King Karol

King Karol
Industry Retail
Founded 1952
Founder Phil King
Ben Karol
Defunct sometime between 1987 and 1993
Headquarters New York, New York, U.S.
Number of locations
 7
Area served
 Manhattan
Products Albums

King Karol was a New York City, New York-based record store chain founded by Ben Karol[1] and Phil King in 1952.[2]

Lasting through at least 1987,[3] and defunct for some time by 1993,[4] King Karol was one of New York's "largest [and most] comprehensive" music stories.[5]

Aside from its main branch at 126 West 42nd Street in Manhattan,[5] King Karol by mid-1971 had outlets at 460 West 42nd Street, at the corner of 10th Avenue; 940 Third Avenue, at East 57th Street; 609 Fifth Avenue, at 49th Street, in the KLM Building; and, in Flushing, Queens, at 40-46 Main Street.[6] Later, the chain opened at least one other location, at 1521 Third Avenue, at East 86th Street,[7] and, by mid-1975, at 1500 Broadway, at West 43rd Street.[8]

During the early days of the firm, a store was located at 111 West 42nd Street, at 6th Avenue, from sometime before 1954[9][10] until 1976[11] when it was replaced by the 126 West 42nd Street location. During most of the 1950s, this was the only store in the chain. In the 1960s and early 1970s, this was the main store in the multiple store chain.

After 1976, the 126 West 42nd Street location[11] served as the main store until it closed sometime around the beginning of 1985.[12][13]

During the 1960s, stores were also located at 254 West 34th Street (1961[14]–1966[15]); 153 West 42nd Street (1961[14]–1961[16]); 48 West 48th Street (1965[17]–1966[15]); and 444 West 42nd Street (1966[18]–1966[15]).

During the 1970s, stores were also located at 940 Third Avenue, at 57th Street (1969[19]–1980[20]); 460 West 42nd Street, at 10th Avenue, in the West Side Airlines Terminal Building (1970.[21][22]–1977[23]); in Flushing, Queens, at 40-46 Main Street (1970[6][24]–1980[20]); 609 Fifth Avenue, at 49th Street, in the KLM Building (1971[25]–1978[26]); 1500 Broadway, at West 43rd Street in the National General Building, Times Square (1972[27][28]–after 1987[3]); 7 West 48th Street (1977[23]–1981[29]); and 1521 Third Avenue, at 86th Street (1979[30]–after 1987[3]).

In 1981, Ben Karol experimented with record album rentals, similar to the then-emerging market for videocassette rental, after having studied successful record rental systems in Canada. He told an interviewer, "The record industry isn't that great these days. You sit around and think of ways to stimulate it, try to come up with ideas based on what similar product is doing. ... [T]he whole video tape business is now going rental".[31]

A year later, in 1982, the chain had four stores and began to include a video tape rental service that was provided by an outside vendor.[32][33] Ben Karol said in his 1987 interview in Billboard Magazine subleases the video department to an outside vendor saying that he is "still a records man".[3]

Toward the end of 1982, the chain was reduced to three stores and the owners King and Karol were considering the possible sale of the remaining stores.[34] Around this time, Tower Records was building a 34,000-square foot superstore in Manhattan[35][36] and locally owned Sam Goody had recently sold itself to the parent of Musicland[37] which made it possible for Sam Goody to expand nationally. King died shortly afterwards in 1983.[2] By late 1984, Tower made it very difficult for small independents to compete.[12]

By 1987, the company was down to two stores, from seven at its height.[3] Ben Karol died in 1993 after a long illness.[38]

King Karol also operated a mail order record business through P.O. Box 629, Times Square Station, New York, New York 10036.[39]

In the media

The King Karol branch at 460 West 42nd Street, with its lit sign in a nighttime scene, is visible during the bus-chase sequence in the 1973 New York City police film Badge 373, immediately before the bus crashes into an Army/Navy store.

