Friday, June 12, 2009

The Music Market in Costa Mesa

Roxanne writes about her years growing up in Costa Mesa during the 1970s and 1980s...

I was born and raised in OC and spent my formative years in Costa Mesa during the 70's early 80's. Does anyone remember: Licorice Pizza (record store) near Newport Blvd? Also, the Harbor Roller rink, Music Market (on Harbor and Adams), and Kona Lanes. We used to get up to no good at the Ambassador Inn (Harbor & Wilson) by sneaking in and using the swimming pool. We used to cut across the alley that ran parallel to the golf course and hop the fence. It was right near the Pup- n -Taco.

I also remember the Tiki themed apartments on Wilson across the street from Tic Toc convenience store. I loved the koy pond and the wooden bridge.
I sure do remember Licorice Pizza, they were really big during the late 1970s, when they went head-to-head against Tower Records.

And yes, I remember Music Market! That was my favorite place to get records. It was in the shopping center on Harbor & Adams, next to the Ice Chalet rink. They had such a huge selection of music.

In my college years, during the mid-1980s, I was into electronic music and no where else could I find stuff from artists like Walter Carlos (before he became Wendy Carlos), or Terry Riley, Isao Tomita, or Kraftwerk. They also had a room just for used CDs, with CD players so that you could listen to them. I'd gather 20-30 CDs, listen to them, and figure out which ones to buy, and they'd only cost $1.00 to $3.00 each. I used to find all sorts of great but obscure bands.

And who couldn't forget the Hamburger Hamlet located right out in front?

29 comments:

  1. Oh, what great memories. I totally remember Licorice Pizza on Newport Blvd. I bought my first Blondie and Clash albums here in the 5th grade. My friends and I would always hang out at Music Market on the weekends. I bought so many records there. I am so bummed they are gone. I still live in Costa Mesa and there is no place around here to buy records.

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  2. I remember all of those places. In the 80's a few other punks and myself lived in Ha penny inn right next to pup n taco,tiki apts,tic toc etc and several other motels in the area. I got really cool Iggy & the Stooges poster at music market. Then in 1990 til 2007 my wife in I lived in across the street from the kona lanes shopping center. It was sad when they tore it down. Remember the Swenson's Ice cream parlor next to music market? or how about Top Cash records next to Calentino's and Coco's?

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  3. myspace.com/musicmarket92626

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  4. The Harbor Roller Rink became a Tower Records store, now closed, of course. I loved that Music Market. They used to have classic car shows in the parking lot.

    Piecemakers is still across the street from that shopping center. There's a Second Spin on Newport by the Golden Truffle restaurant.

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  5. Music Market was great. In the early 90s the Warehouse had a promotion where you could bring in 3 used CDs and trade them in for a new CD. My friend and I went to Music Market and raided the $0.50 used CD racks (promos and various no-name artists) then brought them over to the Warehouse on Harbor and Wilson. Good times.

    Also, those tiki apartments on Wilson were called "Ala Moana" or something like that. I used to live right down the street on Wilson and passed them every day, but never went inside.

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  6. SO many memories of that place.... I had a couple girlfriends that worked there and the owners used to through outrageous staff parties.

    I remember when it opened across the corridor. I worked at the Ice Capades Chalet for over a year and used to go into music market all the time. I bought Imports, used records, issues of KERRANG! magazine.... SO much better than Licorice Pizza or the Warehouse. Discount records across the st took up some of the slack but MM was one of the last LARGE scale indi stores.

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  7. Hamburger Hamlet was also immortalized in the Dean Koontz novel Lightning

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  8. Great hang out. Used to spend $20/weekend on average buying records. What was the bar there, Bilbo's? Used to watch some guy named Mark play guitar there. Played broom ball at the chalet.

    I also remember when The Wherehouse used to sell records. Anybody remember Music+ ? How 'bout Sam Goody's? And, of course, Tower Records; GRTS.

    Anybody ever go to Beggar's Banquet on Ball Rd in Anaheim? Great place to find used, rare records.

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  9. in the 80s, my mom's boyfriend at the time was one of the owners of music market. he was such a cool and very generous guy. we would go down to meet him there and he would tell me i could have anything i wanted from the store. i was raised to not be very greedy, so i never took much, but i can remember what a cool place it was and getting some great tunes, badges and t shirts from there. i can also remember tommy tutone doing a signing there when 867-5309 was a huge hit. her boyfriend was also part owner of a ribs place called country bills i think? which was in the same area.

