Record World (store)
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| Company type | Music retailer |
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Record World was a record store chain (often listed as TSS/Record World, TSS is an abbreviation for Times Square Stores) that operated out of many locations in New York during the 1970s and 1980s.
History
Record World/Square Circle music stores were opened in 1959 in New York. The chain of record stores eventually expanded to Washington D.C. and Virginia. And even opened a single store in Sawgrass Mills Florida.
In 1978, the store chain was operated by Elroy Distributors, and presented Harry Chapin with a $1,000 check for the World Hunger Organization.[1] By 1980, Record World had a total of 32 stores opened, and had expanded the company's warehouse in Freeport, New York from 15,00 square feet to 20,000 feet.[2]
In 1982, Roy Imber was the operator of the stores, of which there were 40 operating in the U.S. Northeast.[3] The same year, Record World was part of a "one sided single" campaign by CBS Records.[4] In 1984, the chain was presented with gold album plaques for the hit Pointer Sisters album, Break Out.[5]
Some malls that Record World stores were located in included Roosevelt Field Mall and Green Acres Mall, however, many of the Record World stores were closed by 1989, and by 1990, the chain was completely defunct, due to TSS filing for bankruptcy.[6] Record World was purchased by W.H. Smith after declaring bankruptcy in 1992 and later rebranded The Wall the following year.[7]
References
- ^ Billboard Magazine August 26, 1978, p. 11 Inside Track
- ^ Billboard Magazine October 18, 1980, p. 69 Elroy Opens Store No. 33
- ^ Billboard Magazine July 17, 1982, p. 18 Retailing
- ^ Billboard Magazine June 19, 1982, p. 70 Retailers Dubious About One-Sided Single Choices
- ^ Billboard Magazine November 10, 1984, p. 25 Retailing
- ^ Remember Times Square Stores (TSS)? http://www.retroist.com/2013/05/20/remember-times-square-stores-tss/
- ^ Record-store Chain Gets A New Spin When Wee Three Records Took Over Wall To Wall, A New British Invasion Was Only Just Beginning http://articles.philly.com/1992-04-27/business/26005145_1_stores-regional-chains-compact-disc-sales