References

  1. ↑ Lewis, Lisa A. (1991). Gender Politics and MTV. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-87722-942-1.
  2. 1 2 "News: N.Y. Retailer Phil King Dies". Billboard 95 (4). January 29, 1983. p. 4. Phil King, who founded King Karol Records with Ben Karol in 1952, died Jan. 18 of cancer. He was 66. Link via ProQuest.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Paige, Earl (April 18, 1987). "Retailing: Retail Track". Billboard 99 (16). pp. 37, 39. King Karol: Some might call him the patriarch of Gotham record retailing. At 72, Ben Karol has been selling records for 38 years. He has two King Karol stores now: one on Third Avenue and another at Times Square. ...at one point, a seven-store chain. Both current stores are combos, but Karol subleases the video departments. (Via ProQuest)
  4. ↑ Martin, Douglas (January 4, 1993). "Strictly Business; How the Music Stopped for The Record Hunter". The New York Times. p. B3.
  5. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (September 21, 1984). "Music to Go: A Guide to Disk and Tape Shops". The New York Times. New York's two other largest comprehensive stores [in addition to Tower Records are] J&R Music (732-8600), at 23 Park Row, and the main King Karol (354-6880), at 126 West 42d Street....
  6. 1 2 "King Karol advertisement". The Village Voice. June 17, 1971. p. 48.
  7. ↑ "Brookhill Announces Leasing of 4 Manhattan Retail Spaces". Real Estate Weekly. December 23, 1992. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  8. ↑ "King Karol advertisement". The Village Voice. June 2, 1975. p. 106.
  9. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. March 20, 1955. p. M6. King Karol's Record Shop, 111 W. 42nd St. near 6th Ave. Link via ProQuest.
  10. ↑ "Columbia Records Ad". New York Times. February 7, 1954. p. 73. King Karol Inc., 111 West 42nd Street. Link via ProQuest.
  11. 1 2 "King Karol Ad". New York Times. January 25, 1976. p. 95. Mail orders to: King Karol, P.O. Box 629 Times Square Station, New York 10036; America's most completely stocked record stores; 1500 Broadway at 43rd Street; 609 Fifth Ave.; 111 West 42 St.; 460 West 42 St.; 940 Third Ave.; Flushing, Queens: 40-46 Main St.; Coming Soon - Our largest, best stocked, most attractive store ever! Watch it being built - 126 West 42 Street at 6th Avenue. Link via ProQuest.
  12. 1 2 Blauner, Peter (November 19, 1984). "Power of Tower". New York Magazine 17 (46). p. 19. ISSN 0028-7369. "It's going to have an impact on every store within 50 mles of here," said Ben Karol, president of King Karol Records, which operates three stores in Manhattan. "You can't compete with them. They're going to dominate." Karol added that Tower is a good reason part of the reason that he will soon have to close his 10,000-square-foot warehouse store on West 42nd Street.
  13. ↑ "Display Ad 16 -- No Title". New York Times. June 8, 1983. p. A18. At all King Karol stores, America's most completely stocked record stores; 126 West 42 St.; 1500 Broadway at 43rd St.; 1521 Third Avenue at 86th Street. Link via ProQuest.
  14. 1 2 "King Karol Ad". New York Times. May 14, 1961. p. X18. King Karol Record Shops; 3 convenient locations: Main Store, 111 W. 42nd St. nr. 6th Ave.; 153 W. 42nd St. off B'way; 254 W. 34th St. bet. 7th & 8th Ave. Link via ProQuest.
  15. 1 2 3 "King Karol Ad". New York Times. December 4, 1966. p. X34. King Karol Records, 3 convenient locations, 444 West 42nd Street (Between 9th & 10th Aves.), 111 West 42nd Street (Between 6th & 7th Aves.); Terminal Hudson Store, 48 West 48th Street (Between 5th & 6th Aves. Link via ProQuest.
  16. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. December 22, 1961. p. 12. King Karol Record Shops; 3 convenient locations: Main Store, 111 W. 42nd St. nr, 6th Ave.; 153 W. 42nd St. off B'way; 254 W. 34th St. bet. 7th & 8th Ave. Link via ProQuest.
  17. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. October 23, 1965. p. 62. King Karol Records, Main Store, 111 West 42nd Street; 254 West 34th Street; Terminal Hudson Store, 48 West 48th Street. Link via ProQuest.
  18. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. November 27, 1966. p. H_F8. King Karol Records, 3 convenient locations, 444 West 42nd Street (Between 9th & 10th Aves.); 111 West 42nd Street (Between 6th & 7th Aves.); Terminal Hudson Store, 48 West 48th Street (Between 5th & 6th Aves.) Link via ProQuest.
  19. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. March 18, 1969. p. 19. Direct mail orders to: P.O. Box 629, Times Square Station, New York 10036; East Side: 940 Third Avenue at 57th Street; West Side: 111 West 42nd St. at 6th Avenue. Link via ProQuest.
  20. 1 2 "King Karol Ad". New York Times. January 9, 1980. p. C24. Mail orders to King Karol, P.O. Box 629 Times Square Station, New York 10036; America's most completely stocked record stores; New Store at 1521 Third Avenue at 86th Street; 126 West 42 St.; 7 West 48th Street; 1500 Broadway at 43rd St.; 460 West 42 St.; 940 Third Ave.; Flushing, Queens: 40-46 Main St. Link via ProQuest.
  21. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. April 2, 1970. p. 24. King Karol Records & Tapes; New location 460 West 42nd Street corner 10th Ave.; Direct all mail orders to: King Karol Records, P.O. Box 629, Times Square Station, New York 10036; West Side: 460 West 42nd St. at 10th Avenue; East Side: 940 Third Avenue at 57th Street; Midtown: 111 West 42nd St. at 6th Avenue. Link via ProQuest.
