HMV returns to Cork with new Merchant's Quay store

Joins Golden Discs in the fight back against the digital onslaught

New HMV store in Merchant's Quay, replaces Dealz.

More than a decade after it left the heart of Cork City, His Master’s Voice (HMV) is making a high street comeback, with a new store set to open in Merchants Quay in time for the busy Christmas market.

In a deal brokered by Lia Dennehy and Daire Brennan of Savills, with Daniel Murphy of Bannon representing the tenant, the music and entertainment retailer has taken out a 10-year lease on the outlet, at a rent of €90,000 per annum.

Previously occupied by Dealz, which closed earlier this year, the 3,000 sq ft unit will become the city’s newest record store, due to open next week.

HMV was previously located on Patrick Street, Cork, now occupied by Golden Discs. Picture: Denis Scannell

Just two other units on the mall remain vacant, near the recently occupied Jo Brown luxury product store. Savills is in discussion with potential tenants in relation to both units.

Ms Dennehy and Mr Brennan said it was “great to see another international brand enter the Cork market”.

The decision by HMV to open a store in Cork — its third in the Republic — is part of a broader European growth strategy for the brand, which has also opened new stores in the UK and the Netherlands.

The late Christy Dignam of Aslan meets Jane Kennington while her friend Danielle Buckley chats with other band members during the signing of autographs at HMV Cork in 2001. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

It reopened its Dublin store in 2023 and a Limerick store last year.

The expansion is part of the company’s focus on prime retail locations and ‘confidence in the future of physical media’, borne out by the vinyl comeback, despite the rise of digital music, streaming services, and online shopping.

Rival music retailer Golden Discs has also withstood the digital onslaught and retains its high profile spot at the old Savoy Cinema on St Patrick’s St, which was previously occupied by HMV.

Golden Discs has been in its current location since 2013, when it took over from HMV, which went into administration and closed all of its Irish stores in 2013.

Lisa O'Sullivan and Hazel Murphy meet The Coronas after their gig at HMV Cork in 2009. Picture: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

In 2015, the company opened a small outlet in Mahon Point Shopping Centre, but that closed in early 2020, as the pandemic took hold.

HMV managing director Phil Halliday said the company plans “to continue focusing on opening stores in Ireland and across mainland Europe as our main targets for expansion, where it currently makes more sense to do so from a business point of view.”

As part of its European expansion, HMV currently accepts international delivery orders for Republic of Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Germany, and is looking to expand that selection in the future.

HMV opened its flagship St Patrick’s St store in the early ‘90s during the peak of CD and DVD retail.

The shop was a major cultural hub, hosting in-shop signings, album launches, and events.