This is my tribute to my old "Record Store":
Tape City
Tape City's 3rd and final Athens TN location 1982-1996
1975-1996
PHOTOS WANTED
First Athens TN Location (Nov '75 - Dec '76):
TAPE CITY
Roses Shopping Center
Decatur Pike
Athens TN 37303
615-745-6231
TAPE CITY 1st location:
I was on the Southwest corner of the free-standing building out in the parking lot where Rose's Stores was (what was "Roses Plaza", then "Proffitt's Plaza" and now has "Belk's" as the anchor) from Nov 1975 until Dec 1976. I signed a lease for $240 per month that ran through 12-31-1976. The owners of the shopping center tried to screw me by waiting until around 12-15-1976 (when my lease was almost up) before they would meet with me to renew it. When they did send a rep. they wanted to go up $40 per month, make me pay "overage", force me to join the merchant association and force me to sign a 5-year lease. I refused to sign the lease, ran the rep. off, locked the door, put a "gone to lunch" sign up and started looking. I found a vacant location on the Northeast corner of Madison Park Shopping Center and................ (continued below)
Me, Phil Lea, at Tape City in front
of wall of 8-tracks
(circa 1976)
WANTED
Any pictures of any of my Tape City stores
WANTED:
Old 8-tracks and cassettes with the TAPE CITY stamp on them
Second Athens TN Location:
Tape City
Madison Park Shopping Center
Athens TN 37303
615-745-6231
The owners of the shopping center at my first location tried to screw me by waiting until around 12-15-1976 (when my lease was almost up) before they would meet with me to renew it. When they did send a rep. they wanted to go up $40 per month, make me pay "overage", force me to join the merchant association and force me to sign a 5-year lease. I refused to sign the lease, ran the rep. off, locked the door, put a "gone to lunch" sign up and started looking. I found a vacant location on the Northeast corner of Madison Park Shopping Center and contacted the owner, Kenneth Higgins. I think I paid $150 per month and signed a lease with them. (Kenneth tried to stick in a "overage" clause, but marked it out when I balked at it.)
TAPE CITY in Madison Park Shopping Center
I was there from 1977 to 1982
This was probably taken just after Elvis' death as there are lots of Elvis LPs in the end rack.
TAPE CITY in Madison Park. Looking back towards the front
door.
Note in the front: T-Shirts and black cloth above them holding buttons.
TAPE CITY signs at Madison Park as seen leaving the Post Office.
Third (and final) Athens TN Location:
Tape City
1400 Decatur Pike
Athens, TN 37303
423-745-6231
I purchased this building in
1982 from Jim Pitt and DDS Dugan
(only after good 'ol Mr.. Kenneth Higgins let me out of the lease I had just renewed
with him).
I operated Tape City there until I sold the building on or about November 1996.
Tape City
1400 Decatur Pike
Athens TN 37303
(circa 1990)
Vehicles from left:
Jane Ray's Pontiac,
my '75
4x4 Chevy, cust., cust., cust. & my uncle Hoyt Tinsley's '67 2+2 Mustang
Yellow Pages ad
Tape City sign during a snow storm
Snow at Tape City
The West side of my Tape City building (Note the 8-track shaped sign on this side.)
TAPE CITY Tennessee Business License
I typically purchased my music from one-stop distributors.
Central South Music Sales of Nashville TN
Music City Record Distributors of Nashville TN
One-Stop Record Distributors
Tara Records of Atlanta GA
(others to be remembered later)
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TAPE CITY
#2
127 Keith Street Plaza
Cleveland, TN 37303
615-479-9545
Grand Opening and
Ribbon-cutting Ceremonies for Tape City, Keith St. Plaza, Cleveland TN
[Cleveland Daily Banner photo circa 1978]
From left: Nelom Jackson
(Chamber of Commerce), Geoff Cox, Yulonda Shamblin, Donna Hicks,
Mayor Harry Dethro, Steve Garrett, Philip Lea (Owner), John Chattam of 1st
Citizens
Ad in the Cleveland Daily Banner
(circa 1978)
Cleveland Daily Banner notice
(circa 1978)
Phonolog "The all-in one record reporter"
Phonolog Catalog System (pre-computers)
Music City Record Distributors mug that was given to be for being a good
customer.
Music City Record Distributors, Inc SPECIAL ORDER FORM
Hand Williams, Sr. / Hank Williams, Jr. "There's a Tear In My Beer"
Promotional button sent to me
Kiss Originals songbook
Tape City Employee Teri "Teri-boo" Rose |
Me with long hair
I sponsored a WOKI DJ
to entertain at a fall festival at TWC
(circa 1976)
CLYDE & SADIE Tape City Calendar
Tape City employee, Melissa Sliger
Tape City employee, Jane Ray
Tape City pin
Tape City tag
Tape City business card I created
TAPE CITY Key Fobs
A Meat Loaf Cassette with a TAPE CITY Stamp.
Former Employees (at least the ones I can remember)
(Send me more names of those YOU remember)
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Honorary Employee:
Rupert Westfield (aka: Wes)
(photo wanted)
Oh, if only Martina still loved me!!!
WANTED: Pre-Recorded 8-Track Tapes
Var. Artists 8-Tracks Wanted:
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1950 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 2-door Sedan
$58k Frame-off Restoration, Excellent Condition
www.1950Chevrolet.com
New-Old-Stock CRAIG 8-Track Tape Player with FM Stereo Radio in my '50 Chevy
Check out my Dr. Shock website:
www.drwebman.com/dr_shock
Check out my tribute to Cleveland TN
www.PhotosOfCleveland.com
Click HERE to see
my "MEMORIES OF A CHILD 50s" website,
www.drwebman.com/memories
Ingrid Rebel and Bob Brandy
Click HERE to see my Tribute To Bob Brandy
http://drwebman.com/leroymercer/
Click HERE to see my Tribute To the REAL Leroy Mercer
My website that chronicles the WW-II Troop Train wreck near Jellico TN on July 6, 1944
The BAT CREEK STONE
My tribute to the Yuchi Indians
(Could the Yuchi be one of the lost tribes of Israel???)
Keywords to help search engines find me:
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