Memory lane move for music store

AFTER close to three decades Crossroads Music has moved on from its Skipton Street intersection store to a former pawn shop at 87 Bridge Mall.

The relocation is something of a nostalgic move for owner Kevin Thompson, with the music store now based next to where the shop was located for about two years prior to setting up at its iconic muralled building.

Mr Thompson said there are many benefits to the new space.

“I loved the old shop because I’d been there so long and it was mine but I wanted one, big decent-sized showroom which we’ve got now,” he said.

“The best part about it is there’ll be foot traffic and people coming past here. At the other store, people would come there specifically for things to buy or get repaired.

“Here, as well as that, we’re hoping the extra foot traffic might bring some new customers in. Some people are saying it’s more accessible now.”

Mr Thompson also said the new store has allowed for an extended range of stock and the new site was opened last week after about a month of preparations.

He said he’s looking at bringing over mainstays to Crossroads such as private lessons and its familiar mural created by local artist Ian Drever to the new space in some capacity.

“I’ve talked to a couple people about having the painting copied, of course much smaller, and maybe some modern stick-on signs,” he said. “I don’t think we could have it painted again because that would be a big job.

“The fella who did that’s still around. He’s done a few signs on the front to get us by until the final signwriting gets done. Eventually I want to get some corner pieces out with our logo.

“Lessons are in a bit of a flux. We’ve got our upstairs room which is about the same size as downstairs but we’ll need to spend the money to turn that into something.”