PinkyD
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Post by PinkyD on Mar 20, 2009 1:37:33 GMT -5
So any word about the LA store?? Have they begun any sort of sales yet or is still business as usual? With all the chat, I feel bad for the employees. I hope they were given a heads up before all the press...
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Mar 21, 2009 0:11:02 GMT -5
LAST 10 DAYS...
The sign posted at the front of Virgin Times Square yesterday (Friday). Which means the final day is Sunday, March 29. What they don't sell by then, I assume they'll ship to Union Square for their liquidation, which will probably begin after they close Times Square.
I hear Denver's got their liquidation signs up. 30% off now, is it? Anyone from Colorado care to post? And what is happening in L.A. and Orlando?
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friday
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Post by friday on Mar 21, 2009 19:05:20 GMT -5
Damn, I didn't realize the Times Square store was closing so soon, otherwise I definitely would've stopped by there on Tuesday. But I guess I can always go to the Union Square store in the near future.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Mar 24, 2009 4:14:06 GMT -5
There's word that HMV may consider trying again in the U.S. They closed their last store in November, 2004 (5th Ave./46th St.), after a 14-year operation in the U.S. which started at Lexington Ave./86th St. (1990-2002), now occupied by Best Buy.
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Post by KeepDeanWeird on Mar 24, 2009 8:26:51 GMT -5
LAST 10 DAYS...I hear Denver's got their liquidation signs up. 30% off now, is it? Anyone from Colorado care to post? 3/23: CDs/DVDs 25% Off List in Denver. Was a much better deal when you could snap stuff up for $10!
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Mar 26, 2009 0:32:33 GMT -5
LAST 10 DAYS...I hear Denver's got their liquidation signs up. 30% off now, is it? Anyone from Colorado care to post? 3/23: CDs/DVDs 25% Off List in Denver. Was a much better deal when you could snap stuff up for $10! Almost everything's gone to 50% off in Times Square. Even the fixtures are now being sold at 50% off. They've got a lot of fixtures down in the 2nd basement level. Empty CD/DVD/magazine racks everywhere on the 1st and 2nd basement. For some strange reason, I'd rather see AMC reclaim that space for a Loews super-multiplex, rather than Forever 21 move in. That spot used to be the Loews State Theater before they tore it down for the Bertelsmann Building. They put the new State Theater in the 2nd basement of Virgin (or was there a 3rd basement below?). It closed in February, 2006.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Mar 27, 2009 0:27:10 GMT -5
Comin' down to the wire:
On Thursday night (03/26), they closed at 8:30 P.M. at Times Square. The staff chased away people who were about to enter the store, at around 8:15.
My guess is that, on Sunday they will shut it down for the last time at 8:00. If you're looking to get in on whatever final deals they may have (CDs, DVDs, books, fashion and fixtures are 50% off, the maximum discount for other items is 80%), get there very early. They might decide to clear out at 6:00.
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PinkyD
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Post by PinkyD on Mar 27, 2009 18:44:12 GMT -5
I just passed by the Hollywood store the other day and it still looks like business as usual. I feel bad for those folks who work there...it's like sitting on a grenade waiting for the pin to be pulled...
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Mar 28, 2009 2:03:35 GMT -5
Same at Union Square, NYC. I imagine they'll begin liquidation next week or the week after. In late-September they cleared out the basement section where all the dance music and video games were on display, boarded up the space (which amounted to about 4,000 square feet), and moved the items to the ground floor. That's when I figured they were probably going to close them all down.
For the people who rarely shop on the Web or don't have time to, but always enjoyed browsing around a store like this, hoping that maybe they'll come across something they like, or at least spot something they had long forgotten about and always wanted to buy, I wonder where they will look next, or what their next hangout spot will be.
For me, it will most likely be J&R. I've been buying music and movies there for 25 years, and still do. But after the rise and fall of a media outlet as enormous as both of NYC's Virgin Megastores (70,000 sq. ft. at Times Square and 58,000 sq. ft. at Union Square), following the demise of Tower (2006) and HMV (2004), with stores almost as large, going to J&R just won't feel the same. I'll bet good horse money that Barnes and Noble and Borders (my other favorite spots) will see an increase in visitors in cities where the remaining Virgin stores prepare for shutdown...
