An iconic high street brand will be opening a new store in a UK city after surviving administration twice. HMV will be opening three new shops across Europe following “strong public demand” for the brand’s return. The company’s managing director Phil Halliday confirmed the new store openings will be in the coming months, and one will be returning to Peterborough in England.
HMV fell into administration twice in recent years due to financial difficulties, first in early 2013 and again in late 2018. However, the brand’s revival of its iconic pink and black signature logo has been focused on vinyl and pop culture, targeting a new generation of music lovers who may enjoy physical media. Mr Halliday said: “We’re constantly striving to create new homes for communities of fans to come together and share their love of music and popular culture.”
The retail giant will launch new branches in Peterborough in England, Cork in Ireland and The Hague in the Netherlands before the end of the year.
The HMV shop in the UK city will open in the Queensgate Shopping Centre, which will mark the company’s return to Peterborough after a five-year absence.
Mr Halliday said: “We’re so thrilled that, after five years of working on a deal, we’re finally able to open a new store in Peterborough and meet the strong public demand.”
He added: “We plan to continue focusing on opening stores in Ireland and across mainland Europe as our main targets for expansion, where it currently makes more sense to do so from a business point of view.”
The music brand will open a new store in Merchants Quay Shopping Centre, Cork which will be the third shop in the country.
In the Netherlands, The Hague branch will be the retail giant’s first store in the country, which will add to HMV’s growing European presence.
Earlier this year, Budget tax rises reportedly forced HMV to temporarily pause its UK expansion.
At the time of the announcement, Mr Halliday said the retailer had wished to open up to 10 more stores across the UK this year, yet those plans are on hold to ensure profitability is maintained.
