COLONY has been closed for nearly a year. I walk by it every day and see its awning and empty storefront windows, with decorated with those black, glittery curtains. A poster for the "new musical" MEMPHIS is still displayed on the door.
It's a great location. I wonder why none of the larger chain stores haven't snatched this space up yet.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
The next time you walk by, look up to see how busy the building looks in general. I fear we may be seeing the end of the Brill Building, and some of us are old enough to remember when Colony was probably one of the least interesting things about the building. And, no, it's NOT the way nostalgia ought to look.
I try not to think about it but it really is inexpressibly sad. Spent many a happy afternoon there, in the ridiculous heat among the ridiculously overpriced CDs.
Honestly though, Colony killed themselves with their prices. As interesting as it used to be to walk around inside, I've never met anyone who actually bought anything there.
I am trying to acquire one of the COLONY neon signs. I have been in contact with the owners of the building. There is a new tenant but will not say who.
I always thought their logo should have been that girl jumping while turning out her empty pockets and the caption would be, "I paid too much... at The Colony!"
"What- and quit show business?" - the guy shoveling elephant shit at the circus.
Brian, didn't you hear? gchris has a rich husband with a black card so we can only assume he has at least two or three floors worth of walls to cover in his Park Ave penthouse. Plenty of room!
Also, I was not a longtime Colony fan like some of those on here but became a frequent visitor once I moved to NYC in 2002. It was a fun place to kill some time but Jordan is right. Their prices were outrageous. I don't blame them, with their rent being as high as it is, but what can you do? The property owners and investors are looking for the highest profit margin.
Even if Colony had moved to a lower profile spot, I don't think they would have survived. Rent might have been about 10% of the problem but the other 90% would have to be online music and the internet. If the internet is your biggest competitor, it's time to pack it in (see: Musicland Inc.) or adapt to the changing times (see: Linens n Things)
What is the difference between Liza's headband and trash on the floor at a bar? The TRASH gets pick up. Go away little girl. You too should get a life and stop worrying about mine.
I remember all the outraged posts on Facebook from numerous friends when they announced they were closing and how it was such a shame that the landlords were basically forcing them out of business. Yet very few of those friends could actually remember the last time they had actually bought anything there. It was always "it was a great place to browse and hang out," never "it was a great place to buy something."
I think it's pretty funny that you get so angry on people calling you out for facts that you yourself have chosen to share with everyone. You react with the basest form of name calling that I can guarantee no one finds funny/cute and just makes you look like a complete idiot.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
Colony, as an institution, was a fun browse- but who wants to drop $50, $60 on a hard to find cast recording one can find for $10 or $20 on Amazon? The store was large in a place with extremely high rent. There's no way it could compete with Internet stores that do what it did and better.
The Drama Book Shop at least offers products and a service that can't really be duplicated on Amazon.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."