Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
#1Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:04am
http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/2012/08/colony-music.html
A true Broadway Institution.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#2Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:09am
They had great things, but their prices were out of sight.
Still, it was always fun going in there back in the day.
Huss417
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#2Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:10amIt was an interesting store to poke around in. But the prices were CRAZY!
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#3Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:17am
I would go in there in the 80's and 90's to look at their museum pieces and collectibles but never would buy anything because Tower and Virgin Megastore had stuff for half the price.
Sheet music was worth it. But for the last 10 years, sheet music is affordable ( or free) online.
Their memorabilia stuff was hawked on eBay the last few years and truthfully. It was cheaper online as well
That store was crazy expensive and it never went with the times.
Thanks for the memories Colony. But. Really. You were a ripoff.
#4Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:20am
That's too bad. Yes, their prices for cds have always been outrageous! They would have the the cast cd for "Jersey Boys" at $25.99, and right down the street Virgin Records would have it for $9.99.
Their sheet music inventory is incredible! It was always a fun place to go in there and look around before or after a show.
#5Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:23am
I used to wander back and forth 49th Street from the Colony to the Sam Goody's outlet near 8th Avenue, looking at the full-price records at Colony, hoping to find a bargain at Sam Goody's.
RIP Colony.
RIP Sam Goody's.
RIP records.
RIP my youth.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#6Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:25am
I read somewhere that this year digital sales were higher than cd sales.
RIP CD's
Goodbye youth indeed!
Updated On: 8/23/12 at 10:25 AM
#7Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:26amI went in there a few times. Never bought anything. It was cool to look through everything, but there was never anything I needed that was worth the prices they set. I just am curious to what will end up in there.
#8Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:34amThey were always expensive, and the staff not always the friendliest in the world- but at least they were there! I was so upset when Tower closed, and that left Colony as the only game in the area- its too bad.
#9Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:35amI just hope they don't turn it into another ridiculous store like they did to the Virgin Megastore.
Ed_Mottershead
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
#10Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:39amI totally agree with Pal Joey. I'll be joining the RIP crowd shortly.
#11Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 10:57am
I just hope they don't turn it into another ridiculous store like they did to the Virgin Megastore.
You can betcha bottom dollar they will, Sally.
wonkit
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
#12Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:00amExpensive but I always seemed to walk out with some sheet music. RIP, Colony. Makes me feel really old.
#13Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:01amOne of the things that bothered me the most about the Virgin Megastore decision what that Disney was all anxious to move their old location to Times Square. My wife and I used to shop at the previous location- on 5th maybe? That Disney store was beautiful and so nice to shop in- the new one that partially took the place of Virgin is not nearly as big and not half as nice. It really is such a shame. The only thing Disney gained by moving was location.
temms
Broadway Star Joined: 7/21/04
#14Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:05am
I've never bought a CD there in my 19 years of coming to NYC, but I've certainly bought a fair amount of sheet music there. I won't miss it as a record store (though it was always a good browse to see what I should buy at a cheaper store, since they would at least have some interesting rarities to go along with the high prices) but as a sheet music store, particularly for theatre stuff, it's the best place in town.
Perhaps Drama Books or Theater Circle on 45th could pick up some of the sheet music slack, or Sam Ash. I'll miss having a place to browse that more than I will the CDs or records.
Yet another piece of the NYC I grew to love gone. Now there will be absolutely no music stores in Times Square. I never could have imagined such a thing.
#15Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:05amA nail salon or Duane Reade would work well there...
#16Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:07amThere's a Duane Reade literally four doors down
#18Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:11am^ It can't be Duane Reade because there is one at the end of that block already. Maybe it could be another H&M? Okay, I don't hate that store. But, they are too damn crowded in NYC.
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#19Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:16am
In all my years of going to the theatre, I think I may have bought something, once there. My father is a big fan of the Grateful Dead, and they had an old vintage Dead concert poster there that I got for him as a gift. Price wise, it wasn't too bad at all.
However, I do remember there was one day a couple of years ago where the weather was crazy outside. Myself and a random group of other people all had the same idea to browse around there to take shelter from the storm. Needless to say, the staff there didn't seem to like that we were there without buying anything. They didn't kick us out or anything, but they sure went out of their way to make us feel rather uncomfortable during our time there.
#20Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:30amThere cds were a rip off, true. But they did have an amazing amount of sheet music. I, too, feel old but can't imagine that store not being there. That's really too bad.
Tom1071
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/04
#21Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:31am
I only bought music there out of desperation when I needed something for an audition at the last minute. I could never afford anything there. They were always between $3-$5 above suggested retail. I could never justify it when I knew there were less expensive options out there.
Updated On: 8/23/12 at 11:31 AM
#22Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:38amIt's the perfect size for a Bank of America.
#23Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:41amit'll likely be a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.
#24Colony Music to close after 60 years of business
Posted: 8/23/12 at 11:45amMaybe a KFC/DD/BaskinRobbins triple combo!
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