We can breathe: It looks like the iconic Amoeba Records in L.A. won’t be torn down!
Yesterday, LAist reported some of the most devastating news that a music lover — especially a music lover based in Los Angeles — could ever hear. There was reason to believe that Amoeba Records, the iconic two-story musical palace located on Sunset Boulevard in L.A., was going to be torn down and replaced with a luxury building (complete with a rooftop pool). Apparently, L.A. needs more of those, and not a musical landmark?
I. KNOW.
LAist shared this horrific information when they came across the online portfolio for architecture illustration firm, Shimahara, which featured a building design meant for 6400 Sunset Boulevard. That’s the address for Amoeba Records.
When their reporters did a little more digging, they discovered an LLC called 6400 Sunset that had purchased the building. Plus, a nearby Jack in the Box getting replaced with a 21-story hotel doesn’t exactly make it seem that the area is maintaining its culture. LAist then made phone calls and wrote emails to various developers, councilmembers, and Amoeba Records managers — but the reporters couldn’t confirm what was going on with the building.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKRmITbDMI6
Naturally, people were FREAKING OUT.
Amoeba Records is a music mecca. It takes up an entire city block, and its massive walls are covered with historic concert posters and album covers. You can find rare vinyl albums, CDs, videos, and DVDs. In a world where discovering new music largely takes place online, it is one of the few remaining places where you can actually experience the excitement of finding something new at the record store.
The record store is also home to free live shows, where you can see everyone from newer artists like Grouplove and Lana Del Rey, to legends like Paul McCartney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxmwjfNbeRA?feature=oembed
BUT WE CAN BREATHE!!!!!!!!
After the citywide panic, Amoeba Records posted this official statement to Twitter:
You may have read an article today about us… pic.twitter.com/18l9zRPGMn
— Amoeba Music (@amoebamusic) September 13, 2016
It reads:
“We’re going to remain in our building for the duration of our lease — which is several years — and Amoeba and the building owner are open to us potentially staying longer. We are committed to staying in Hollywood and we appreciate all your concern and support!”
Y’all, everything isn’t terrible. <3
