Sunset Strip Tower Records Gets New Appeal Date: Monday November 18th

A new date has been set for the appeal before the city council for the Tower Records store on the Sunset Strip to be historically preserved. It is now scheduled for Monday, November 18th at 6:30pm at the city council chambers located at 625 North San Vicente Boulevard between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. Anyone can come and appear in person to speak for two minutes for this appeal. If you are unable to come in person then you can still email: SReich@weho.org and Ccouncil@weho.org or call city council offices at: 323 848-6460. Over 1600 music fans have signed the online petition to Save Tower Records at Change.org at: http://chn.ge/1e5yF92

Tower Records stores used to be everywhere and now the most famous Tower Records store on the Sunset Strip in Southern California has music fans rallying to preserve the building and location.

Last spring the city of West Hollywood’s Historic Preservation Commission had two meetings where they agreed there was definitely an overwhelming significant cultural, social and music history for this Tower Records store. But then the commission got hung up on mere aesthetics of red and yellow paint and additional advertising marketing signage. The commissioners did try to recommend a plaque or perhaps a music square as recognition. Unfortunately the commissioners disagreed about full preservation of the location and structure. The majority of music fans and experts want full preservation of the location and structure. The original Tower Records store opened in November 1970 and began with no additional advertising marketing signage at all. The original applicant for preservation of this store is well-known historian and author of “Riot on Sunset: Rock and Roll’s Last Stand,” Domenic Priore. 

Residents and music fans know that the commissioners last spring missed an important opportunity to preserve the location and site. But now there is a second chance as the Tower Records Store is up for reconsideration with the appeal to the city council.

During it's almost four decades this Tower Records store on the happening Sunset Strip had become something of a Hollywood landmark in its own right. Open until 1 AM on weekends, Tower Records was the most popular Tinsel town hangout, and a scene all its own. This flagship store of the Tower Records chain could once claim to be "the largest record store in the nation." Tower Records store has always retained its legendary status. You would never know who you might see there. Rock groups and individual performers showed up regularly in person at the store for impromptu concerts or autograph sessions, and special promotional events were common.