HMV to return to original Oxford Street site
Entertainment retailer HMV is to reopen at the site of its historic Oxford Street store after a four-year absence.
The shop at 363 Oxford Street will feature the new HMV logo and will be fitted out with the new ‘HMV shop’ concept, which made its debut in Solihull on the retailer’s 100th birthday in July 2021. By the end of the year, the concept will have been taken to 24 new sites and retrofitted to 14 of the existing estate. HMV is planning to have half of its store estate in the new concept by 2024.
Due to open later this year, the Oxford Street store will stock a range of pop culture merchandise, vinyl, film, TV and music technology.
363 Oxford became the site of the first HMV store in 1921. 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 square foot Vault in Birmingham.
HMV’s Canadian owner Doug Putman acquired the business out of administration in 2019. Since then, it has evolved its concept to centre on a fan and community-orientated offering.
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.”
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, and the central London shop is expected to draw names of similar quality. It will also stage performances by up-and-coming acts through the HMV Live & Local programme.
Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and 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.”
