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The old Tower Records building in West Hollywood is being taken over by Gibson Brands, which will be turning the space into a place to display their instruments and gear, and for musicians to congregate. Gibson signed a 15-year lease on the building at 8801 Sunset Blvd., L.A. Times reports. Gibson, known for their guitars but also brands like Epiphone, Baldwin, Wurlitzer and more, plans to give the building a $1 million renovation and open it up by the end of the 2014. Gibson's Chief Executive Henry Juszkiewicz told the Times that this space will be the first where all of Gibson's product lines have a presence. They also plan to host some live performances.
When the Tower Records store was built in 1971, it was a hotspot for buying new music and seeing bands live. But come 2006, Tower was filing for bankruptcy.
Previously, one of the property owners was interested in tearing the building down and replacing it with a three-story gym and offices, but met resistance from preservationists. The property owners then decided to look for a tenant to reinvigorate the building, and settled on Gibson.
Juszkiewicz said that they plan to keep Tower Records' "crazy vibe," and that the space will also act as a place for young talent to get exposure and develop their music.
