HMV starts reopening stores as new owner gets landlords to the negotiating table
HMV has reopened a store at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent as the company's new owner fights to revive its presence in London and the south east.
The Bluewater HMV opened its doors to customers on Tuesday morning, a week after it was shuttered along with several other HMVs across London.
Read more: Revealed: These are all the HMV stores facing closure
Staff at the Bluewater shop resumed their old jobs, following the reopening.
City PM understands the company renegotiated the terms of its lease at Bluewater. It is also seeking to renegotiate terms for other stores that were closed as part of a deal that saw Canada's Sunrise Records take over the brand last week.
HMV last week closed its Oxford Street branch, ending a 98-year residence on one of the world's most famous high streets. It also closed its Westfield store in Shepherd's Bush.
Sunrise Records chief executive Doug Putman has been visiting other HMV stores in recent days, telling staff of his determination to save some of the closed stores.
They include the Oxford Street store which was opened by composer Sir Edward Elgar in 1921, Putman told the Guardian.
Read more: Sunrise Records rescues HMV from administration
He said: “Where certain stores have closed, our public have really rallied around and I credit that with some of the landlords coming back to us.”
“They can see how much support we are getting.”