Record shop to close its doors
Feel The Groove is reaching the runout with bosses ready to pull down the shutters on the town centre record shop.
Gavin Simpson, 49, says it’s the vinyl countdown for the shop after two years in business.
The loss will leave the shopping precinct with no dedicated music store.
Gavin insists it is not the end for shoppers.
He said: “We’ve given the shop a couple of years.
“Unfortunately, things just haven’t worked out the way we had imagined.
“I have been unwell for a fair bit and there have been a few changes.
“I recently moved back to the town and very much feel part of it again.
“I’m determined to keep going on in some shape or form.
“We’ve a gig this weekend as a kind of thank you to our customers.
“I’m also looking into the possibility of bringing a regular record fair back to Paisley.”
Feel The Groove opened on the Causeyside Street site of the long-standing Apollo Music shop in 2016.
It set-up after previous owner Mike Dillon bowed out after nearly three decades behind the counter.
Gavin lectures in music business at West College Scotland and split his time between the business and classroom.
Paolo Nutini played to just 60 customers in the store ahead of his Spree Festival headline show last year.
Punters bagged briefs for the one- off gig in a golden ticket giveaway with purchases.
Gavin has also promoted live music at nearby venues, including the neighbouring Bungalow Bar
He hosts the Luci Baines Band – who he helped to vinyl chart Christmas number one after flogging their single.
Gavin said: “We’ve been very lucky to have been supported by some great musicians.
“We’ve had Paolo, Gun and the View – their singer Kyle Falconer was back the other week playing in the shop.
“We’ll be closing at the end of the month and having a sale before we shut.
“We’re going to continue selling records online and we’ll still be buying up collections.
“We want to get together with other shops and bring a fair back to the town.
“It might be monthly or bi-monthly, but it’ll be bigger and means we can still reach our customers.
“Paisley is definitely on the up again and there’s so much going on musically in the town.
“There are great bands playing week in and out and festivals to look forward to.
“We just felt it was the right time for the shop to bow out.”