Trans World Entertainment
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| Trans World Entertainment | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Public (NASDAQ: TWMC) |
| Founded | December 1972 |
| Headquarters | Albany, New York |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Music and DVD stores |
| Website | www.twec.com |
Trans World Entertainment Corporation is a chain of entertainment media retail stores in the United States. It currently operates over 800 freestanding and shopping mall-based stores under several brand names.
Based out of Albany, New York, Trans World was founded in 1972 by Robert Higgins. It opened its first store, called Record Town (formerly Record Land), in 1973. The company went public in July 1986 and has expanded through acquisitions of a number of smaller or failing companies including Strawberries, Camelot Music, and Wherehouse Entertainment.
In February 2006, Trans World acquired the Musicland Group, which owned Sam Goody, Suncoast Motion Picture Company, and former online store Media Play.
In September 2006, Trans World made bid for the bankrupt Tower Records[1] but lost to Great American Group, a liquidator.[2]
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[edit] f.y.e.
In 2001, Trans World unified its mall-based stores under the brand name f.y.e. or for your entertainment, after buying out the mall-based Camelot stores. During 2001, a major re-branding campaign made f.y.e. the brand name for the entire group of mall-based and many freestanding retail stores owned by Trans World Entertainment. However, some freestanding or strip center stores continued to operate under their regional brands such as Planet Music.
Trans World stores deal with CDs, DVDs, video games, and other entertainment products. They also buy, sell, and trade used CDs, DVDs, and video games.
Beginning in 2006, Trans World began transitioning buildings that were once home to Media Play outlets near Salt Lake City, Utah and Buffalo, New York into f.y.e. superstores.
In addition, they have now converted all former Coconuts stores, such as the location in downtown Chicago, into f.y.e. stores, since the early part of 2007.
The landmark downtown Boston Strawberries .located at 411 Washington St, is now an FYE.
[edit] Chains
- Planet Music: Virginia Beach
- Sam Goody: Nationwide
- SecondSpin.com: California, Colorado
- Suncoast Motion Picture Company: Nationwide (mall-based)
- Saturday Matinee: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia
- Spec's Music: Florida
- Wherehouse Music: Western United States including: Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington
- f.y.e.: Nationwide (mall-based and freestanding)
[edit] Defunct
- Camelot Music
- CD World and Streetside Records: Missouri and New Jersey
- Coconuts: Chicago area, New Jersey, New York, and Mid-Atlantic States
- Harmony House: Michigan
- Media Play: Nationwide
- On Cue: Nationwide
- Record Land: Nationwide (mall-based)
- Record Town: Nationwide (mall-based)
- Strawberries: Maryland and New England states
- The Wall: Mid-Atlantic States
- Wall To Wall Sound & Video / Listening Booth: Mid-Atlantic States, later converted to The Wall
