Closing

In the late '90s, in my previous lifetime, I worked on the management buyout of HMV. At that time, there were 3 major players in the CD and DVD retail world in my neck of the woods, Tower, HMV and Virgin. There were great plans to revitalise HMV and for a while, HMV continued to be the hip place to hang out and pick up new music and movies, magazines and sometimes books too.

But the brick and mortar retail world moves on. Hardly anyone buys physical CDs or DVDs anymore, and when someone does buy them, they more often than not buy off the internet.

Tower and Virgin are no more. HMV continues to struggle on. This store is closing. Its shelves have been emptied, the remaining merchandise on deep discount. I have a sense of regret about its demise, having been involved in its previous reincarnation, but having said that, this was the first time I stepped into the store in at least 2 years, so its not as if I'll really miss it as a retail destination.

Goodbye HMV.