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  10. i miss the roller rink, do you remember the california kid also known as randy welch. well thats me living in tucson az. i miss all my friends there it was great.

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  11. That was in Towne Center I believe- bought lots of cassettes there

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  12. I used to work at Ice Capades Chalet as well (1977). What was the name of the Italian restaurant next to Music Market?

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  13. Oh, my God, I forgot all about the Italian resturaunt next to Music Market. My friends and I used to trek down there every week where I'd blow $10-15 or so on albums. Used to play broom ball at the Ice Capades late at night. Also, went to Bilbo's a few times where a solo artist named Mark (can't remember last name) used to play 70's tunes. He would give out flyers to let people know where he would be playing in OC, but we would usually go see him at Bilbo's. That's was back in the early 80's. There was a cinema there, and a Swenson's Ice Cream Parlor.

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    1. That was Mark Wood. He's still playing in OC. Blue Beet, Fashion Island, etc.. Check his schedule on facebook, or website. Mark Wood Entertainment.

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  14. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't MM start as a small store on Harbor Blvd in a stripmall in the 70's.What I remember as the coolest thing ever was they could tape your album to 8track tape.WOW

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  15. The Italian restaurant was Miones, or something like that. Wow, completely forgot about that place. Swensons had the best bubble gum ice cream. Music Market was my second home. I also remember the Mark guy from Bilbo's. I remember using "dimes credit" from the pay phones at the movie theater, to get a ride home.

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  16. Yes remember all of it. Born and raised there in Corona Del Mar. Swensons was my first job. Loved there swiss orange chip ice cream too. Then the port theater.They made a restaurant there called The place across the street from the port theater. I think its El Ranchito now. Then made balboa bars on Balboa Island. Nick used to let me make pizza when I got home from Corona del mar High. That was across from Albertons on Iris street. I used to skate every friday when i was in my teens at the Harbor roller rink. So fun won the limbo and speed races lol got a free coke when I won. Yes Kona lanes forgot about that. that was so fun. Used to walk to the ice rink when I lived in costa mesa. And Mateos yes loved it. Got older and worked at the Ritz and Copa de oro. I remember Arches and even Jolly Rogers lol
    Then Tiffianys when I was older. Did anyone go there on Lido Isle. Go there after Alley West which became the Rexs I think then it became 21 ocean front. Loved to drive Pacific coast hyw to Laguna and get a smoothie on the side of the road then hit La paz and sit on the wall at oak street and watch the waves. I miss the seagulls we don't have any in Maui. Blessings to all the Newport and Costa Mesa family. Born at Hoag always will be connected there. Miss the fun zone and going on the fairy. And buying fish at Newport pier and going to Charlies.... Nice memories.

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  17. The shopping center that is on the intersection of Harbor and Adams was the best place to hangout in Costa Mesa 76-80. (Besides 36th st. in Newport.)It had everything, records, ice skating, movies and Kona Lanes. Great italian eats too. And Bilbo Baggins, darts and music. Someone deciced to sell Kona Lanes, and put in a Kohl's. Luckily the Kohl's ideal fell through, but the lanes are gone.

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  18. Many memories of the early 90s going to Music Market and later, Noise Noise Noise next door.
    Dave closed NNN, but opened up Factory Records over on 17th ST. (Just Google "Factory Records Costa Mesa".) The used record store still lives!

    I have since moved back to Florida, but the times I spent in OC and Costa Mesa (17 years) were the best years of my life.

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  19. This was one of the few sites that referenced Mione's pizza. What a combination, their pizza and Music Market. After that it was usually straight to Newport Beach. Does anyone have any idea what happened to Mione's? I thought they had another place on Balboa Island too? It still rates as my favorite pizza place !! I think I took my wife there on our first date almost 30 years ago (ouch).

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  20. I was buying records at Music Market in the late 70's. Hung out there all the time. Swensons you could watch them make thier ice cream. Bilbo Baggins we used to go in there all the time to play darts and drink beer. I took bowling at Costa Mesa High for PE at Kona Lanes in my sophmore year first thing in the morning. What was it party time liqour accross the street in a little strip mall between the carls and the movie theatre. And there was a dive bar behing that but can not remember the name. Mandrin Gardens was good for chinese next to it.

