We’ve known that that the Virgin Megastore in New York City’s Times Square is set to close, but finally the death march has a start date; the everything must go signs get plastered into the windows and the stack of pre-thumbed through books and import CD singles get their first in a series of markdowns tomorrow.
Yes, Feb. 19 marks the beginning of what the Virgin chain (soon to be down to five locations… who are we kidding, probably soon just a memory of music retail past, right?) is calling the “the biggest sale in music retail history.” I’m not sure what the competition has been for that title, but I guess it’ll be worth checking things out down there before the Jesus-loving sweatshop paradise known as Forever 21 moves in.
In the end, though, how great will the deals actually be? Any bit of inventory that has some value would seem to be heading either for one of the remaining locations (like the one located about 30 blocks south, for example), or back to the distributor as a return. This isn’t a Circuit City or Tower Records-type situation where a liquidator is trying to milk what they can from their bargain basement purchase. Virgin (for now) will still be around, just not in Times Square. I’ll surmise that this sale will be like most Virgin Megastore events: Prices will be better than normal for sure, but still a good distance away from what I think of as reasonable.
World’s Largest Music Store is Closing its Doors With Biggest Sale in Music Retail History [PR Newswire]
As I recall the going out of business “sale” when Virgin closed the Westbury, NY store was not so great. If memory serves they seemed to have taken away a lot of the good stuff before the sale and brought in a lot of crap for the “sale”.
@Michaelangelo Matos: Pardon me, not to be churlish, but I fail to see the import of being able to pick up the first Strokes album for $5.
@MhS: Unless it was an import. Y’know, the one with the butt on the cover?
@DJorn: Ah could be, then that would be cool and a good pick up for $5, my apologies.
WOO-HOO! I’ve been waitin’ for this one since I first heard the rumours.
I always liked the Virgin stores for their selection of books and music DVDs. Plus they’re one of the only places to carry pop vinyl; for some reason Kim’s on St. Mark’s never caught on to Timberlake-mania.
Really hoping they slash prices on vinyl for at least a week or two before shipping it all down to Union Square. Updates, people! Let’s make this a team effort! I’ll try to stop by on my way to work tonight.
God, I was there a couple weeks ago and everything was marked down like crazy. I picked up the first Strokes album for $5.
I’m gonna have to agree with Dan, prices may seem good but they could be better, especially considering the possibility that what doesn’t sell is going to be shipped to Union Square anyway. I still love the ‘Virgin Sacrifice’ sales where you walk around with fistfulls of videos and CDs only to do the math and find you’re spending triple what you’re saving. That’s just me though.
@Michaelangelo Matos: Was it the Union Square one or Times Square?