Based in 1894 by Henry Spiller in Cardiff's now-demolished Queens Arcade, Spillers Information initially bought phonographs, wax cylinders and shellac discs. Pre-dating the emergence of vinyl information by over half a century, the store is alleged to be the world's oldest report retailer.
Within the late Forties, Spillers was relocated to its longest tenured location at The Hayes, turning into an integral a part of the Welsh music scene, bringing collectively music lovers and provoking future generations of South Welsh musicians. Noteworthy prospects of their pre-fame period included members of the bands Catatonia, Tremendous Furry Animals, and, most notably, Manic Avenue Preachers, who busked in entrance of the store of their early days.
Within the late 2000s, Spillers' survival was solid into critical doubt when the owner elevated the lease threefold, forward of the deliberate redevelopment of The Hayes and the encircling space. The enterprise had already been struggling as a result of creation of on-line music, which had triggered a pointy decline in bodily music gross sales. After a collection of proposed takeover offers fell via, then-owner Nick Todd started planning to shutter the enterprise. It appeared inevitable that Spillers Information was lastly approaching its swansong.
Unexpectedly, Nick's daughters, Ashli and Grace, took over the enterprise. Having each labored part-time in Spillers whereas rising up, the sisters felt that closing the world's oldest report store could be an terrible signal concerning the state of bodily music and unbiased music retailing. The store was relocated to a stop-gap location within the close by Victorian-era Morgan Arcade in 2010, earlier than shifting a couple of doorways all the way down to its present-day location at 27 Morgan Arcade in 2015.
Whereas Spillers diversified into promoting CDs and merchandise way back, vinyl stays its specialty, and its latest revival has given the store a second wind. The thoughtfully curated assortment spans an expansive vary of genres, with an affinity in the direction of Welsh artists. The workers will gladly make suggestions primarily based on prospects' tastes and are additionally very prepared to hearken to suggestions on what to order and inventory. Music lovers passing via Cardiff mustn't move up the chance to go to and assist this residing piece of music historical past.