...That is, unless HMV answers the rumors and actually does try for a comeback in the U.S. If they do, bet the farm they'll start in NYC and/or L.A.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Mar 29, 2009 22:02:34 GMT -5
It is now 10:57 P.M., Sunday, March 29, 2½ hours after I left Virgin Times Square for the last time. They were still open when I left, but not for long. There were perhaps less than 1,000 CDs and 300 DVDs when I left. Many T-shrts still remained there. I don't imagine very many items were snatched up when I left. There were some people who came for the fixtures. The D.J. was still playing music in the booth.
I assume they will close at their regularly scheduled time, 1:00 A.M., Monday, March 30, unless someone else who has been there has seen otherwise. After that, the countdown begins when Virgin Union Square and the other megastores shut down.
By the way, what's going on in Florida?
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Mar 30, 2009 4:05:36 GMT -5
That's all, folks.
I left the store at 8:27 P.M. Sunday, and they were still open. I imagine they stayed open until their regular closing time, which was 1:00 A.M. the next morning.
[Anyone who was there to watch them lock up and/or turn out the lights, please let me know.]
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Crushcrushchris
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Post by Crushcrushchris on Mar 30, 2009 11:55:22 GMT -5
I wonder what's going to happen to the stuff that didn't get sold.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Mar 30, 2009 17:34:54 GMT -5
I wonder what's going to happen to the stuff that didn't get sold. More than likely, they will ship it all to Union Square (Broadway and 14th Street), to be sold until they close down. I must say I feel sorry for the people who worked at Times Square (nearly 200) and Union Square (another 150), especially those who have been there from the very beginning (Times Sq. 4/96, Union Sq. 10/98), if any remained. As for the average consumer, I can almost sympathize with those who avoided Virgin due to the fact that they sold most of their items at or near regular price ($18.99 for the average new CD). During the first 6 years of Virgin Times Square's existence, I generally bought only video games. I shopped at Tower, HMV, J&R and eBay for CDs, and I did my shopping at eBay only after spotting my CDs at Virgin and the other stores. I don't exactly remember when the $10 sticker became a mainstay throughout Virgin, but I happen to think that, once they started spreading those discounts around more widely (around 2004, if not a year or two earlier), the complete demise of Tower in 2006 was assured. I took full advantage of those $10 sales (or $8, or $7 or $5), especially whenever they sold movies on 2-DVD sets at $26.95 for $10. As far as I know, the 2-disc version of 300 is still on sale at Union Square for $10 (until liquidation begins). The store bought an awful lot of them. It is these perpetual $10 sales (mostly on older movies and CDs) that kept customers coming back to Virgin, even though they weren't the only ones selling slightly older material for $10 or under. But like HMV and Tower before them, even Virgin can't compete with the biggest megastore around; namely, the Web. The one thing that people will miss is actually going into a store, getting a CD with the artwork, inserts and booklets, and playing it right away. Certainly you can do that all online, and even download the artwork and inserts; but the one thing that you can't do so easily online is go into a store, looking for one specific item, and come out with another. Maybe it was a movie you saw years ago, and remembered enjoying it so much but had long forgotten about it, until you spotted it on the DVD racks while looking for something else, and it rang a bell. How many times have you gone to an entertainment superstore, looking for one thing and coming out with another, or maybe the thing you were looking for and something else? It is not so easy to spot something unexpectedly on the Web, unless whatever it is you were not expecting to find but want is in the same category as whatever it was you were targeting for purchase. On nearly a dozen occasions I've gone to record stores looking for one thing, only to come out with something else simply because I heard it playing in the store and I liked what I heard! Instantaneous satisfaction like this doesn't come that easy or that fast on the Web. Besides, unless you opt for instant download, you'd have to wait a few days for your CD to arrive in the mail. The most useful instrument for the customer to examine the item they have considered buying is the listening station. The Web has virtual stations all over; most notably, at Amazon.com; but before the Web, Virgin had them en masse. The RIAA howled at the idea because they would rather have had an ignorant public buying CDs without knowing exactly what they were getting. Those kiosks became perhaps the most popular feature at Virgin. I'll miss them, of course, but Barnes and Noble and Borders have them, and so does the Web. And let's not forget Internet radio. Come to think of it, could the physical or online