4 years after closing its doorways, HMV’s flagship retailer in London’s Oxford Avenue is ready to make its return.
The shop — situated at 363 Oxford Avenue — was one of many 27 HMV branches to shut in February 2019, after the corporate fell into administration. The model was later rescued from collapse by Canadian music entrepreneur, Doug Putman.
Following its closure, the historic web site, which launched the model in 1921, was transformed into one of many many American Sweet shops that popped up all through town firstly of the pandemic.
Now, the well-known location is ready to return later this yr and will probably be rebranded with the corporate’s new design. This may embody an up to date HMV emblem and a newly-launched ‘HMV Store’ idea.
The brand new idea will even be expanded to 24 new websites throughout the UK and Europe, and retrofitted to half of all pre-existing shops.
Presently, HMV has 120 outlets open within the UK, together with a location in Shepherd Bush’s Westfield buying centre, the specialist Fopp retailer in Covent Backyard and the 25,000sq ft Vault in Birmingham. The latter stays the most important leisure retailer in Europe.
“The enlargement of our fan-focused popular culture supply is absolutely working for us and the reopening of our flagship represents the fruits of few years of arduous work,” mentioned new proprietor Doug Putman. “We’re additionally opening shops in Europe this yr, so whereas it’s the fruits of 1 part of labor, extra excitingly we see it because the launchpad for an thrilling new period for HMV.”
The brand new retailer is predicted to inventory an unlimited vary of the objects that first put HMV on the map — together with vinyl, movies, TV field units, popular culture merchandise and music expertise.
Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Westminster Metropolis Council’s Cupboard Member for Planning and Financial Growth additionally mentioned the relaunch in a brand new assertion: “It’s implausible to see this iconic model again on Oxford Avenue, the place it stood as a driver of music and popular culture within the capital for thus lengthy. It’s additionally significantly pleasing it’s changing one of many many US sweet shops which sprang up throughout the pandemic.”
“The return of this well-known identify is proof that there’s a buzz again within the West Finish,” he continued. “Established retailers desire a presence on the UK’s premier buying road and as a council we wish to see the nation’s excessive road reinvigorated and residential to manufacturers like HMV.”
Since its opening in 1921, the shop performed residence to quite a few milestones in popular culture. This included a rooftop efficiency from Blur in 1995 to launch their ‘Nice Escape’ album. The next yr, the shop additionally hosted the Spice Women, who visited to modify on the Christmas lights.
In different HMV information, final September, the model launched its document label referred to as 1921 Data. The primary artist to be signed to the label was Newcastle singer-songwriter, India Arkin, who was found after enjoying within the HMV Dwell & Native programme.
Moreover, again in 2021, the corporate celebrated 100 years because it first launched. The celebration noticed 10 new shops set to open across the UK and hosted a particular in-store live performance by Ed Sheeran.
