Virgin Megastores to close across US, including Downtown Disney

[UKDEB]

This from yesterday's Sentinel. Such as shame, not only because we always enjoy a good browse around, but it'll leave a huge void. I wonder who Disney could get to fill that space?

 

[gemmybear83]

Thats really sad, but in a way it doesnt surprise me the one at DTD was really quiet the last time we were there.

 

[wayneg]

I can't understand how any CD/dvd store survives now. Must be 3-4 years since I bought instore. Either download or buy online all music or films. Must be very difficult times for them all.

 

[JulieSharp]

I am slightly surprised mainly as to my knowledge there are not any other real quality places in Orlando to buy DVDs/CDs (which in itself is surprising).

I would have thought a location perhaps in the Florida Mall would have been better for a store of this type.

 

[wideeyes]

It was so expensive I thought, even when the exchange rate was $2-£1 you could still get the stuff cheaper at home or online.

 

[Funky_dino]

I was going to say the same the prices were outrageous. But then when we the Virgin stores here they were just as bad, £16 for cd, don't think so.

 

[stephensmum]

That's a shame we always enjoy a browse there. DS11 loves it.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Really liked having a look round this place but I think thats half the problem, we like a look round but not many of us want to put our hand in our pockets mainly due to the high prices.

It's a pity but I am really suprised it has lasted this long!

Not sure in these times of financial uncertainty, what company could fill such a large space? The rent must be huge on that place! Also whoever moves in would have to fit in with the aesthetics of DTD.

 

[wayneg]

The rent must be huge on that place!

I am sure the negotiated rent was in Virgins favour. No idea about Orlando but this is a quote relating to the New York store:
That executive was quoted as saying that Virgin pays only $54 per square-foot when the market rent in the area is about $700 a square foot.

 

[elkvideo]

thats a shame we like having a look around the virgin store, I do agree the prices were a little high. I wonder what will be coming instead.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

I am sure the negotiated rent was in Virgins favour. No idea about Orlando but this is a quote relating to the New York store:
That executive was quoted as saying that Virgin pays only $54 per square-foot when the market rent in the area is about $700 a square foot.

Wow, thats a bargin! I might open shop up myself!

 

[wayneg]

Wow, thats a bargin! I might open shop up myself!

I have just had a rent review complained about it going up to £5/sq foot

 

[darthtatty]

thought it had already closed down.
its a shame but reality as most shopping is moving online these days.
i will be able to have a look as we go before it closes

 

[Tink2312]

Just saw this on the theme parks board. It's really sad - I love a good browse. I agree that often it's more expensive than other locations but then again I've also in the past managed to get a few good offers.
Plus I love listening to all the CDs at the headphone stations.

 

[wils]

What a shame. We always seemed able to find what we wanted their whilst at Walmart etc you took your chance. The 10 % AP discount was nice too

 

[Jets fan]

So sad to hear this as I have enjoyed many hours wandering around the store at Downtown, listening to the booming music. They had so many different games, CDs, DVDs and all much cheaper than the UK. Last year I spend a good couple of hours in there as it was too hot outside. Their cafe upstairs was great to grab a drink and watch people go by outside. Also managed to spend a fair bit.

Will miss this store

Tina

 

[TinkTatoo]

I've used the Cafe there but the games etc., were much cheaper in Super Target. I wonder what they will get to fill a store that large?

 

[Cyrano]

With the impact of The Adventurers Club etc I am wondering what DTD will look like. Hoping even in the current climate that it does not looked closed for business

 

[Abbeysmom]

I think there are three things hurting music stores beyond the often-repeated phrase "CDs are too expensive." (It's funny to me how people say that, and yet cram into movie theaters in droves to watch something for a couple of hours they can't carry out with them to take home, and there is nothing cheap about movie prices, drinks, popcorn, and candy.)

Those three things are:
1. The currently bad state of the economy.
2. People shopping online and not supporting actual physical stores. People need to be mindful of this trend, because the money often saved by shopping online has an economic cost in terms of lost jobs and lost incomes. I shop online for some hard-to-find items but I do not want to shop for everything online. It is fun and relaxing to shop in stores, and I am afraid the younger generation does not appreciate those things. Plus: do Americans need to be any more physically inactive, non-social, and self-centered people than we are already? If there is more staying home to order things on the computer, then these trends will only get worse.
3. The currently bad state of the music industry, in which mostly younger people who comprise the bulk of the music-buying public do not buy albums anymore like older did and still do. This is because few good albums are released by recording artists anymore, compared to years and decades ago. People talk about getting this or that song online or on I-Pods and brag about the technology involved, but the real reason for it is the recording artists younger people listen to do not release consistently good albums that would cause many people to go out to the stores and buy them. Older people still buy albums of past artists, but since many people either have these albums already, or are working their way through the massive and extensive list of great albums from the past decades of music to purchase in the future, they are racing in the clock as these music stores close. If younger people are not going to open up their minds and buy older music just because it's "old", then music stores will not survive on the lackluster sales of newer music.

I have deeply-held views concerning this and other issues, and nobody has to agree or disagree with them just for the sake of doing so. I do believe that the reasons that I have given to add some perspective to the closing of music as well as other types of stores relate to what has been mentioned in this post. People need to ask themselves, why is the economy currently in bad shape? There are different reasons, of course, but one of the leading reasons is an old-fashioned one that gets little attention in spite of how important it is: There are too many people losing their jobs, and either not finding another one to replace their old job, or finding one that pays less than their previous one. We may live in a technological age where you can order goods and products off the internet, but that still does not take anything away from the fact that people still have to work somewhere. If people think that not going to shop in stores in preference for shopping on-line is not going to do damage to the economy, they are either in denial or are not very knowledgeable about the way an economy works. Without a middle class, folks, you cannot have a strong and thriving economy; it just simply does not work otherwise.

 

[jjpenguin]

That's a shame, how will I get DH to go to Disney now He always used to shorten his wish list by at least half as for us they were a lot cheaper. Also had a good selection.