Amoeba Music
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Music) |
| Founded | January 1, 1990 in Berkeley, California, United States |
| Founder | Marc Weinstein, Dave Prinz, Mike Boyder |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, California , United States |
Area served | Berkeley, San Francisco, Los Angeles (Hollywood), California, United States |
| Products | Music-related media (vinyl records, CDs), films and television shows (DVD, VHS), music-themed posters and merchandise |
| Website | amoeba |
Amoeba Music is a privately owned American chain of independent record stores, with outlets situated in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The stores primarily offer music-related media but also carry films and television shows available on DVD and VHS formats. Their diverse musical inventory encompasses genres such as rock, pop, blues, soul, funk, hip hop, and jazz. Recognized as a favored destination for enthusiasts of physical media and music aficionados alike, Amoeba Music was established in 1990 in Berkeley, California. Despite the widespread decline of CD sales during the 2000s, the company has continued to operate successfully. Amoeba’s retail focus largely centers on vinyl records and compact discs.
Founding of the original Berkeley location (1990)
Amoeba Music was launched in 1990 on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley by former staff members of the nearby Rasputin Records. The founding team included Marc Weinstein, Dave Prinz, and Mike Boyder. The store’s distinctive logo was created by comic artist Shepherd Hendrix. Initially concentrating on selling used merchandise, Amoeba managed to withstand the downturn in CD sales experienced in the early 2000s by implementing a trade-in program and capitalizing on the resurgence of vinyl records.
Expansion to San Francisco (1997)
On November 15, 1997, Amoeba opened its second venue in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district near Golden Gate Park. This location occupies the former Park Bowl bowling alley, encompassing approximately 24,000 square feet. The San Francisco store maintains an extensive inventory that frequently exceeds 100,000 items including new and used CDs, vinyl records, and audio cassettes.
Third location (Los Angeles, 2001)
The third Amoeba Music store commenced operations on November 17, 2001, situated on Sunset Boulevard at the intersection with Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood. Upon its debut, the store intended to offer up to 250,000 titles, which would have ranked it among the largest independent music retailers globally. According to Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times, this location quickly became recognized as a notable Hollywood landmark.
Robert Leaver, co-founder of San Francisco's Round World Music record shop and label, led the world music section at this store. He also served as an international records buyer for Amoeba’s Berkeley branch. While music remains the primary focus, all Amoeba outlets also engage in trading movies, maintaining smaller collections of DVDs, VHS tapes, Laserdiscs, and Blu-rays. Each store additionally features music-themed posters and artwork available for purchase alongside branded merchandise. The original Sunset Boulevard venue included a full second floor dedicated exclusively to DVD and Blu-ray selections. Moreover, Amoeba Music regularly hosted complimentary live performances during business hours featuring both local talents and nationally acclaimed artists across diverse genres.
In 2015, Amoeba sold the Sunset Boulevard property to a holding company but continued to operate under a lease agreement. By 2018, plans were revealed to demolish the existing building and replace it with a modern glass-and-steel tower comprising residential units and commercial spaces, necessitating Amoeba’s relocation. On April 27, 2020, ahead of schedule, Amoeba announced the permanent closure of this location due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following California Governor Gavin Newsom’s statewide stay-at-home order aimed at curbing virus transmission, many non-essential retailers were required to shut down temporarily. In response to the financial strain caused by reliance on in-store sales, Amoeba launched a fundraising initiative on GoFundMe to help cover expenses during this challenging period.
Los Angeles Store Relocation (2021)
Amoeba Music secured a new site for its Los Angeles outlet at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue. This venue is situated within the recently developed El Centro apartment complex. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the extensive inventory of CDs, LPs, DVDs, and books was kept in storage while construction took place at this new address.[1] The grand opening of this location occurred on April 1, 2021.[2]
Positioned close to the renowned Pantages Theatre within the Hollywood and Vine neighborhood, the new Amoeba Music location continues its legacy of hosting complimentary live performances for patrons. The store regularly features free concerts during business hours, showcasing both local talents and nationally acclaimed musicians across diverse genres. On March 31, 2022, the band Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a complimentary live set for customers following their receipt of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is located near the entrance to Amoeba Music. The star unveiling ceremony included appearances by George Clinton, Woody Harrelson, and Bob Forrest.[3] [4][5]
YouTube Channel
Established on January 27, 2006, Amoeba's official YouTube channel features artist interviews, recordings from live performances held at Amoeba stores, and the acclaimed What's In My Bag? series. This award-winning program showcases various artists and influencers revealing their discoveries while shopping at Amoeba.[6]
Popular culture
The Hollywood location was featured as a selectable venue in the 2008 music video game Guitar Hero World Tour. On June 27, 2007, Paul McCartney performed a live set at this venue without prior announcement, during which he recorded his EP Amoeba's Secret. This performance was later fully released in 2019 under the title Amoeba Gig.
Gallery
-
Store in Berkeley -
Facade of San Francisco store -
Interior view of San Francisco location
References
- ↑ "Amoeba Music - Store Locations, Hours and General Information".
- ↑ Willman, Chris (2021-04-01). "Amoeba Music: A Look Inside the Sprawling New Hollywood Store". Variety. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ↑ "Red Hot Chili Peppers to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Variety. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ↑ Willman, Chris (1 April 2021). "Amoeba Music: A Look Inside the Sprawling New Hollywood Store". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ↑ Stuart, Gwynedd (22 March 2021). "Amoeba Hollywood Sets Opening Date at New Location". Los Angeles Magazine. Hour Media Group LLC. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ↑ "Amoeba Music - What's In My Bag". www.amoeba.com. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
External links
- Official website of Amoeba Music
- Hermes, Will (February 19, 1998). "The World's Greatest Record Store?". Rolling Stone. No. 780. pp. 19–20.
- Diehl, Matt; Eliscu, Jenny (August 12, 2003). "Indie Chains Are Slump Proof: California's Amoeba and other retailers succeed amid industry nightmare". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 2008-01-07. Retrieved 28 November 2005.
- "S.F. Music Landmark Headed to Sunset - Brief Article". (November 13, 2000.) Christopher Keough. Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved 2005-11-28.
- "Golden State: Record Chain Bets on the Past, Future". (November 17, 2005.) Michael Hiltzik. Los Angeles Times (including the accompanying Golden State Blog).
- "Amoeba Music's Simple Formula". (February 17, 2005). BusinessWeek.
- "[1]". (December 30, 2023). Travel Bug Rachel.