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World's biggest music store to close
HMV store at 150 Oxford Street closes doors after almost 30 years
The HMV store at 150 Oxford Street was opened in 1986 Photo: EPA
By Graham Ruddick, Retail Correspondent
12:44PM GMT 12 Jan 2014
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The world's biggest music store - HMV at 150 Oxford Street - is closing its doors for the final time this weekend.
The store will close on Sunday almost 30 years after it was opened by Sir Bob Geldof, highlighting the dramatic swing in Britain's retail and music industries towards online spending.
HMV is closing at the site after collapsing into administration last year. The retailer's new owner, Hilco, has restructured the business and is relocating HMV to a smaller store at 363 Oxford Street.
HMV was officially opened at 150 Oxford Street by Sir Bob on October 22, 1986. It was billed at the time as the largest music store in the world and, 28 years later, that is still the case.
The flagship music store is to become a Sports Direct after Mike Ashley's sportswear retailer snapped up the lease to the 60,000 sq ft shop. The Sports Direct store is scheduled to open in the spring.
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Although the closure of HMV at 150 Oxford Street represents the end of an era, the entertainment retailer's new Oxford Street shop is also draped in history.
363 Oxford Street is where HMV originally launched in 1921. The first His Master's Voice store was opened by Sir Edward Elgar, the composer of Land of Hope and Glory.
HMV was the biggest casualty of a tough Christmas for the high street in 2012. It had been struggling for years against competition from supermarkets and the rise of digital download services such as iTunes.
However, despite fears the brand may disappear from the high street completely, HMV was rescued out of administration last April by Hilco through a £50m deal that included 141 stores and 2,500 jobs.
HMV store at 150 Oxford Street closes doors after almost 30 years
The HMV store at 150 Oxford Street was opened in 1986 Photo: EPA By Graham Ruddick, Retail Correspondent
12:44PM GMT 12 Jan 2014
12 Comments The world's biggest music store - HMV at 150 Oxford Street - is closing its doors for the final time this weekend.
The store will close on Sunday almost 30 years after it was opened by Sir Bob Geldof, highlighting the dramatic swing in Britain's retail and music industries towards online spending.
HMV is closing at the site after collapsing into administration last year. The retailer's new owner, Hilco, has restructured the business and is relocating HMV to a smaller store at 363 Oxford Street.
HMV was officially opened at 150 Oxford Street by Sir Bob on October 22, 1986. It was billed at the time as the largest music store in the world and, 28 years later, that is still the case.
The flagship music store is to become a Sports Direct after Mike Ashley's sportswear retailer snapped up the lease to the 60,000 sq ft shop. The Sports Direct store is scheduled to open in the spring.
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Although the closure of HMV at 150 Oxford Street represents the end of an era, the entertainment retailer's new Oxford Street shop is also draped in history.
363 Oxford Street is where HMV originally launched in 1921. The first His Master's Voice store was opened by Sir Edward Elgar, the composer of Land of Hope and Glory.
HMV was the biggest casualty of a tough Christmas for the high street in 2012. It had been struggling for years against competition from supermarkets and the rise of digital download services such as iTunes.
However, despite fears the brand may disappear from the high street completely, HMV was rescued out of administration last April by Hilco through a £50m deal that included 141 stores and 2,500 jobs.