Turtle's Records & Tapes

Turtle's Records and Tapes was a Southern USA retail chain, based in Atlanta, that specialized in selling cassettes, records, and concert tickets; in the latter years of the chain's existence, it also rented movies in VHS format. Turtle's was recognized for its trademark logo, an upright standing turtle with its neck twisted around in several coils as he attempts to look backwards. It was known for its deep selection and one of the most varied video rental offerings in its markets before the arrival of the big chains such as Blockbuster Inc. Small gold coins with a turtle on one side and a record on the other were issued by the stores for gift certificates.

Owned and incorporated by Al Levenson in 1977, the chain was regional in nature, concentrated in Georgia and Florida. Levenson sold the chain to Clinton Holding Co. of White Plains, New York around 1983 although he still remained in charge of its operations. At the time of the sale the chain consisted of 26 stores in the Atlanta metro area, but by October 1986 the business had expanded to 70 stores with locations in cities such as Birmingham, Alabama, Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Macon.[1]

Blockbuster purchased Super Club Retail Entertainment Corp., including the Turtle's Records chain, in 1993.[2][3]

Over the succeeding four years, Turtle's stores were converted into Blockbuster Music stores or merged with stores that Blockbuster owned at the time of the purchase of the regional record seller.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Shaw, Russell (1986-10-11). "Group Expands Beyond Its Atlanta Base: Turtle's Grows at Hare's Speed". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). p. 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  2. ↑ "Blockbuster Buys Super Club". Boca Raton News. 23 November 1993.
  3. ↑ "BLOCKBUSTER TO BUY SUPER CLUB RETAIL FOR $150 MILLION". New York Times (New York: The New York Times Company). 1993-10-07. p. D4.
  4. ↑ In record biz, indies hanging on for dear life