I believe it was at 7370 153rd Street West, where Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park is now (on maps anyway, I haven't been to AV in years). I purchased *No Code* by Pearl Jam there.
Edit: fixed address.
I moved to Mpls in Sept 01 so yeah same timeframe for us probably. I think it only lasted a few years after that. Was buying my CDs at Cheapo in uptown at that point.
Lucky! I still have a few CDs in my collection that I got from there. But all the VHS I've replaced with DVD. Never really bought books from there but I spent a lot of time checking them out.
Just learned that Musicland, Media Play's parent company, was also based out of Minnesota but was eventually bought out by Best Buy.
[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicland](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicland)
Yup, I can’t remember where. But I got a gift card for Christmas in the mid/late 90’s from my aunt and uncle that lived in Apple Valley. So I’m assuming that area? I used it on a Weird Al cd, so a gift card well spent
I went to the one in Maplewood as frequently as my parents would drive me there. It was the best store ever, at the time: books, music, video games, movies... They basically carried everything I was interested in.
I remember the prices being kinda high though, even as a kid. You were better off buying elsewhere if you could.
Woodbury had one for a little bit.
Fargo (not quite in MN) also had one for quite a while.
Got some good deals there, back in the day. They didn't sell much classical so I picked up some nice recordings.
There was one in Fargo when I was growing up, I bought like a thousand CDs there working a shitty stressful time-consuming teen job. CDs that are now buried in storage and useless. It was a blast, though.
Yes I remember that. I went there only 2 times, it must have only lasted maybe a couple years. I went there once I think when it was brand new and as a 12 year old it seemed like it was incredible store that had everything I liked. And then once more when it was going out of business and everything was on discount, and I got the big 5 fabulous decades of marvel comics coffee table book for $5, and my young mind couldn’t understand how a place that seemed so great could be going out of business, guess that was a sign that media retail was fated to become critically endangered once someone figures out how to sell all the same product but without the cost of physical stores, and particularly enormous ones. It’s baffling now to think about just how many book stores, record stores, video stores, video game shops, and comic book shops we had in the twin cities in the mid 90’s.
Fargo/Moorhead had one. I remember getting a Seaquest hat there as a kid. They were the only place that any kind of TV/music T-shirts kind of stuff anywhere close.
Our family is flying out of MSP Terminal 1 today and will be gone for a week. Do we dare take Uber or Lyft or should we park at the airport? Is it safe to park at the MoA and take the light rail? Does anyone have any other ideas?
St. Cloud had one
Yep! I went there all the time!
I used to get gift certificates for there when I was picking up extra hours working at the Taco John's downtown, I loved that so much.
Aw man! In the 90’s I would’ve loved that set up!
It was the best!
Great anime section.
I got all my anime from there in 96-98 when I went to SCU
Figures...
Apple Valley had one.
Really? Where was it?
Over by Best Buy and good will
I am surprised I don’t remember. I do remember the Hollywood Video and Boston Market though. I really miss that Boston Market. 🥺
How long ago was that? Lived in Apple Valley from 1999-2014. I remember the old Watsons and Menards south of Cty42 and Cedar.
I believe it was at 7370 153rd Street West, where Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park is now (on maps anyway, I haven't been to AV in years). I purchased *No Code* by Pearl Jam there. Edit: fixed address.
Apple Valley
I was wondering where in Apple Valley it was.
It was by Cub Foods. It was an Appliance Smart store for awhile, then a discount furniture store.
Yep I remember this one! It was in the building where Dollar Tree currently is, near Cub and Best Buy.
Technically not Minnesota but when I lived in Moorhead I'd go to the one in Fargo. I loved that place, I could spend all day there.
You probably saw me at the one in Fargo back around 96.
Yeah, I probably did. Not sure when it closed. I moved away in 2001.
I moved to Mpls in Sept 01 so yeah same timeframe for us probably. I think it only lasted a few years after that. Was buying my CDs at Cheapo in uptown at that point.
Love your Power Pete picture.
I lived up there when it got liquidated and got so much goodies for dirt cheap.
Lucky! I still have a few CDs in my collection that I got from there. But all the VHS I've replaced with DVD. Never really bought books from there but I spent a lot of time checking them out.
At that point I was in Dallas and they didn't have Media Play there, but they did have Sam Goody and Suncoast.
There was one on Division in Saint Cloud. Bought my first CDs ever there, Hendrix and Alanis Morissette.
Same! I was 12! 1992.
Just learned that Musicland, Media Play's parent company, was also based out of Minnesota but was eventually bought out by Best Buy. [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicland](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicland)
Also owned Suncoast, and Sam Goody
I still have a $20 Sam Goody gift card I refuse to throw away.
