Footlight Records is Closing in NY!! Online Sales Only

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:36pm

FROM AN EMAIL I JUST RECEIVED:

Footlight Records, (rated #1 record store in New York City by the 2004 Zagat Shopping Guide) after 30 years in business,is pleased to announce that we are going Internet only. Because more and more of our customers have started shopping through our web-site, this has signaled to us that a strictly online store will actuallygive us the potential to provide better service by increasing our selection of hard to find shows and films, expanding our selection of DVD's, and much more. We will still be taking phone orders, of course, for our customers who are not on the net.

We plan to upgrade the web-site over the next year. The features will include reviews of new products and an online chat-board.We certainly hope you will visit us in person before our doors close at the end of July,but extend a special invitation to join us at WWW.FOOTLIGHT.COM.

On behalf of everyone at Footlight Records, thank you for your business and friendship over the years.

Updated On: 6/8/05 at 04:36 PM

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:38pm

NOOOOOO! Please don't close the store!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:41pm

That's too bad. Part of the fun of that store was just browsing around and finding little gems that you didn't even know existed. You can't really do that with a website.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:42pm

Since NYU has taken over the Village, rents have gone through the roof.

Goodbye musty basement where I would often bump into Gerard Alessandrini.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:43pm

Well this sucks big time.

[magruder]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:44pm

Although the store temperature was always somewhere around 8,000 degrees... It's a wonder that the LPs didn't turn to slush.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:45pm

Damn Republicans.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:46pm

Oh, I'm really dissapointed. Love that store.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:49pm

Well, the neighborhood could ALWAYS use another Duane Reid, I guess....

[Phantom487]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:50pm

This stinks.... I'd always go in there and find things that were never even on the website.... Ill have to make one more trip they before they close forever...

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 5:10pm

OH POOK! This is too sad. One of my N.Y. trip highlights is rummaging thru thie stacks esp when their sales were on. Sigh.

[hypertruffle]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 5:16pm

I have yet to go there. I believe it's downtown, oui?

Posted: 6/8/05 at 5:16pm

What a shame! But they are right to devote their attention to on line and phone order store- there's no point in paying that high rent for a storefront.

As someone who loves show tunes and has sold records in Chicago for 20 years, I can't even guess how many customers I've sent their way!

Will Triton go online only now, too?

[morosco]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 5:20pm

Oh No! Half the fun of going there was eavesdropping on gossipy conversations. I will miss it. But at least they'll continue with their website.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 5:32pm

That is too bad. There are less and less specialtiy stores in the city, and this was a great place to browse. Always interesting finds and interesting people watching. Though I suppose their reasons are valid. With so many "rare records" being reissued on CD, there is probably a lot less demand for the expensive LPs and the rent on the store front must be mucho expensive.

Too bad they couldn't merge with something like the Drama Bookstore. They probably would do more volume in the theatre district.

[jasonf]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 5:53pm

I was saddened to receive this email also! I'd only made it to the store a few times (I mean, usually a trip to NY IS to the theater - but the store's no where NEAR the theaters!) but always came away a hundred dollars or so poorer but with rare stuff I would never have found otherwise. Hopefully the updates on the site will at least have a better browsing system than it does now - and even better SAMPLES! It would be so cool to be able to browse, find something I didn't know about, and hear a little bit of it to decide if it was worth the money!
Jason

[POLisPOL]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 6:11pm

Oh!
this is a sad notice
it was one of my favourites places of NY when I travel to there.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 6:19pm

And they filled out receipts by hand. I loved that! (They do that for on-line orders, too). Oh goodness, I agree, too sad. I understand the business decision but it's still sad that you won't be able to go browse. That was always a highlight of my trips to New York. Well, there's still that big, glorious mess that is the Strand bookstore.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 6:26pm

Hey, the website is going to have a message board. 'Cause, you know, we don't have enough of those!

Posted: 6/8/05 at 6:38pm

Sorry to hear that.

I wholeheartedly agree with Margo, browsing the bins was the most fun.

[Avigdor]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 6:56pm

i agree you only know the fun stuff when you see it..they shouldnt close completely maybe have just weekend hours..this is nuts..

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 7:16pm

this is truly bad news.
one of my favorite haunts in nyc.
i used to live about 3 blocks east of the store and used to love to just browse.
i remember my first purchase there.
the original london cast recording of "promises, promises" with betty buckley and tony roberts.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 7:21pm

Being in CA, I order from them year-round. But I always look forward to visiting the store when in NY. What a bummer!!

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 7:51pm

does anyone know when it is closing?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 7:54pm

The message says the end of July.