Rounder Records, the iconic Brighton Record Store is to close its doors after 46 years trading.
A statement has been issued from the shop:
"It is with huge regret and sadness that we have to announce that we are closing down. We will shut our doors at 6pm on Sunday 29th July after 46 years of being a record shop in Brighton Square.
What we have always strived to do is to stock the best range of music at the best prices for our customers - sadly that is not enough for us to stay open.
We are closing because we can't make it add up any more. We are a business that has been decimated by downloads (both legal and illegal), VAT avoidance by the big online retailers, a double dip recession, & the decline of the high street. Our lease has ended and we have nowhere to go."
Owner, Phil Barton added, "The shop and the staff have always striven to be the best. We are not able to deliver the best anymore and with the deepest regret I have to close the doors at the end of July. Rounder has been a part of my life, and my loyal staff's lives for so long that having to close is a very bitter pill to swallow. We tried everything to stay open, but the basic economics were killing us.".
We would like to give heartfelt thanks to all our customers over the years, and hope that we have managed to provide you with some special and great music throughout this time. That's why we have been here - as place to obtain, hear, find out about, discuss all types of the weird & wonderful world of music, to be a social hub for a musical city, a place where future bands are born, where record labels are started, where local bands can stock their first release, where you can get tickets for gigs, where there's something playing on the shop stereo that might be your new favourite band. Sadly, in 2012, this is just not financially viable."
This is a trend that has been repeating all over the UK in the last few years, Spillers Records in Cardiff for instance which is 'The Oldest Record Shop In The World' narrowly avoided closure and eventually had to move from its prime high street spot in 2010 after 60 years in the same location. Share your memories with Rounder at their Facebook or your thoughts on the decline of the record shop with RoomThirteen at our Facebook.