FEATURE:
An Amazing Return!
IMAGE CREDIT: HMV
Why the Revival of the HMV Flagship Store on London’s Oxford Street Is Especially Important
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ONCE beautifully situated…
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images/HMV
at 363 Oxford Street in London, there was something beautiful perfect about HMV. With so much foot traffic, you would wander into this big store and browse for vinyl, C.D.s, books, and merchandise alongside so many different people. It was a vibrant and bubbling hub for those who were looking for something special. The flagship store closed its doors in 2019. That looked like things were it. High rent and a comparative lack of trade meant that this hugely important and convenient store closed. Since then, one has had to go to independent stores to get music. I cannot think where the nearest HMV is to central London. I guess the pandemic starting in 2020 meant so many people wanted to support record stores that were struggling. With HMV doing well during the past few years and getting new customers and increased sales, it not only means that the company has survived and is growing. We also get to see the return of an historic store that we all thought had been consigned to history. This Music Week article explains more:
“HMV is set to make a return to Oxford Street after a four-year absence, with a lease signed to confirm the reopening of its flagship later this year.
HMV currently has 120 shops across the UK, including a West London location in Westfield, the specialist Fopp store in Covent Garden, and the 25,000 sq ft Vault in Birmingham – Europe’s largest entertainment store.
Sunrise Records owner Doug Putman acquired the historic music chain in 2019. Since the closure of the 363 Oxford Street store in the same year, the presence of a flagship in the capital has been on the agenda.
Under Putman’s tenure, the business has evolved its concept to centre on a fan and community-orientated offer, including in-store gigs from local acts. It has successfully tapped into consumer demand for vinyl.
363 Oxford Street will feature HMV’s new logo, and be fitted out with the new ‘HMV shop’ concept. The first store featuring the new layout and offering opened in Solihull on HMV’s 100th birthday in July 2021.
The concept will have been taken to 24 new sites – and retro-fitted to 14 of the existing estate – by the end of the year. By 2024, half of the HMV estate will have been converted to the new concept.
Doug Putman said: “The expansion of our fan-focused pop culture offer is really working for us and the reopening of our flagship represents the culmination of a good few years of hard work. We are also opening stores in Europe this year, so while it is the culmination of one phase of work, more excitingly we see it as the launchpad for an exciting new era for HMV.”
The new 363 Oxford Street store is expected to stock a large range of pop culture merchandise, vinyl, film, TV and music technology.
In the past year, HMV shops in the UK have welcomed artists such as Charli XCX, Stormzy, Shania Twain, Raye and Ellie Goulding for signings. The central London shop is expected to draw big names and is set to stage performances from up-and-coming acts through the HMV Live&Local programme.
363 Oxford Street played host to the very first HMV store in 1921. It became one of the UK’s most famous retail destinations. In 1995, Blur performed a memorable rooftop gig. A year later, the store hosted the Spice Girls’ Christmas Lights switch-on.
It remained there until 2000 when HMV relocated to its 150 Oxford Street store (since closed). HMV later returned to 363 Oxford Street in 2013. Since its closure in 2019, the site has been operated as an American-style candy store.
Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for planning & economic development, said: “It’s fantastic to see this iconic brand back on Oxford Street, where it stood as a driver of music and pop culture in the capital for so long. It’s also particularly pleasing it is replacing one of the many US candy stores which sprang up during the pandemic.
“The return of this famous name is proof that there’s a buzz back in the West End. Established retailers want a presence on the UK’s premier shopping street and as a council we want to see the nation’s high street reinvigorated and home to brands like HMV.
“There’s nothing quite like browsing through CDs and vinyl in-store. As a teenager who bought his first LP in an HMV shop some decades ago, I look forward to reliving that experience!”
Sam Foyle, co-head of prime global retail at Savills, acting on behalf of the private landlord for 363 Oxford Street, said: “The return of HMV is a major milestone for Oxford Street. It shows the growth in belief and confidence for the street. The previous vacancy and short term candy store tenant, was the focus of the challenges facing Oxford Street. HMV reopening along with many other global transactions in progress, demonstrates that Oxford Street has recovered”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images/HMV
I have been shopping at HMV since I was a child. Whereas other chains like Our Price have come and gone, the reliability of His Master’s Voice has been there always. I was worried that HMV would decline and go into liquidation without chance of survival. Stores have closed down, but that is the sad reality of the high street. This fresh news is marvellous. It will give hope to other stores. Maybe there will be new HMV branches popping up soon. I hope that the reopening of the flagship store leads to maybe another one opening in Oxford Street – as I believe there used to be two HMV stores down that way. It has been sad walking past where the flagship store used to be and not seeing and feeling that welcoming buzz and intoxication! I am not sure what special gig or event is planned for the reopening, or exactly when the flagship store returns. it is still magnificent to know that this year will see the resurrection of HMV on Oxford Street. With so much room that one could explore, this store was always going to struggle in such an expensive part of London. Now, with profits at HMV up and there being this loyal and unwavering customer base, let’s hope we do not have to say goodbye to it for a second time! We need to ensure that the flagship store remains where it is for many years to come.
IN THIS PHOTO: 1963: an HMV van outside the store/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images/HMV
Not only is there this accessibility and convenience for those in London. I also feel that the more we get rid of stores like this, the worse it is for the industry as a whole! At a time when vinyl is booming, cassette sales are rising and there is this new demand for physical music, chains like HMV are vital! The friendly and passionate staff are also a big reason why the stores succeed. It is nice to browse and have so much awesome choice. I am looking forward to browsing the vinyl, picking up some T-shirts and generally seeing what is in there. The new design and layout means it is going to be a different look to what it was in 2019. You will still be able to get all you need, but it will be more modern and interactive. I have seen the news shared online, and there is this celebration, relief, and delight. When it was closed in 2019, I remember being so gutted! That was echoed and amplified by so many other people. The high street has always struggled, and the pandemic has not helped too much. Maybe people have less money, so it is especially unexpected that we should hear of a once-gone HMV store rising again in its rightful place. I have not been to 363 Oxford Street recently, but I don’t think anything has replaced it. That space can now reopen and make up for lost time! Situated in a very busy part of London, you know the store will get a tonne of customers when it opens its doors once more. Running alongside the successful and rise of physical music, it shows that people want to shop for music on the high street - and they are not solely relying on streaming and buying music online. Let’s hope that this continues and we cherish the flagship store for a long time more. HMV is such a respected and beloved chain that means so much…
IMAGE CREDIT: Dog & Trumpet
TO all of us!