For classical music lovers with old-fashioned ideas about buying recordings in Manhattan — in stores, on compact discs — the choices have dwindled. Tower Records near Lincoln Center closed in 2006. The Virgin Megastore in Times Square shut down in 2009. And in 2011, Barnes & Noble, which had devoted one level to CDs and videos in a large store across the street from the former Tower space, moved out.

That left J&R, just south of City Hall, as the lone store in Manhattan that still sold new releases and maintained a comprehensive inventory. Now J&R — where music was once so much a part of the store’s identity that it called itself J&R Music World — has dropped the music from its name, reduced the floor space devoted to CDs and videos and all but eliminated classical recordings. The few left are scattered in bins with CDs from other categories. A sampling in recent days indicated that they were marked “clearance” or “close-out,” or were used. Signs above the bins promised a 20 percent discount at checkout.

Former employees said in interviews that more than a dozen workers were dismissed last month. “It’s my understanding that J&R is completely getting out of the music and video business,” said a former buyer who asked not to be identified out of concern that it could jeopardize a job hunt.

Image A formerly rich classical music inventory at J&R on Park Row now consists of discounted CDs sold in bins with other music. Credit... Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

A spokeswoman for J&R declined to answer questions about its plans for classical recordings. “We are currently considering various opportunities for the J&R space, which we expect to share with the public in the next couple of months,” the spokeswoman, Melissa Nathan, said by email. J&R’s website says simply that music, movies and games are no longer available online, only in the store on Park Row in Lower Manhattan.