The Empire Records storefront from "Empire Records"
LOCATION
The exterior of the iconic record store from the 1995 cult classic “Empire Records.”
ADDRESS
15 S. Front Street
Wilmington, NC
rebellionnc.com
STORY & PHOTOS
"Empire Records" has been one of my favorite films since I first saw it in the late 90s. It's the story of a group of rag-tag independent record store employees and their boss, who try to save the shop they love from corporate jags. Starring Liv Tyler, Renee Zellweger, Rory Cochrane, Robin Tunney, Johnny Whitworth, Joe LaPaglia, and Ethan Embry, the film is full of antics, angst, and music, and it spoke directly to my teenage heart. My biggest dream at the time was to work at Empire Records, and a decade later I did actually work at (and eventually manage) a local record store. It wasn't exactly (or much) like Empire, but oh well. I can always just re-watch the real thing, right?
"Empire Records" was largely filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. If you recognize that name, you are probably a fan of "Dawson's Creek" or "One Tree Hill", two teen dramas that also filmed in the pretty coastal town. The exterior of the Empire Records store can be found on Front Street in downtown Wilmington. Here’s how it looked back in 2009:
Today (as of June 2024), a bar called Rebellion occupies the building that once stood in as my dream workplace hangout. Check it out if you're in town and don't forget - damn the man, save the Empire!
STORY & PHOTO CREDITS
Written by Christina Morse
Location photos by Christina Morse
