Trying to Save Head: Why Did a Successful Record Store Have to Close?

Huffington Post

Last year for Record Store Day, I wrote a blog post about the records shops I grew up with in Northern Ireland, and how they helped me gain a sense of identity through my teens and into my twenties...

However, this is not simply another story about the slow death of the high street music retailer. Instead it's a tale about how a large shop filled a gap in Belfast's cultural community and became a commercial success in the process. Unlike most record stores in the current climate, Head had traded very well over Christmas and the management are on record as saying that it beat its performance targets.

For those of you who don't know Belfast, I should explain that Victoria Square is a very upmarket shopping centre right in the centre of the city. It cost £400m to build and opened in March 2008. It has the largest House of Fraser in the UK and has approximately 17 million visitors a year, a figure which places it in the top 10 shopping centres in the country. Even if you don't go there to shop, its distinctive glass dome offers the highest public views across the city....


Read More: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jonathan-greer/trying-to-save-head-why-d_b_1206398.html

Even though the article clearly states their sales were up and how flexible leases are hard to come-by. It's not all governed by internet sales.

It's a cultural thing, if Councils and the Business sector in the city saw the need for shops like Head then accommodations can be made. If they did, a host of other shops, which would bring in tourists, artists and a wide-range of people - it would do the city good.

I found head to be quite useful for books, etc. Much cheaper than Waterstones and although bot a great selection they seemed to have a lot of the classics. And foreign films. Also, if I'm not mistaken.. I think I remember a band playing in head maybe a year ago as a wee promo thing? And their section on local music was quite good. The staff were always very helpful too. I wonder what will go there? Another Kfc probably.

It is a shame, we have HMV left and I find it really annoying. I kinda run in and out if I go in there at all due to the obnoxious overly loud music which changed depending on what floor you're on. They are closing HMV in Forestside too, which again didn't have a huge selection but was atleast tolerable.

You could always go to the inshops, Paddy, or Smithfield! :P

Smithfield's ok, the inshops varies from year to year.

Years ago there were a few record shops and the vintage stores were cool but they're all formulaic now and some play awful french pop music no one liked back in the 70s.

EmptySkyXD said:
Lol, those were a joke but whatever floats your boat! I don't think they'd stock anything I'd like...

Remember Clive's? Was it Clive's? Round near poets corner? That place was awesome, always got a good recommendation.

It's not just record shops, it's musical instrument shops too! They keep dissapearing from Belfast and being replaced by crap like music matters.Haha yes, indeed. there are still a few clinging on. Love Machettes (probably spelling it wrong, too tired)

EmptySkyXD said:
Matchetts is okay but I always feel they're a bit weird about you playing the instruments. Belfast needs a proper update in terms of music shops, venues, basically everything. I love Belfast but we're severely lacking in comparison with other parts of the UK.We need champions in the UK and down south to bring their business to the north, and also councils and guilds need to protect shops so they should be more flexible when it comes to stores with variable income, season to season.

I think it would preserve some town centres as well as create a better cultural scene.