  22. ↑ "Karol Opens 3d N.Y. Store". Billboard 82 (12). March 21, 1970. p. 3. Ben Karol has opened a third King Karol store in New York, in the West Side Air Terminal Building. Link via ProQuest.
  23. 1 2 "King Karol Ad". New York Times. December 9, 1977. p. C13. Mail orders to King Karol, P.O. Box 629, Times Square Station, New York 10036; America's most completely stocked record stores; 126 West 42 St.; 609 Fifth Ave.; 1500 Broadway; 460 West 42 St.; 940 Third Ave.; Flushing, Queens: 40-46 Main St.; Our New completely stocked store is now open at 7 West 48th Street (a few steps west of Fifth Avenue). Link via ProQuest.
  24. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. September 27, 1970. p. 100. King Karol Record & Tape Shops; Direct all mail orders to: King Karol Records, P.O. Box 629, Times Square Station, New York 10036; Bargain Outlet: 460 West 42nd St. at 10th Avenue; East Side: 940 Third Avenue at 57th Street; Midtown: 111 West 42nd St. at 6th Avenue; Opening Soon, Another King Karol at 40-46 Main St., Flushing Queens. Link via ProQuest.
  25. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. June 3, 1971. p. 28. 111 West 42nd (6th Ave.); 940 Third Ave. (57th St.); 460 West 42nd (10th Ave.); Flushing-Queens, 40-46 Main Street; Flash! Our new store, 609 Fifth Ave. (corner 49th Street/KLM Bldg.), Will be open July 1. Link via ProQuest.
  26. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. May 14, 1978. p. D24. America's most completely stocked record stores; 126 West 42 St.; 1500 Broadway; 609 Fifth Ave.; 940 Third Ave.; 460 West 42 St.; Flushing, Queens: 40-46 Main St.; Our New completely stocked store at 7 West 48th is now open. Link via ProQuest.
  27. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. November 29, 1972. p. 31. Use Ad As Order Form. Check Items Wanted And Send Mail Orders To: King Karol Records, P.O. Box 629, Times Square Station, New York 10036; 609 Fifth Avenue (49th St. KLM Bldg.); 940 Third Avenue at 57th Street; 111 West 42nd St.; 460 West 52nd St.; Flushing, Queens, 40-46 Main Street. Link via ProQuest.
  28. ↑ Sobel, Robert (June 24, 1972). "Ben Karol Sees Mfrs. In Retailing, Detrimental". Billboard 84 (26). p. 6. ...in the five-store operation in the metropolitan N.Y. area. A sixth will open Oct. 1 here in the National General Building. Link via ProQuest.
  29. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. April 19, 1981. p. D25. Mail orders to King Karol, P.O. Box 629 Times Square Station, New York 10108; America's most completely stocked record stores; 126 West 42 St.; 1500 Broadway at 43rd St.; 7 West 48th Street; 1521 Third Avenue at 86th Street. Link via ProQuest.
  30. ↑ "King Karol Ad". New York Times. August 19, 1979. p. D20. Send mail orders to King Karol, P.O. Box 629 Times Square Station, New York 10036; America's most completely stocked record stores; 126 West 42 St.; 1500 Broadway; 7 West 48th St.; 940 Third Ave.; 460 West 42 St.; Flushing, Queens: 40-46 Main St.; Visit our newest store at 1521 Third Avenue at 86th Street. Link via ProQuest.
  31. ↑ Harrington, Richard (June 28, 1981). "Record Rentals: Cashing in on Home Taping". Washington Post. p. K1. (subscription required (help)). Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  32. ↑ "King Karol To Handle Videotape". Billboard 94 (5). February 6, 1982. p. 4. King Karol, the four unit Manhattan chain, will end its holdout as a prerecorded and blank home videotape in several weeks. According to Ben Karol, co-owner of the company, Win Records & Tape Tape here will rack the unit with 300 best-selling tapes, mostly in the VHS format. Link via ProQuest.
  33. ↑ Lichtman, Irv (October 22, 1983). "Video Making Inroads At New York's King Karol". Billboard 95 (43). p. 6. Two of Ben Karol's three King Karol retail units here will have a firm footing in the home video market by the end of the month. Karol says his third unit is expected to move into home video around the first of the year. Link via ProQuest.
  34. ↑ Lichtman, Irv (November 20, 1982). "Retailing: Sale Of King Karol Mulled". Billboard 94 (46). p. 24. After more than 30 years on the New York music retail scene, Ben Karol and Phil King are entertaining offers to sell their King Karol operation. ...Karol, who co-founded the now three-store unit with King in 1952. At its peak three years ago, Karol and King operated seven stores in the New York metropolitan area. Since the, four units have been phased out, including a location in Flushing and Manhattan locations on 42nd St. and Ninth Ave.; 57th St. and Third Ave.; and 48th between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Link via ProQuest.
  35. ↑ Horowitz, Is (July 3, 1982). "Tower Planning 'Superstore' In New York Mart". Billboard 94 (26). p. 1. ISSN 0006-2510.
  36. ↑ Horowitz, Is (October 9, 1982). "N.Y.C. Getting Tower Superstore". Billboard 94 (40). p. 70. ISSN 0006-2510.
  37. ↑ Barmash, Isadore (December 14, 1977). "American Can Plans To Buy Sam Goody". New York Times. pp. D1, D7. (subscription required (help)). Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  38. ↑ "Lifelines - Deaths". Billboard 105 (32). August 7, 1993. p. 54. Ben Karol, in his late 70s, of a long illness, July 22 in New York. Link via ProQuest.
  39. ↑ "King Karol advertisement". The Village Voice. May 20, 1971. p. 44.

External links

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