. There were many stores like that serving their niche markets.

Then the Tower Records megastore came to town. The small stores couldn't compete with their prices and hours (open til midnight). One by one they all closed down.

It seems like divine karma that an even more impersonal marketforce, the internet, would drive Tower Records out of business.

don't cry......maybe they will re-open tower in vegas!!!

Ookoo lady I agree with you. Music city was one of the individual stores that went out of business because of Tower Records and the cheaper records. However I went to the one close by and I bought a Don Ho record, this is the first Don Ho for me, I really like it.

I'm sad that Tower's going out of business. Though, it's probably based on my perspective as a SF East Bay Area native. Tower's been a staple in the general Bay Area forever, before Virgin Records, and Blockbuster, Wherehouse, et al. Generally, yes, overall, the cool local stores couldn't compete with Towers corporate clout. However, in the East Bay, it was unique.

For decades, in Berkeley (CA), Tower Records, Rasputin's, and Leopolds, and later Amoeba records all unofficially competed with each other over who had the most eclectic, deep collection of music. One could go into any of those stores and pretty much find anything. The employees took arrogant pride in their music knowledge and store portfolios. Ever see High Fidelity...Jack Black could have fit into any of these stores, including Tower. The employees were/are a collection of musicians, music lovers, alternative advocates, and people who deeply knew their respective music niches. Yeah, I know that many of the Towers were evil corporate, but growing up in the Bay Area, we were really privileged to have a great Tower Records and other local music stores who co-existed with them.

The ironic end to this story: Rasputin's and Amoeba (the single location local stores) ended up beating the pants off of the eclectic and deep cataloged Berkeley Tower Records. Tower no longer exists in Berkeley. Rasputin's and Amoeba still stand strong and now have multiple locations.

[ Edited by: coco loco 2006-10-15 15:08 ]

I loved Tower growing up- used to take long trips to get to the nearest one. Always had good singles and lots of UK imports, which pre-internet were hard to get elsewhere. I can certainly appreciate the argument about it crushing independent stores, but I always found the selection great, if not the staff.

Two interesting notes: About a year ago, I was at Berkeley's Mod Lang records, an independent record store that I loved- real import specialists and esoteric stuff from a lot of my favorite artists. I asked them to order an Import CD for me- not hard to get at all, an in-print, new release on a UK indie label. I could have got it from Amazon with no problem, but I thought I'd go local. They gave me the ususal record snob attitude when I ordered it, and never got it for me or called me back. Today, they're out of business. Indie record stores can bitch about the big guy, but if their only weapon is service and knowlege, then they have to try harder.

Last night, after reading this thread, I went down to the local Tower to pick through the bones. Everything was 15% off, and I got a couple of things. But there was another DVD that I was looking for, so I went over to the Best Buy, and I discovered that everything I'd bought at Tower was cheaper at Best Buy, even with the discount. Proof that there's always a bigger fish.

Although I used to shop occasionally at Tower too (mostly bought my concert tickets there), I got my best customer service from a tiny record store in the San Fernando Valley called Blue Meenie Records on Ventura Blvd. They were the hardcore import guys that had stuff no one else had. Not even Moby Disc. And they were cheaper than all the others too. But they are sadly long since gone.

Another great place here in the Valley was called BeBop Records in the heart of Reseda. They were a combo record shop, performance space and art gallery. Los Lobos and other local bands used to perform there. Unfortunately, they exceeded the fire code limit one too many times and were shut down. During my college years, they were the only place close enough to my home that I felt I could drive my unreliable car to hear new live music. Rich, the owner was always trying to give new bands and artists a break (and paid them well too!) when no one else would. They are sadly missed.

Unfortunately, I think most businesses these days completely underestimate the importance and power good customer service can have. I would rather deal with a business with great customer service than one that is cheaper with bad or non-existent customer service.

It's Licorice Pizza all over again.

Tower is still hangin in there. CDs are 30% off. Magazines are 60% off. I picked up more mags with CDs in them.
Picked up a couple more CDs but, the best thing was the two horror movie packs. 24 bad horror flicks for 20 bucks.
And fixtures are for sale as well.

On 2006-10-17 16:28, martiki wrote:

Last night, after reading this thread, I went down to the local Tower to pick through the bones. Everything was 15% off, and I got a couple of things. But there was another DVD that I was looking for, so I went over to the Best Buy, and I discovered that everything I'd bought at Tower was cheaper at Best Buy, even with the discount. Proof that there's always a bigger fish.

As Martiki wrote: this is what has stopped me from shopping at most "local" music stores for years! It's all about the prices and finding what you're looking for!
As a second generation San Franciscan I remember the Tower Records in the City always being there. It was the place we would sometimes travel to when we wanted "harder to find" music.
Back in the days of Vinyl LPs I also remember shopping in San Rafael at a place called The Record Factory where you could find discount records, over print, close outs, etc for as little as .99 cents! The best part was that there was also a "Used" Record store just two doors away from that! I would find the albums that were given to all the local radio stations that they no longer played. I thought that was very cool! In my youth, as a band manager, I used to buy 10 or more records a week!

Other reasons Tower is closing: Mrs.Mojo now buys most of her World Music at Border's where she can listen to a sample of the CD by scanning it's Bar Code. The ONLY music I buy in stores now are always places where I can hear the samples of what is on the CD!

Regardless, I will miss seeing it. I am so sick of all the Walmarts and Costcos and other GIANT generic stores!

Goodbye Tower....another memory of my youth! :cry:

One more Tower memory to add to the list:

In 1985 a San Francisco radio station (I don't remember which one) held a contest to win a 1960-something pink Cadillac convertible. The contest was built around Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love" record. If you were the right caller at the right time you would be awarded with a "key" to the car. The 20 "key holders" then convened in the parking lot at the Tower Records on Columbus and Bay at a certain time and date to see if their key would start the car.

