The Tower Records signs are still up, there's no cash register and half the store is filled with clutter, but the Fresno Rasputin Music location is hoping to open on Saturday.

Acting on an anonymous blog post that got picked up by Fresno Famous, I headed over to the once-Tower/future-Rasputin last night to do a little sleuthing (btw: That picture's not it -- it's the Campbell store).

I talked with the manager who told me they're hoping to open this weekend, but if it happens, it would be a work-in-progress soft opening with work still needed.

Half the store is set up with CDs with prices tags in racks, ready to be bought. But half still needs some cleaning and arranging. It was around 8 p.m. when I showed up and people were still working, so it seems the Rasputin folks were trying to get things in order.

A few things of note:
-- For the most part, save for some metal cage-looking fixtures where the magazines used to be, the store looked a lot like the old Tower. For now, at least.

-- Tower Records' beloved Roy Nichols, who worked at the store for more than 30 years, is part of the Rasputin crew.

-- I told the manager that people in Fresno want a pizza-by-the-slice place similar to Blondie's in Berkeley and San Francisco. (The same guy owns Rasputin and Blondie's). She said something like, "well, my employees need a place to eat." Cross your fingers, Fresno.