A century after debut, UK music store HMV makes Oxford Street return

On Black Friday, the British music retailer HMV will reopen its former flagship location on Oxford Street in London, providing vinyl records, apparel, and other merchandise.

The establishment, which housed the first HMV store in 1921, played a pivotal role in the growth of popular British music and culture. The retailer, well-known for its trademarked dog and gramophone, abandoned the location in 2019 after Canadian music mogul Doug Putman helped the bankrupt company be saved.

HMV is going back home with a better package of business rates and rent. In addition to 12,000 CDs and 8,000 distinct vinyl albums, the store will also sell a variety of music technology and music-related merchandise. Along with more than 750 T-shirt designs, it will also feature over 4,000 products from over 4,000 different franchises, including Pokemon, Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. The new store will showcase well-known performers as well as regional talent, paying homage to its history and highlighting the perseverance needed to sustain brick-and-mortar businesses in the face of growing internet competition.