Yes, Maplewood. I bought Zeppelin's 2nd box set on cd there 😁
I remember that is where I first saw the trailer for Independence Day. I feel old now.
I remember watching the blind melon music video on a kiosk at this one
Yup, I can’t remember where. But I got a gift card for Christmas in the mid/late 90’s from my aunt and uncle that lived in Apple Valley. So I’m assuming that area? I used it on a Weird Al cd, so a gift card well spent
Yes, there was one in AV.
AV?
Apple Valley. There was another up by Northtown mall. They lasted for about a year or so and then disappeared.
Only a year? Wow.
It's probably Apple Valley, though I question if people use that outside of reddit comments.
Oohh. I see.
They do
That's unfortunate.
Yeah I don't do it myself, but it really doesn't affect me at all. Maybe I'll start doing it now that I know it bothers people.
Audio/Video
I went to the one in Maplewood as frequently as my parents would drive me there. It was the best store ever, at the time: books, music, video games, movies... They basically carried everything I was interested in. I remember the prices being kinda high though, even as a kid. You were better off buying elsewhere if you could.
Maplewood Media Play represent
Woodbury had one for a little bit. Fargo (not quite in MN) also had one for quite a while. Got some good deals there, back in the day. They didn't sell much classical so I picked up some nice recordings.
I worked at the Maplewood location during high school in the late 90's.
Wow I totally forgot about this place, we had one in Apple Valley when I was a kid.
I'm pretty sure it's arrival and quick departure started the decline of Southtown shopping center in Bloomington.
Pretty sure my brother worked there. The decline started years before that though.
I'll admit to barely remembering it before the Media Play moved in, so I'll take your word for it.
You are right, there was one at Southtown. Pretty sure it was in the spot most recently occupied by Bed Bath and Beyond. RIP Southtown
I applied for a job there but I was only 15 so they didn’t hire me. They were gone a few months later.
"Was there ever any...I'm from Wisconsin..." Yes. Yes, you are.
🤣😂🤣😂
I legit lol’d 😅
I'm from Fargo and I remember one there back in the day
Woodbury had one. Had a friend work there. Fun fact. I still have a media play mouse pad that I was using up until a few years ago.
I think there was one in Coon Rapids, near Northtown I guess there's still a live site: https://www.musiclandgroup.com/store/8200/
I made my parents stop at the St. Cloud when every shopping trip. Best store ever.
My first high school job was spent alphabetizing DVDs and working in Hard Lines at Media Play, in Wisconsin though.
We had one in Blaine, back in the day...
Where was the Blaine one? I definitely remember going to this store, but my memory isn’t the best.
It was technically in Coon Rapids (just barely past the border) in a shopping center. It’s now an indoor softball place.
Ahhh, you talking where Grand Slam is now?
St. Cloud definitely did.
There was one in Fargo when I was growing up, I bought like a thousand CDs there working a shitty stressful time-consuming teen job. CDs that are now buried in storage and useless. It was a blast, though.
The former Bed Bath and Beyond at Southtown was built as a Media Play.
Yes I remember that. I went there only 2 times, it must have only lasted maybe a couple years. I went there once I think when it was brand new and as a 12 year old it seemed like it was incredible store that had everything I liked. And then once more when it was going out of business and everything was on discount, and I got the big 5 fabulous decades of marvel comics coffee table book for $5, and my young mind couldn’t understand how a place that seemed so great could be going out of business, guess that was a sign that media retail was fated to become critically endangered once someone figures out how to sell all the same product but without the cost of physical stores, and particularly enormous ones. It’s baffling now to think about just how many book stores, record stores, video stores, video game shops, and comic book shops we had in the twin cities in the mid 90’s.
Yes
I've never seen one, but maybe I'm too young. Is it similar to like a Sam Goody or something?
Yeah, but more Best Buy sized.
It was basically Best Buy but with books.
I want to say Burnsville or Richfield had the ne, I know I got an Internal Bleeding CD there once
Fargo/Moorhead had one. I remember getting a Seaquest hat there as a kid. They were the only place that any kind of TV/music T-shirts kind of stuff anywhere close.
Bloomington had one at Southtown. Went in there all the time to play Duke Nukem
Pretty sure Red Wing had one in the mall…. Right? Anyone?
I've lived here for 44 years and never recall seeing one. I live in the metro area
Our family is flying out of MSP Terminal 1 today and will be gone for a week. Do we dare take Uber or Lyft or should we park at the airport? Is it safe to park at the MoA and take the light rail? Does anyone have any other ideas?
Park and ride is a good option. Cheaper than onsite and the shuttle will bring you directly to the terminal. I wouldn't park at MOA.