King Karol
King Karol logo, 1971
|
|
| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1952 |
| Founder |
|
| Defunct | sometime between 1987 and 1993 |
| Headquarters | New York, New York, U.S. |
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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 and Phil King in 1952.
Lasting through at least 1987, and defunct for some time by 1993, King Karol was one of New York's "largest [and most] comprehensive" music stories.
Aside from its main branch at 126 West 42nd Street in Manhattan, 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. Later, the chain opened at least one other location, at 1521 Third Avenue, at East 86th Street, and, by mid-1975, at 1500 Broadway, at West 43rd Street.
During the early days of the firm, a store was located at 111 West 42nd Street, at 6th Avenue, from sometime before 1954 until 1976 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 served as the main store until it closed sometime around the beginning of 1985.
During the 1960s, stores were also located at 254 West 34th Street (1961–1966); 153 West 42nd Street (1961–1961); 48 West 48th Street (1965–1966); and 444 West 42nd Street (1966–1966).
During the 1970s, stores were also located at 940 Third Avenue, at 57th Street (1969–1980); 460 West 42nd Street, at 10th Avenue, in the West Side Airlines Terminal Building (1970.–1977); in Flushing, Queens, at 40-46 Main Street (1970–1980); 609 Fifth Avenue, at 49th Street, in the KLM Building (1971–1978); 1500 Broadway, at West 43rd Street in the National General Building, Times Square (1972–after 1987); 7 West 48th Street (1977–1981); and 1521 Third Avenue, at 86th Street (1979–after 1987).
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