The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fears iconic city record shop may not reopen.
RETAIL: Groucho’s ‘closed until further notice’ despite other city centre traders opening their doors
Legendary Dundee record shop Groucho’s will remain closed “until further notice”, sparking fears it may never reopen.
The store has been run by Stella Brodie since the death of her husband, Groucho’s founder Alastair “Breeks” Brodie, last year.
The shop has failed to reopen after lockdown, despite most of the retail sector being allowed to welcome customers again.
Stella confirmed the shop will remain closed “until further notice” but could not provide more information.
Alastair founded the shop in 1976 and it has had several homes across Dundee, most recently on Nethergate.
His daughter Jenny described her heartbreak at the prospect of Groucho’s closing for good.
Jenny used to work in the shop but has not been directly involved in the day-today operations for some time.
She said: “I am incredibly saddened to see the potential closure of the shop and the end of such a legendary focal point for music fans in Dundee.
“Generations of folk have enjoyed the Groucho’s experience, buying their
“Iam incredibly saddened to see the potential closure of the shop and the end of such a legendary focal point for music fans in Dundee. JENNY BRODIE
music, finding wee gems or soaking up the atmosphere. It was really a ‘go to’ place for music.
“The customers became pals and the staff became family.
“While for many the closure of Groucho’s will be seen as the end of an era, for me it marks a final chapter in my childhood. I’ll miss it in so many ways as it was the last tangible link to my dad.
“For my dad it was more than just a shop or a business, it was what gave him a reason to get up in the morning and work until the wee small hours.
“From childhood I was always aware that my dad wished for me to be involved in the business. Unfortunately, I was prevented from fulfilling his wishes in the shop in any capacity, while his wife carried on as a sole trader.
“The staff, who have been the backbone of the shop through the years, especially during his illness and once dad passed away, have been amazing in keeping the shop going right up to lockdown.
“They are the ones who will feel the loss of the shop most keenly, so I can only thank them, past and present.”
Concerns over the shop’s future were previously raised when Alastair considered closure because of lease issues and his health.
However, there was a reprieve when he managed to secure a new lease. He hoped a buyer would take over but one has yet to emerge.
Mark Flynn, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said: “Many traders, not just in Dundee but across the world, are having to look very closely at their business model to work out how they can carry on trading successfully in the future.”