listening station be partly responsible for the decline in music sales, given that people who use it are more inclined to have second thoughts about what they want to buy? Or could another argument be made, that it makes no difference at all, because in the years before 1992, when the first U.S. Virgin store installed dozens of listening stations, people were returning albums they bought because they didn't like the rest of the album, aside from the one or two hits they heard before buying it? I will not begrudge anyone for having a soft spot for nostalgia. I was born at a time when the 8-track was being sold. Even in the 1970s I thought the 8-track to be irrelevant because we had cassette tapes. But as far as I know, 8-tracks and cassettes fade over time, certainly more rapidly than vinyl or CDs. Nothing beats having a large physical collection of vinyl and CDs on the wall; but if someone needs the assurance of a complete backup in today's technology (including the artwork, sleeves and booklets), of course he or she is going to get a DVD or Blu-ray disc to catalog their entire collection, and put it in a safe or vault. As much as I think the music industry really needs its @$$ kicked, I would have preferred that Vornado moved Virgin next door, to where the Bar Code used to be. Even if it wound up being the only Virgin store open in the U.S., it still would have been big enough (and then some) to be called a megastore. 23,000 square feet (when last I read) would have been perfect for them, given the decline in CD sales. Too bad the country is in a mini-depression. With Times Square knocked off Virgin's Web site, we are now down to 5.
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PinkyD
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Post by PinkyD on Apr 3, 2009 13:41:13 GMT -5
I was just at the Virgin in Hollywood on Wednesday and right now, everything is business as usual. I have a friend who works there though and he said they plan to be done by June, so I guess the employess are aware...I even bought a couple of things...before everything goes up in price and then back down! I'm gonna miss the $10 dollar sale!
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Apr 21, 2009 0:51:00 GMT -5
Looks like the discounts in San Francisco have now approached 50%. Denver is at 40%, according to the site. I imagine both these stores will close by the first full week of May.
It still looks like business as usual at Union Square, although I have noticed that some items have not been restocked. I think they're going to make their move for liquidation as soon as May comes, unless they're planning to save Union Square for last.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Apr 25, 2009 15:32:37 GMT -5
Liquidation is now under way at the Virgin Megastore at Union Square. The $10 (and cheaper) stickers were removed after closing Wednesday night, and liquidation began Thursday, April 23. The maximum discount is 30%, with CDs and DVDs at 20%.
Liquidation at Times Square began Thursday, February 19, and ended 5½ weeks later, its final full day on Sunday March 29. I imagine if that same schedule holds for Union Square, the store's final day will be Sunday, May 31.
When this store closes, New York City will be without a media superstore of this size since Tower Records opened at 1961 Broadway in 1983 (if I'm correct).
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PinkyD
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Post by PinkyD on Apr 26, 2009 13:06:38 GMT -5
It's all so sad...the Hollywood store seems to be still alive and active, but the day must be approaching quickly...
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Crushcrushchris
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Post by Crushcrushchris on Apr 26, 2009 13:31:43 GMT -5
I went to Union Square on Friday and wanted to cry like a little girl. This sucks :(
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Apr 27, 2009 3:18:57 GMT -5
It's all so sad...the Hollywood store seems to be still alive and active, but the day must be approaching quickly... They'll probably save that one for last. Last year they closed down the store that opened in 1992; so, my guess is that they might want to at least save that 2nd Hollywood store for last, since that is where the first U.S. store opened. I must mention again that there was rumor that HMV might give the U.S. a second shot (they pulled out of the U.S. in 2004). I wouldn't mind if they took over the Union Square Virgin location. We have too many clothing stores in Manhattan as it is, and the city can do without another clothing superstore. The city is about to be without a music/movie megastore for the first time in 26 years, and I'm not so sure if the independent music stores around town can pick up all the slack once Virgin goes dark in NYC. Speaking of which, when Virgin Union Square finally does close down, the entire north side of the Union Square South building will be dark, except for that digital display running. Circuit City next door closed last month. Last I checked, there hasn't been a buyer for either space (Virgin's or Circuit City's) or both. Combined, they add up to about 85,000 square feet.
