Empire Records Store — Dollar Bill's, Wilmington, North Carolina

The exterior of Empire Records, the beloved 1995 film about a day in the life of an independent record store, was filmed at 24 South Front Street in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. The building — then home to a store called Dollar Bill's — was transformed into the fictional Empire Records with its distinctive awning and hand-painted signage. The film, starring Liv Tyler, Renée Zellweger, and Ethan Embry, became a cult classic celebrating independent record store culture, with its soundtrack featuring The Cranberries, Gin Blossoms, and Better Than Ezra becoming a 90s touchstone.

Empire Records was a commercial disappointment on release but found its audience on home video, becoming a generational favourite for 90s kids who related to its motley crew of record store employees navigating love, music snobbery, and corporate takeover threats. The film's celebration of the independent record store — 'Damn the man! Save the Empire!' — feels increasingly poignant as physical music retail has declined. Rex Manning Day (April 8) is still celebrated annually by fans.

The building at 24 South Front Street still stands in Wilmington's historic downtown riverfront district. It has housed various businesses since filming. Wilmington was a major film production hub in the 1990s and 2000s (Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and Iron Man 3 were all filmed there), and the downtown area features several filming location walking tours. The building is not marked as an Empire Records location but is easily recognisable to fans.