In the late 1990’s, the North Canton-Ohio based music retailer, Camelot Music, decided to open a new mall prototype. They wanted a store that looked and felt different from the typical cookie-cutter mall music stores we were becoming accustomed to. Their concept was more than just a music store, it was a “lifestyle” store. After all, music is the foundation of many lifestyles.

Camelot music opened their new flagship store in a 17,000 sq ft retail space located in Great Lakes Mall. In addition to the normal entrance in the mall, the store also had it’s own front entrance from the parking lot. And the overall look of the store was more like a hip clothing store.

Next to a CD display you could find t-shirts, books and other memorabilia that paired with the CD’s. And the store didn’t stop there incorporating their new “lifestyle” products. They carried vintage jeans, comic books, watches, lighters, trading cards, musical instruments, and quirky boutique style items. I’m sure we all remember the ever popular notebooks with the car license plate on them.

Despite the new products, about 65% of the store merchandise remained music-related.

The president of Camelot Music believed that the mall music business could regain it’s health by decreasing the number of music stores in each mall. He predicted that in the future the mall will support one good music store. And even though Camelot did it’s best to position itself to be that store, we ended up with F.Y.E. instead. WTH?

“Camelot Music is the coolest music chain in the country.” Anna Nicole Smith (AOL Center Stage, 20 October 1995)

You can be the coolest with this Camelot Repeat Performer Card t-shirt by Untitled Colours.