Iconic UK chain returns to high street after 8-year local absence
The opening marks the music retailer's return to the city after an eight-year absence
A high street retailer beloved by Brits has made its comeback to a UK city eight years after falling into administration. HMV launched a new store at The Meadows Shopping Centre in Chelmsford, Essex, on June 26.
Phil Halliday, Managing Director at HMV and Fopp, said: "The search for a new home is over, and we couldn't be happier to bring HMV back to Chelmsford. The shop looks brilliant and is a testament to all the hard work the team have put into it over the past few weeks."
The launch follows the retailer's collapse in 2018, nearly a century after its inaugural shop opened on Oxford Street, London, in July 1921.
Vinyl enthusiast and billionaire Canadian businessman, Doug Putnam, saved HMV following its demise - the second such crisis in six years, reports the Express.
Since then, Mr Putnam has led the company's growth throughout the UK, with branches in London, Birmingham and Manchester. The chain now boasts more than 120 locations across the UK and Ireland.
Beyond the UK and Ireland, the firm also trades in Belgium and the Netherlands through Sunrise Records. HMV's new Chelmsford outlet opened at a site formerly occupied by Next.
The store features over 20,000 items across 3,930 sq ft, spanning music, books and film. Approximately 3,000 vinyl records are available alongside 7,500 CDs, 5,500 film and TV boxsets plus 3,000 collectables.
These feature Star Wars memorabilia, KPop Demon Hunters items and over 200 different T-shirt designs.
Classical composer Sir Edward Elgar officially opened the first HMV store, which stood for "His Master's Voice".
The shop went on to become one of the most iconic names in music, helped largely by its famous logo - a dog named Nipper gazing into a gramophone.
