Can you spare a tear this afternoon for the long, slow death of the American record store? Virgin Megastore’s flagship Times Square location will become the latest casualty in this sad story in April, when employees have been told that a Forever 21 will replace the music emporium. I know some might find more pathos in the closing of a mom-and-pop indie shop — and hey, we’ve got plenty of those happening in New York at the moment, too! — but as someone who’s spent many an hour wandering Virgin’s endless aisles, I’m pretty crushed about this. The Times Square Virgin kicked off its store-closing funeral today with what they’re calling "the biggest sale in music retail history," so I dropped by for one last browse.
Overblown press releases aside, the quality of any sale comes down to dollars and cents. So? The huge "EVERYTHING MUST GO" banners adorning every wall and rack at Virgin today were accompanied by smaller signs indicating that most CDs were on a mere 20 percent off list price. The two new releases I picked up wound up costing $15.19 each — not bad, I guess, but not exactly historic. Still, the sale was enough to draw in dozens of eager bargain-hunters on a sleepy Thursday. "It’s been kind of boring the last few weeks, but today they’re going wild," cashier Shane Hansontold me. "People love discounts!"
We sure do. I’d like to think that some of the people at Virgin today were like me, though — motivated as much by their nostalgia for a disappearing part of modern commerce as much as by the thrill of the slashed price. Look, I download and stream tons of music on my laptop, too; I go record shopping in person every few weeks anyway. The Times Square Virgin was one of the last places in Manhattan I could still enjoy that little indulgence, and in a couple months it’ll be gone. I know this is far from the most serious loss to result from our current recession. But am I the only one who will miss it?
More on pop culture in a recession:
Cam’ron’s "I Hate My Job" is 2009′s first recession-rap banger
Office Space celebrates 10th annniversary (in perfect economy to watch Office Space again)
Jon Stewart’s beautiful (stimulus) package
"I’m Broke and Proud": The time is right for recession rap
I don’t think I’ve ever paid over 15 bucks for a CD.
Um that is not a bargain!!! I dont even pay that much for a new release i normally pay $9.99. I live in HOUSTON, TX and well we have a million circuit city stores now they are going out of business and all cd’s are 50% off…i just stopped by and bought 3 cds for $22.74 ($7each) NOW THAT IS A BARGAIN! I bought some cds that i have been wanting for ever but was never going to pony up $14 for. (KELLIE PICKLER SMALL TOWN GIRL, KIETH ANDERSON C-MON & JERSEY BOYS BROADWAY SOUNDTRACK) I will be going to NYC for the 1st time in a month (3/19) ill be sure to stop by! By then im sure the prices will have dropped alot more!
If they close the Union Square store too, I will flip out. Where would I go for midnight new releases?
The death of Tower Records was the one that hurt the most. Their inventory was incredible. Still use their online store, but it just isn’t the same. DVD selection was incredible as well.
15 bucks for a CD? The most I’ll pay for a CD is 13. And it has to be a pretty incredible CD. $9.99 is a good price for a new release. The stores around here (Northeast Florida) usually put new releases on sale for that the first week they’re out. I’ve never bought a CD at a stand along music store. They never have good prices.
One of the reasons these stores are goin out of business is that they’ve been robbing customers for years with over priced music. $15 on sale – give me a break. Good riddance to the corporate giants. They’re gross
Target, Best Buy – CD’s $9.99 – $13.00. A CD on SALE at $15? I think that kind of explains why they are going out of business.
I remember a couple of years ago when the Virgin record store, here in Dallas closed, I asked the cashier why” His words…”Because we suck as a store and the prices are too high”! I bought a couple of DVDs but they were still not bargain price, at their going out of business sale!
It was not about the price but about just walking around the store. Sure you could have easily have gone to a small record shop somewhere in East Village or in Alphabet City (during the day of course) but Virgin was a big store. Nowadays people find it easier to buy a whole album from Itunes because they don’t want to deal with storage issues. CD’s take up space.
I love the virgin store!!! I was just there last Friday but I couldnt buy anything the prices just were too high even with the discounts….this is the only place where you can find a cool bunch of stuff to buy…so what i do is i look at the blueray or books that i like then go home and buy them in amazon………but i guess this is the reason why is going out of business…..is it just not profitable to sell at the same prices as target and others?
STEPHANIE T. :
There’s nothing wrong with Alphabet City at nights, B*TCH !!!!
I loved hanging at the Virgin Megastore, and their little shop at the bottom, the book store section, the occasional stage show, but seriously why why would i buy a CD there, i haven’t bought a in that store in years. Obviously the prices are ridiculously high. and I can get music cheaper on line. But a Forever 21, means, there’s nothing out there for us guys in that area.
I experienced the same heart-ache when Virgin’s flagship store closed in downtown Chicago. It was great for my wallet – no more lunches spent buying music – but bad for my soul.
I am DEVASTATED! The Virgin Megastore was the only decent place to kill time when forced to be in Times Square. What am I supposed to do now? Go to Planet Hollywood?
First the Tower Records (especially the one by Lincoln Center) now the Virgin in Times Square. I hope they keep the Union Square location open.