Tower Records Boston store closing

Tower's store in Boston is going to close on February 16 and everything at that location only is on sale. CDs and DVDs are 30% off. Everything else is 40% off.

This is a sad demise that seemed the likely outcome even before Tower's corporate troubles. Once the Boston store lost its prime location at the corner of Newbury St. and Mass Ave, relocating to a spot in the Fenway where parking and T access were difficult and/or costly, everything seemed in decline. The selection of all CDs (not just classical) was vastly reduced as the store adjusted to the smaller square feet of space, and business was never humming on the few occasions when I managed to make it there for a visit. Contrast this with the bustle of Saturday afternoons when the store was in its Back Bay location. Truly sad. Even the Virgin store that has taken its place in the Back Bay has not managed to recapture the magic. The interior design is more sterile and the prices are $2-$3 higher per CD.

The stores in Harvard Square and Burlington, Ma, will remain open.

Ratwood19 wrote -

'Tower's store in Boston is going to close on February 16 and everything at that location only is on sale. CDs and DVDs are 30% off. Everything else is 40% off.'

I never even visited the replacement Tower store - it was too far off the path for me. The Mass Ave/Newbury store had such a great accessible location.

The new Virgin store isn't that bad - not as good as the old Tower - but the classical selection is not horrible - prices are up there, but if you search around, there are some bargains.

'The stores in Harvard Square and Burlington, Ma, will remain open.'

It's good that the Harvard Sq store is remaining open - HMV is right there as well, and it's easily accessible.

If you can visit the Burlington Tower easily enough, you need not trek into Cambridge.

Allan Kohrman Newton, MA

Since I work at BU the 'new' Tower location was only a five minute walk away but it hardly ever seemed worth it with the decline in titles carried. Now, sadly, it is for another two weeks. In the last couple of days I picked up 30 or so CDs. If you want to get some good buys better get there soon. All the Miaskovsky is already gone and several folks are cleaning them out on selected composers. Too bad. I'll miss Courtney who always seemed to know about new recordings.

In Cambridge I recommend the HMV over the Tower. Much better classical selection, if pricier.

Mike Corgan

recordings.

How did you find the Miaskovsky section with all those Beethoven and 3 Tenors sets everywhere?

Marc Perman

The Miaskovsky bin was right next to the 3 Tenors doing the Wayne Newton song book.

Wayne Newton song book.

That would make it four quite wealthy tenors.

Marc Perman