‘What a shame!’ blast shoppers as iconic high street retailer closes much-loved branch after 27 years

SHOPPERS have been left devastated after an iconic high street retailer closed a much-loved branch after 27 years.

HMV will pull down the shutters at its store in High Chelmer Shopping Centre in Chelmsford, Essex.

The store, which has seen the likes of McFly, Olly Murs and Sam Ryder attend for album signings, will close in just under two weeks.

Despite operating for nearly three decades, the store will switch off the lights for the final time on September 18.

In notices posted to the windows of the store, and on their social media pages, the store said it was "sad" to announce the closure and have thanked all customers for their support over the years.

The store has become a staple in Chelmsford for the music and entertainment industry over the years of trading.

The venue also regularly holds live music sessions with smaller artists.

Martin Jefferies, of music management company Emjay Media, is running a live session at the store this weekend and posted that the news was "shocking" and "sad".

Other fans of the store were left devastated after news of the closure swept social media.

One wrote: "What a shame. Thank you to all the staff! One of my best memories was meeting Anne Marie there!"

Another said: "No way! Gutted - really sorry to hear this."

A third said: "Aww man that sucks I will definitely miss this place."

Others said it was a "sad day" for the high street after another closure.

HMV stands for His Master’s Voice, the title of a painting of dog Nipper listening to a gramophone, which is the company’s logo.

But despite this closure, HMV has recently posted a huge boost in sales due to the reunion of rock band Oasis after 15 years.

Revenues shot up 526 per cent week on week across the band's full catalogue, as fans flocked to the music and entertainment retailer following news Oasis would be performing multiple live shows.

HMV's Oxford Street shop, its first in Britain, has carved a place in music history since opening in 1921.

The entertainment retailer re-opened the store less than a year ago just four years after it fell into administration.

HMV shut the store in 2019 after the retail chain tumbled into administration and was forced to axe stores and jobs.

The retailer was rescued from insolvency by Canadian Doug Putman’s Sunrise Records business.

Manager Brian Epstein made a demo tape of The Beatles in its recording studio, landing the Fab Four their first record deal.

In 1995, Blur played a rooftop gig to launch their Great Escape album as helicopters circled.

A year on, 6,000 people watched the Spice Girls turn Christmas Lights on at the landmark shop.

HMV has been contacted for comment.

HIGH STREET WOES

Several major shops and chains are closing dozens of branches in 2024.

Some stores will be replaced or relocated while others will disappear from the high street forever.

Argos, Next, Jack Wills and Poundland have all all shut selected branches this year.

It comes as 6,000 retail outlets have brought down the shutters since 2018, according to the British Retail Consortium.

The trade association's chief executive Helen Dickinson OBE blamed the closures on "crippling" business rates and the impact of coronavirus lockdowns.

Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.

This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

Several big retailers have fallen into administration in the past year, including Wilko, Paperchase, and most recently, The Body Shop and Ted Baker.

For the most part, supermarkets have braved the storm as they provide essential items like food and drink but other retailers have been less fortunate.

Boots announced it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.

Wilko collapsed into administration last year after being hit hard by inflationary pressures, competition from rivals and supply chain challenges.

However, it's not all bad news for the high street, as several other retailers and hospitality venues have plans to expand.

Beer giant Heineken announced plans to invest £39million to help reopen 62 previously shuttered British pubs.

Aldi has announced that it will open 35 new UK stores.

The openings form part of Aldi's long-term target of 1,500 stores in the UK.