Tower Records Makes Its Return By Relaunching As An Online Store

[eppur_se_muova]

Wongo OkonNovember 15, 2020



Back in 2006, Tower Records was forced to close down its 200 stores across the world two years after filing for bankruptcy. Now, over fourteen years later, the franchise is making its return, now as an online store. According to Bay Area’s ABC7, Tower Records can be now be found on the internet. Consumers who visit the site will find scheduled livestream concerts as well as a digital version of the company’s Tower Pulse! magazine. The store will also sell its usual vinyl, cassette, and CD collection.

Tower Records initially planned its relaunch to take place during this year’s SXSW music festival, but the coronavirus pandemic put the kibosh on that. Danny Zeijdel, Tower Records CEOe, spoke about the recent change. “That has been met with tremendous success,” he said, “A lot of people are so happy taking pictures of when they receive an order from Tower Records posting it on Instagram.” The company also hosts interviews on Instagram Live with rising artists.

The store’s online relaunch will unfortunately occur without its founder Russ Solomon, who passed away back in 2018. The Sacramento Bee reported at the time that Solomon died of a heart attack while watching that year’s Oscars award show with his family.

You can take a look at the new Tower Records online shop here.

https://uproxx.com/indie/tower-records-return-relaunches-online-store/



Looks pretty barebones so far, at least for the stuff I'm interested in.

[bottomofthehill]

1. I miss the Tower records on PA ave.

Would go there and then to the little burger spot in the corner right below it.

[exboyfil]

2. I don't know how a music store model

can continue. I use Amazon Music Unlimited at $79/yr. I am keeping my CDs (I gave my vinyl to my nephew) in case I ever need them again, but I am hearing music that I have never heard before for the price of 10 CDs/yr. I had a bunch of records and CDs that I probably only listened to a couple of times.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. This

[Aristus]

4. I guess people are wanting an alternative to Amazon and its slave-labor business model.

Good...

[hlthe2b]

5. I was crushed when they closed their megastore in Denver--which had been open 365 days/year

I always made a beeline there when boredom prevailed after the Thanksgiving or Christmas festivities waned. Great atmosphere, with incredibly knowledgeable staff and you could listen to really arcane music of any genre if you so desired. I always ended up buying something. But whiling away an hour or two was the point. Sigh... Not all "progress" is really good.

[msongs]

6. spent many happy hours in Tower On Sunset BLvd in Hollywood nt

[Dem2theMax]

7. Me too!

[Yavin4]

8. Trump and Tower Records

Link to tweet

[PufPuf23]

9. First trip to Tower Records was to Columbus and Bay store in 1968

and last time was 92 or 93 at the Bascom Avenue store in San Jose. Those two locations plus in Berkeley (the most as a Cal undergrad) were the only Tower Records stores visited.

That first trip in 1968 to San Francisco Tower and Bay was notable for several reasons. Was living in Danville (East Bay) and my friend had just turned 16 (I was still 15) and got a CDL. We told his Mom we were going the record store and took his Dad's Volvo to San Francisco. Chuck (now Dr. Charles) did not drive so great specifically on th streets of San Francisco. I was the navigator as knew my way around parts of San Francisco. I bought the Stone's Their Satanic Majesties Request and Cream's Disraeli Gears, one album for $1.77 and the other for $2.33. Always remembered the prices as that was the cheapest price ever paid for vinyl albums. I still have them (but haven't played any of the vinyl I possess since the 20th century). Not long after that trip, with another friend (RIP Eric) bought tickets for my older sister and her bf and she was our transportation to see Cream at Oakland Coliseum.

[Hotler]

10. Anyone still have wood milk crates for their albums? nt