Oh, what a beautiful car it was! White vinyl soft-top in perfect condition and spotless white leather upholstery. Cool fins on the taillights, and everything you would expect from a classic cruiser glistening in the sunshine of a bright August morning.

Only one key would start it, and the person holding that key would get the car. Well, I was one of the lucky 20 key holders. The way they handled the contest was, each key holder's name went into a big bowl. A DJ would draw a key holder's name, then the key holder would reach into a big bowl and choose an actual key. That person would then get into the car and try to start it with his/her key. After 18 other people had tried and failed to start the car, I was left standing with one other key holder who had not yet had a try. Suddenly I had a 50% chance of taking this car home with me. Another name was drawn from the bowl, it was the person standing next to me. As that person drew one of the last two keys from the bowl and walked over to the car, I hoped as hard as I've ever hoped for anything for that person to fail like the 18 before us. When that engine finally roared to life, with me still standing by waiting for my turn, I knew heartbreak.

I still drive past that same Tower Records store at least a couple times a month, and although I'm now driving another convertible that I love (although it's 11 years old, a little beat up, and certainly not a classic), my heart still breaks a little for that classic pink Cadillac each and every time. After 21 years of picturing that August morning, I will miss the Tower Records store at Columbus and Bay.

On 2006-11-07 11:11, JenTiki wrote:
...When that engine finally roared to life, with me still standing by waiting for my turn, I knew heartbreak.

...my heart still breaks a little for that classic pink Cadillac each and every time. After 21 years of picturing that August morning, I will miss the Tower Records store at Columbus and Bay.

Yikes! Maybe you would have been better off if you had never made it into the "playoffs". You sound like you are still sore!

So, Rap is 40% off. and other stuff is still 30% aw of Thurs.
I do know that when they make enough salkes the saleprice increases.
I'd have to imagine that it's gotta be 40% on reg stuff by Monday.

Unless what I heard was true that some company bought the remaining stock and will place it in there used stores. Same company that bought Wherehouse.?

hi there, I just did a search on google for Blue Meenie records and came across this message board. Was just trying to find some photos.. I used to go to this place when I was super young!

The Tower here in NYC on B'way and E. 4th St. closed after 20+ years, about a month ago. For a long while it was definitely one of the focal points for the music buying populous. I actually for the first time missed having it around today. I was looking for an old radio broadcast of Dewey Phillips, an old Memphis DJ from the late 50s/early 60s. I know the CD is available because they have it on Amazon.com. I tried the Virgin Megastore-Union Square, and a Barnes & Noble and they didn't have it, and they sorta gave me that "that's a weird thing to ask for" response. In the past I would have gone to Tower to find something like that. They had a pretty good selection of specialty products like that. As I'm writing this now, I can see the interior of the store in my head. It's a shame that a place like that had to go. But NYC is in the middle of some kinda wierd transition right now that involves cultural castration. There are still some cool things around here, but it ain't as funky as it used to be that's for sure. To many condos and Starbucks for my taste.

[ Edited by: donhonyc 2007-02-18 00:23 ]

I remember visiting NYC in about '88. I stayed in the NYU dorms on tenth and broadway. When I told my friend I was going over to St Marks, they emphatically told me not to go beyond 1st avenue. A venture into alphabet city was strongly suggested as a one way ticket to trouble. Then I moved there in 91 and lived on 5th between A an B. Moved there a day after they shut down Tompkins.

I left in 2001. Just before that I heard Britney Spears had a loft on Ave C. I knew it was over. The Mallification of NYC is tragic. While it was good when certaing thngs like Whole Foods showed all of those crappy ass NYC grocery stores like Key Food what a grocery store should look and SMELL like, its just gone too far. I remember the Key Food on Avenue A smelling like rotting dead animals and no one seemed to notice....

Good times...

On 2007-02-19 21:23, TikiGardener wrote:
I remember visiting NYC in about '88. I stayed in the NYU dorms on tenth and broadway. When I told my friend I was going over to St Marks, they emphatically told me not to go beyond 1st avenue. A venture into alphabet city was strongly suggested as a one way ticket to trouble. Then I moved there in 91 and lived on 5th between A an B. Moved there a day after they shut down Tompkins.

I left in 2001. Just before that I heard Britney Spears had a loft on Ave C. I knew it was over. The Mallification of NYC is tragic. While it was good when certaing thngs like Whole Foods showed all of those crappy ass NYC grocery stores like Key Food what a grocery store should look and SMELL like, its just gone too far. I remember the Key Food on Avenue A smelling like rotting dead animals and no one seemed to notice....

Good times...

I-hear-ya!

Wow..your friends said don't go beyond 1st Ave.? I always thought Ave. A was the cut-off back then. Only a block difference, so pretty much the same as what they were telling you. I lived on 5th between A&B as well, moved there in '95 and stayed until '97. Even at that time I felt like I was taking a risk moving over there. I'm sure you remember that huge two building squat near the end of the block, That was across the street from my building. Right around the time I moved off that block that place got demolished. What went up? You got it! A nice luxury apartment building for the first influx of shiny, happy, people. Good old Key Food. Still there. Now there is an awning in the front and they have a sidewalk florist. Right before I moved to St. Mark's bet. A&B in '93, I lived with some friends on 4th and B, right down the street from Key Food, except back then it wasn't Key Food, it was just a shuttered building.

I mean nobody wants to live in a crime ridden neighborhood and have to watch their back all the time, but when you take out all of the desolation and riff-raff, the neighborhood just gets BO-RING. That combined with alot of people that look like they just walked out of an MTV 'Real World' casting session. That's what the East Village is pretty much like now.

[ Edited by: donhonyc 2007-02-20 07:40 ]