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J&R Closes, May Reopen Someday As "Social Mecca"
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 10, 2014
Modified Apr 10, 2014
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 10, 2014
Modified Apr 10, 2014
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The massive electronics retailer J&R Music and Computer World closed its Park Row location in Lower Manhattan yesterday after 43 years in business. In a statement on the company's website, owners Joe and Rachelle Friedman announced that they were closing in an attempt to "adapt to the technology, retailing and real-estate trends." Their plan is to "rebuild this location into what we hope will be an unprecedented retailing concept and social mecca."
J&R began in 1971 as a basement record shop and eventually expanded to its current location, at one point occupying eight buildings between Ann and Bleekman Streets. Business boomed in step with electronic advancements in communication and computers, but slowed in part due to the growth of online shopping and competition from big box retailers. The 9/11 attacks and the global recession were another factor, apparently.
In October, the Times reports, "the store scaled back its footprint between Ann and Bleekman Streets. Once occupying eight buildings on those blocks totaling 300,000 square feet, the business was resized to five floors each at 1 Park Row and 15 Park Row." All remaining employees were given pink slips yesterday.
"We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this transition period," the couple said in their statement. "We hope you look forward with us to a revitalized and bustling Park Row and Lower Manhattan." A rendering of a possible future design (see below) was posted on the J&R website with the date 2015, but a spokesperson for the store tells the Times "a date has not been set and a design has not been finalized."
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business
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j&r music and computer world
lower manhattan
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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