Camelot Music


Camelot Music was a mall-based retailer of prerecorded music and accessories and was one of the largest music retailers in the United States based on store count.
As of May 31, 1998, the company operated 455 stores in 37 states nationwide under two brand names: Camelot Music and the Wall. Camelot Music was founded in 1956 in Massillon, Ohio, by Paul David and his brother Robert David. It operated 305 stores with a significant store base concentration in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. The Wall operated 150 stores primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the United States.
The company acquired certain assets of The Wall, formerly owned by British company WHSmith, effective February 28, 1998. Around this same time, Camelot acquired South Florida retailer Spec's Music Inc.
The Wall was best known for its trademark "Lifetime Music Guarantee", which offered free replacements for cassettes and CDs that had been damaged in any way. They were also notable for allowing customers to listen to CDs before buying them, and for their "Repeat Performer" customer card program, where 20 card punches earned a free CD or cassette tape.
In late 1998, Camelot was acquired by Trans World Entertainment, which later consolidated all of its mall-based music stores under the brand name f.y.e., including the remaining Camelot and The Wall locations.