Dozens of shoppers like Allen were scrambling to unearth musical gems that had been passed over as the hours ticked away and the 90 percent discounts disappeared. "All Sales Final," the store warned for good reason. The 46-year-old music retailer was sold to Los Angeles-based liquidator Great American Group for $134.
3 million after a federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale in October. Since that ominous date, items have been selling quickly, said Dave Montes, operations manager at the store in New York's East Village. The classical music, jazz and opera were first to go.
Left? Unheard of bands, used posters and CD players for $50. "It's surreal," Montes said, who has been with the company for three decades.
"It's like Macy's on Black Friday, only every day. These customers are fanatics. They bought everything.
" Montes said tens of thousands of CDs had sold, with closing stores sending him their inventory. Montes said the other Tower Records in Manhattan was shuttered earlier Friday. Montes, who spent six years at the East Village store, said news that the company was going out of business was at first a shock.
Now, the feeling is more melancholy. "Once you've digested it and you've come to terms with it, you're a little more at ease," he said. Montes says he's going to have his first Christmas off in 20 years.
He intends to go skiing in Vail, Colo., with his family. "Then I'll return to New York City and pound the pavement and start a new life," he said wistfully.
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