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  21. Used to go to the Licorice Pizza store on 17th Street in Santa Ana

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  22. Remember it all, especially Kathy Reagan and Kim, servers at Cocos. Randy and I use to park our Trans Am's in front of Ice Capades Chalet on any Friday or Saturday night, man....we were cool.

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  23. Definitely remember Music Market, but my favorite record store had to be Camel Records on Beach and Adams. We saw Depeche Mode there in the early 80's, stood in line forever but they left before we could get their autographs. We got to meet the Fixx around the same time, they were super nice to us and signed everything. The thrill of my 13-year-old life was getting a kiss from each of the band members. Can't believe the fun silly things we used to do. Still miss the days of Camel Records. It must not have been there for long, cannot find any reference to it on line.

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  24. I have been wanting to comment on this blog for some time now but am just now getting to it.... Music Market was my spot!!! In fact Mesa Verde Center was THE hangout in the 80's for me and my friends. I grew up on Shalimar Dr. Yea! THAT Shalimar.... 714 Shalimar to be exact. Grew up walking to Estancia, going to shows at The Concert Factory, and of course taking the number 43 OCTD or riding my bike to Music Market. Bought my first Bad Brains Lp. there, loads of stickers for my SIMS Skate board, etc. I would always try to pick up on the cute goth girls that hung out there where the stench of leather, cloves, and Aqua-Net hung like a suburban smog. I actually bagged one, she was in 3 of my classes at Estancia. Used to get my coked out neighbor to rent us a room at The Bel Congo. He gave me a big ole bag of coke one time and said, "This'll keep you going all night!!!" I was 16, I didnt need help really. I just threw it in the trash in the room... WHOOPS, was probably uncut in those days!!! Music Market, Top Cash, Kona Lanes, Swensons, Edwards 4 Cinema, Harbor Twin, Amadors Barber, Games Plus, Dominico's, London Exchange, all have long lasting memories for me. I sometimes wish I would fall into a Hot Tub Time Machine over at Wimbledon Glen with Tony and Dave and go 3 in the Fiero to Mesa Verde Center and relive that free feeling. Those were the days chums!

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  25. I have been wanting to comment on this blog for some time now but am just now getting to it.... Music Market was my spot!!! In fact Mesa Verde Center was THE hangout in the 80's for me and my friends. I grew up on Shalimar Dr. Yea! THAT Shalimar.... 714 Shalimar to be exact. Grew up walking to Estancia, going to shows at The Concert Factory, and of course taking the number 43 OCTD or riding my bike to Music Market. Bought my first Bad Brains Lp. there, loads of stickers for my SIMS Skate board, etc. I would always try to pick up on the cute goth girls that hung out there where the stench of leather, cloves, and Aqua-Net hung like a suburban smog. I actually bagged one, she was in 3 of my classes at Estancia. Used to get my coked out neighbor to rent us a room at The Bel Congo. He gave me a big ole bag of coke one time and said, "This'll keep you going all night!!!" I was 16, I didnt need help really. I just threw it in the trash in the room... WHOOPS, was probably uncut in those days!!! Music Market, Top Cash, Kona Lanes, Swensons, Edwards 4 Cinema, Harbor Twin, Amadors Barber, Games Plus, Dominico's, London Exchange, all have long lasting memories for me. I sometimes wish I would fall into a Hot Tub Time Machine over at Wimbledon Glen with Tony and Dave and go 3 in the Fiero to Mesa Verde Center and relive that free feeling. Those were the days chums!

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  26. Grew up in CM. Went to College Park Elementary, Davis Middle and CM High, Little League BB at Tewinkle Park. Rode my Beach Cruiser to Music Market Every few days (a bit safer for kids to do back then). Always had the best selection and prices, $5.98 New and I think $9.98 for double albums. I hated it when CD's came in. Still have at least 100 or more albums I purchased from them back then and are stil being played today. Where I live today, High Desert of So. Cal. Record stores are a thing of the past. Thrift stores are the only place to get vinyl around here.

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  27. I used to play at Bilbo Baggins on Open Mic Nights back in the 80's. I wasn't very good, but it was still lots of fun. I remember that Licorice Pizza there, too. I loved that store. I remember buying Elton John's "Too Low For Zero" there for $5.98. There was a pretty good comics store a few blocks away from that shopping center, too, but I can't remember the name of it.

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