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Osaka Sun
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Post by Osaka Sun on May 3, 2009 17:24:54 GMT -5
It sucks. Sometimes you want to but an old album and the only places to get them is in music stores. I know albums are more expensive at music stores but wall-mart, target, and best buy's inventory is so small.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on May 10, 2009 16:00:19 GMT -5
CDs and DVDs now 25% off at Virgin Union Square, which will close May 31. San Francisco is now closed (they're off the board at VirginMega.com), and I assume they closed last Sunday (May 3).
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PinkyD
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Post by PinkyD on May 10, 2009 18:40:25 GMT -5
Hollywood is now beginning the process...30% signs in the windows and ads in the LA Weekly...
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on May 12, 2009 13:01:27 GMT -5
Hollywood is now beginning the process...30% signs in the windows and ads in the LA Weekly... That leaves Orlando. Anybody from Florida know what's happening there?
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on May 15, 2009 14:48:24 GMT -5
CDs and DVDs now 30% off at Union Square. Fashion 25% off. On May 31, it all comes to an end here.
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Osaka Sun
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Post by Osaka Sun on May 16, 2009 22:43:55 GMT -5
Hollywood is now beginning the process...30% signs in the windows and ads in the LA Weekly... That leaves Orlando. Anybody from Florida know what's happening there? I went to Orlando yester day and i went to Downtown disney and it broke my heart cuz thats where i bought my first cd :'(
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Post by areyoureadytojump on May 17, 2009 9:26:40 GMT -5
CDs and DVDs now 30% off at Union Square. Fashion 25% off. On May 31, it all comes to an end here. I'm not sure abut that May 31st date after being in the store yesterday. It's still full of merchandise. The reggae/world muisc/electronia sections were almost empty, but the pop&rock/r&b sections were still packed with cds.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on May 21, 2009 18:41:19 GMT -5
CDs and DVDs now 30% off at Union Square. Fashion 25% off. On May 31, it all comes to an end here. I'm not sure abut that May 31st date after being in the store yesterday. It's still full of merchandise. The reggae/world muisc/electronia sections were almost empty, but the pop&rock/r&b sections were still packed with cds. You may be right, because it looked quite packed when I went there on Tuesday. But you never know. They might put the LAST 10 DAYS sign out front, and everything will go very fast.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on May 21, 2009 19:01:14 GMT -5
That leaves Orlando. Anybody from Florida know what's happening there? I went to Orlando yester day and i went to Downtown disney and it broke my heart cuz thats where i bought my first cd :'( I've just been to VirginMega.com, and Orlando and Denver have been taken off the board. I assume they are now closed, yes? Right now, only Hollywood and Union Square NYC are left. when they're gone, the era of the major music/video superstore/megastore in the U.S. will come to an end. In my city (NYC), there'll be nothing this big remaining, unless you want to count the bookstores that also sell music and DVDs. But the space they devote to music and movies is small compared to Virgin, Tower and HMV.
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on May 29, 2009 1:34:12 GMT -5
Music, DVDs and fashion now 40% off at Union Square. Given the stock they still have left, they will undoubtedly go well into June before they close. The jazz/classical/pop standards and books area was cleared out 2 weeks ago, and whatever was left was moved upstairs to the bistro (now closed) and world music/country area.
What's going on in Hollywood?
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CookyMonzta
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Post by CookyMonzta on Jun 6, 2009 13:34:59 GMT -5
Sunday, June 14, is the last day for Virgin Megastore at Union Square NYC. The countdown signs are now out: LAST 8 DAYS.
The basement is closed. Everything has been moved up to the ground floor. The VirginMega.com site is down; so, I don't know if Hollywood is still open or closed. But in 8 days, New York City will be void of a music/video superstore of this size for the first time in a very long time.
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