Colony Music store in Times Square to close after 64 years

[mjzee]

The song is over.

Times Square record Mecca, Colony Music, a favorite attraction for performing icons such as Elvis, Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson, will close after 64 years next month because of rapidly rising rents.

Founded in 1948, the store has a stockpile of more than 1 million vinyl records and also sells sheet music from virtually every Broadway show and film ever made.

“I’m devastated,” said co-owner Michael Grossbardt, whose father, Harold S. “Nappy” Grossbardt, started the store with partner Sidney Turk back when big-band impresario Benny Goodman was a customer.

More here:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/colony_closing_brakes_records_ulAC4IBEJZ4ogG2D9yKdCM

[BeBop]

This may be the only record store in the world that I've visited more than once (probably 300 visits to Colony) but never even considered buying something. I can't be heartbroken, but it was a minor icon.

[mjzee]

When I was a teen, I had a summer job near there, and used to stop in from time to time. I couldn't understand why people would pay full list price for unwrapped LPs. I did find some good albums in the $1.99 stacks there: John McLaughlin's Devotion on Douglas stands out in my mind. It was only when I was older did I understand the role the store played in the Broadway community.

[7/4]

I wonder where that stockpile of more than 1 million vinyl records is going. Maybe Princeton Record Exchange will buy it.

I'll miss this store, after Sam Ash moves out, I guess that's the end of the neighborhood.

[BeBop]

I wonder where that stockpile of more than 1 million vinyl records is going. Maybe Princeton Record Exchange will buy it.

I'll miss this store, after Sam Ash moves out, I guess that's the end of the neighborhood.

Indeed. I work pretty frequently at 49th and 6th; if I have 15 minutes to kill, where am I going to kill 'em now? (reference: my 300 visits to Colony) Rudy's? Manny's? S'pose.

[brownie]

I visited the store several times, found it very newyorkish with unhelpful employees but fun to spend some time inside and look for curiosities (and there were plenty inside).

Their jazz selection was a mess with a number of interesting items, all of them overpriced.

Bought a couple of LPs there including a Dick Garcia Dawn original which looked better than it actually sounded

My last two visits there were sad reminders of their better days!

A great location they had!

[7/4]

I wonder where that stockpile of more than 1 million vinyl records is going. Maybe Princeton Record Exchange will buy it.

I'll miss this store, after Sam Ash moves out, I guess that's the end of the neighborhood.

Indeed. I work pretty frequently at 49th and 6th; if I have 15 minutes to kill, where am I going to kill 'em now? (reference: my 300 visits to Colony) Rudy's? Manny's? S'pose.

Manny's has been owned by Sam Ash for years, I think they're going with the other Sam Ash stores to one big store a few blocks (10?) south.

The neighborhood's going to hell, are there even any live sex shows left in Times Square any more?

[Harold_Z]

imho the neighborhood has been gone for some time. Manny's was done once Sam Ash took over and Henry was gone. The Colony was at a smaller location with a fraction of what it once had (not to even mention the sheet music.)