Store Shorts
Description: At the time of its Chapter 11 filing, Blockbuster said it would keep its 3,300 stores open; however, that December it announced it would close an additional 182 stores by the end of April 2011 in attempts to emerge from bankruptcy. It was reported in February 2011 that Blockbuster and its creditors had not come up with a Chapter 11 exit plan and that the company would be sold for $300 million (~$401 million in 2023) or more, along with taking over debts and leases. Blockbuster admitted that it might not be able to meet financial obligations required under its Chapter 11 filing, a circumstance which could mandate conversion of the bankruptcy filing to Chapter 7 (liquidation).
Description: Peaches Records & Tapes was a Los Angeles-based chain of record superstores, some as large as 15,000 square feet. They were known for its vast selection, with many locations in buildings the size of a typical grocery store, reportedly stocking $500,000 in inventory. Peaches were also known for in-store events with bands and artists, huge murals of the latest album covers on the side of its buildings and for selling records from fruit-crates. The first store opened on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1975 and later that year, a second was opened in Atlanta. At its peak, Peaches had 50 stores in 22 cities with over 2,000 employees. In June 1981, Peaches filed a petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 citing $20 million in debt.
Description: Parrot Records was an American record label, a division of London Records, which started in 1964. The label usually licensed (or leased) recordings made by Decca Records, England, for release in the United States and Canada, most notably by the Zombies, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Them, Jonathan King, Hedgehoppers Anonymous, Lulu, Savoy Brown and Alan Price. Other artists included the Detroit-based Frijid Pink, Love Sculpture (reissued from EMI) and Bobby "Boris" Pickett (reissued from Garpax). Parrot's biggest hit was "She's A Lady" by Tom Jones, peaking at #2 on the Billboard charts in early 1971.
Description: Established in 1960, Tower Records was once a retail powerhouse with two hundred stores in thirty countries across five continents. From humble beginnings in a small-town drugstore, Tower eventually became the heart and soul of the music world, and a powerful force in the music industry. In 1999, Tower made a cool $1 billion, yet in 2006 the company filed for bankruptcy before slowly disintegrating before our collective eyes. This design is from the 30-year anniversary celebration of the iconic Sunset Strip location, which opened in 1971 on the northwest corner of Sunset Boulevard and Horn Avenue in West Hollywood. Rawk \m/
Description: Back in 1938 Max Silverman opened a record store at 1836 7th Street in Washington, D.C. under the name Waxie Maxie Quality Music Co. Silverman's store was an instant hit as he stocked it with all the latest recordings as well as those from up-and-coming musicians, including many black artists, something that was still not very common at the time. Silverman began holding jam sessions and live radio broadcasts in the storefront's window, a spot that attracted teens and young adults to the store and became known as the Maxie's goldfish bowl. Silverman would eventually change the store's name to Waxie Maxie's and open over 30 locations throughout the Washington Metropolitan area.
Description: Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll, and jazz and comedy recordings, released on the Chess and its subsidiary labels Checker and Argo/Cadet. The Chess catalogue is owned by Universal Music Group and managed by Geffen Records and Universal Music Enterprises.
Description: The Dark Ages collide on these soothsayers as they have a vision of 3 ancient mischievous spirits playing their archaic music from the great beyond. This intriguing design re-creates the old engraved parchment look with a contemporary theme. Available in a rich assortment of items to choose from, this Medieval Minstrel Monsters design is sure to bring out the druid in you.
Description: The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, was an American chain of grocery stores that ceased supermarket operations in November 2015, after 156 years in business. From 1915 through 1975, A&P was the largest grocery retailer in the United States (and until 1965, the largest U.S. retailer of any kind). This design features A&P's 1976 rebrand logo which featured a new sunrise effect with a set of colored bands leading up to an offset A&P mark in a new, more modern typeface - the first major update since 1859.
