HMV is moving back to its historic central London store after a four-year absence.
The music retailer’s very first store at 363 Oxford Street was opened in 1921 by composer Sir Edward Elgar. It was closed in 2019 after the company went into administration.
Since being taken over by Canadian company Sunrise Records, HMV has continued to trade in a reduced number of stores and online.
Amid falling demand for CDs and DVDs, the chain has expanded its focus to include pop culture merchandise, vinyl, and music technology such as headphones, as well as more live music and in-store signings. It returned to profit in 2022.
HMV said the return to its former flagship store was a sign of the “dramatic turnaround” in its fortunes.
Most recently, the site has been home to one of the many American candy stores that opened on Oxford Street during the pandemic.
HMV has signed a deal to replace the current occupants, whose lease runs out in six months. The new store is expected to reopen towards the end of the year, in time for Christmas.
