Good news for music fans (but don’t hold your breath)
There were rumours last summer that the much-lamented music shop Fopp was to return to Sheffield. Speculation was rife that one of the new retail units in the old Yates’s bar building on Division street might be the record shop’s new home.
Six months down the line, there is still no sign of Fopp in town. G-star clothing has taken one of the Yates’s units and the other seems to be the temporary home to a clothes shop.
I decided to get in touch with Fopp and ask them what was happening. The news is good, although don’t hold your breath for an imminent return just yet. This is what they said:
We are keen to bring Fopp back to Sheffield if we can, and to this end were actively looking at a site that we considered suitable some months ago. Unfortunately we were unable to agree terms and to pursue our interest at the time. However, we trust that further opportunities will present themselves in future.
They were happy for me to share this here but wanted to stress that they had no immediate alternative options at the present time – although they expected this to change in due course.
Buying records from shops may not be the future, but with only two record stores left in a city with such a strong musical heritage, I still think that Fopp would be a success for at least a few years.
I’ve asked Fopp to let me know of any more news regarding the return of a Sheffield branch and if they get back in touch I’ll post any updates here.
In the meantime, they will probably read this post so feel free to comment below to show your support for Fopp returning to the city.
The slightly premature party last summer to celebrate Fopp's return to Sheffield
Robin
/ 12 January, 2010I can’t wait for Fopp to reopen in Sheffield – while I’m a fan of HMV as they generally have good sale stock and an improving website – and a massive fan of places like Record Collector. But I often find myself heading to places like Fopp and Piccadilly Records in Manchester and leaving both with a melted bank card and arms worth of CDs and vinyl.
When they were in Sheffield, the staff always seemed to know what to play on the in-store sound system so I can only thank them retrospectively for introducing me to some excellent music.
In terms of places where Fopp could trade – its a tough one for location. I’d quite like to see them in Orchard Square but I dont think there are any suitable units now.
There is the “pointy” bit of Leopold Square which would be – in my opinion – quite cohesive to being a music shop (great for any instore appearances as the square has a music licence! AFAIK!) or the old budgens unit under West One (although, thats quite large)
Sheffield blog
/ 12 January, 2010I agree – the old Fopp was great and town would be much improved by its return.
My instinct would be to try to keep it in the Devonshire quarter. Division street was ideal, as that area attracts the kind of shopper that would shop at Fopp but it also close to the middle of town. I’m guessing the rents on Fargate or in Orchard square would be higher.
I think I read a while back that the old Budgens was becoming a restaurant?
Robin
/ 12 January, 2010It was, it was set to be a “the filling station” (predominately a scottish brand so far) but the change of use planning application fell through owing to complaints from residents above about cooking smells and noise – or so I’ve been lead to believe.
Rich
/ 12 January, 2010I’d love FOPP to return to Sheffield! I moved here a few years back just as it shut down, which was a big disappointment. It’s probably been good for my wallet though. It would be nice if they opened in a bigger space so they could fit in a coffee shop like in the Manchester one.
Richard
/ 12 January, 2010I think Fopp made the Devenshire quarter what is to a large extent. It was a fantastic shop, and I remember it well, both when it was a small single unit and when it extended to the double unit that is now occupied by Costa.
Anyway. If it came back as it left us I have no doubt it would do well.
nwsheffield
/ 12 January, 2010Fopp died for me a few years before it actually closed. In the early days, you could spend ages looking at the bargain bin oddments that made up much of their stock and find some real gems. Then they decided to try to compete with HMV and their displays started to look like any other mainstream store. I hope they do come back – even if it means me being skint again! – but that they remember what type of customer gave them their early success, and why they finally drowned in mainstream.
Mark
/ 12 January, 2010Lived within walking distance of FOPP in Solihull, gutted when it closed. Now live in Sheffield, would LOVE FOPP to return, rely on Amazon right now, but it’s just not the same…
Brendan
/ 14 January, 2010Yes, I loved Fopp, and spent a lot of money there… I;ve been downloading a lot of music for years now, but I never went into Fopp without buying (usually, lots of) stuff. Not just CDs, they had a great range of books too, and I discovered many great authors through browsing. Come back Fopp.
Nick
/ 15 January, 2010Seems like just a nostalga exercise to me. If they manage to reopen the store, I can’t see it being sustainable in the long term.
talkelectric
/ 15 January, 2010Well roll it back in asap ..If Fopp chaps check reponses they can see the Sheffield wave – so just like the Rage Against The Machine – create a ground swell guys ! And remember it wasnt just cheap CDs – the book department was cracking and whatever you say Im still not reading books on-line..so there’s a poke in the eye for Nick ‘not sustainable’…
Schonberg
/ 16 January, 2010Nick, I would normally have agreed that the future is not buying CDs from a record store, however I have just had the misfortune to be in HMV in Meadowhall (arghhh!) and it was packed. Seems that there’s still a market out there. Maybe it’s just my age but there’s no better feeling than walking out of a record store with a small plastic bag and a bit of plastic inthere just waiting to be played when you get home. My personal favourite will always be Record Collector, but Fopp used to run a very close second. I Would love to see Fopp back…
projectsheffield
/ 17 January, 2010Have you not herd of Rare n Racy Devonshire Street?, FOPP nearly killed them having been around from 1963 only 2 shops in Sheffield, yes right if forget HMV that would be the wonderful Record Collector and of course Rare n Racy Devonshire Street there open everyday from 10 Sundays from 11 to 5 and weekdays to six. Selling old/new CDS/Records along with Books N Posters that is there other sideline, three floors of Sheffield with Joe and Alan and the smell of oldness against the grain they shall remain for all that is left of centre, Record Collector and Rare n Racy are all that Sheffield NEEDS..
Sheffield blog
/ 17 January, 2010I love Rare’r'racy and Record collector but the amount I spend at each hasn’t changed since Fopp’s demise and wouldn’t change if Fopp returned.
If Fopp came back to Division/Devonshire street then it might actually help shops like Rare’n'racy by attracting customers into the Devonshire quarter.
SEO被リンク
/ 18 January, 2010I can’t wait to know more news regarding the return of a Sheffield branch. Please do keep posted. Thanks.
HARMO***KINGMARMO
/ 23 January, 2010By George!
This is like hearing my best friend, whom sadly passed away three years ago, has been revived.
But better.
I cried when the Sheffield Fopp closed.
I cried blood.
As the antidote to Hell-holes like HMV, it would be more than a welcome return to Sheffield.
Throwing money around in there was, to me, like having sex on drugs.
Phil
/ 5 June, 2012For God’s sake and everybody else’s bring back Fopp to Sheffield! HMV are too limited and expensive.
Michael Clark
/ 23 August, 2012I really support this – Fopp holds very fond memories of browsing on a Saturday morning with my dad, or with friends on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, – often followed by a swift drink and look at my buys in the Forum – a highlight of the weekend. It was a real asset to Sheffield and no doubt would be again if it returned – it’s always somewhere I’d take friends who were visiting from out of town. Whenever I visit a city that has a Fopp I hunt it down and it’d be great to have one again on my home patch. I too buy lots of music online, downloads and CDs but rarely leave a Fopp without purchasing and still value the buzz and immediacy of browsing and buying from a proper record store. I really valued Fopp’s eclectic stock, which helped me break into new genres like jazz as well as keeping abreast of the latest new releases and that nostalgia and loyalty would definitely draw me back if Fopp does return