US Store Transforms Into Empire Records For Rex Manning Day Event

In 1995, a little comedy called Empire Records stepped out into the world, telling the tale of a band of music-loving record-store misfits and their day-long mission to save the independent business they love from the crushing hand of chain-store capitalism and fading pop stars, all wrapped up in a deliciously mid-'90s alternative aesthetic.

In the ensuing two decades, the film has ascended to cult-favourite heights, an eminently quotable feature that served simultaneously as a reflection of the then-existing post-adolescent, grungy counter-culture and an introduction point for an entirely new generation of future music fans. 

In celebration of the film's 20-year anniversary (the original "Rex Manning Day"), renowned US record store Rough Trade recently collaborated with live-event company BBQ Films to transform its Williamsburg, New York, branch into a living, breathing approximation of the little franchise that could. The shindig came replete with actors cast as the film's characters to populate the store and special live appearances from actual cast members Ethan Embry (Mark), Johnny Whitworth (AJ), and even GWAR, who recreated their iconic scene in the movie by feeding the winner of a competition called "The Mark Experience" to a giant worm monster. 

Throughout the rest of the store, sights and sounds from the film abounded: a quarter-gluing station, Joe's drums, a staged funeral for Deb, a photo booth to pose with Rex Manning, a make-your-own-button station (Marc sucks! Yeah!), a head-shaving booth and even the chance to veto songs that didn't gel with the vibe.

The event was held over three days this past weekend in conjunction with an anniversary screening of the film and, thankfully, BBQ Films has uploaded several photos from the day Empire Records came to town to their Facebook page so we can all share in the festivities, however vicariously — take a look at a selection of pics below and feel the jealousy rise.

Damn the man. Save the Empire.

All pictures by Christopher Gregory for BBQ Films (via Facebook).

See the full gallery on BBQ Films' Facebook page, or see even more about the event at the company's website.