On The Beat Records boss speaks of manic reaction
The owner of a famous Soho record store that has been put up for sale on eBay has spoken out about the world's 'chaotic' reaction.
On The Beat Records can be yours for just over a quarter of a million pounds after owner Tim Derbyshire posted a listing for the historical site in which he claims it is 'a vinyl treasure trove with a pulsing, groovin’ history steeped in its very walls. You can make history and take it over'.
For your money, you can own not only the shop but also all the fittings and stock. When you put it that way it sounds like a pretty good deal.
Now, speaking to NME about the worlds reaction to the bold move, 60-year-old Derbyshire replied: "It's been chaotic. Australian TV have done some filming here, Germany has been calling, BBC News have been round. There have been some bids, but whether they're serious? That's hard to tell on eBay."
He continued: "If I'd had the time to sell it in dribs and drabs, I could have got more money for my stock. But I decided it has to be the whole lot that sells. £300,000 is a nice round figure, and three is my lucky number. It's a price that means somebody needs to seriously consider it. It's not cheap, but it's worth it."
See footage of the inside of the store below:
Derbyshire also claimed that he'd never anything sold anything on eBay before, saying: "I woke up one morning and thought 'What can I do?' I thought of eBay and it seems to have worked. I thought I might as well sell something on eBay once in my life and I thought 'Why not make it worthwhile?'"
While the likes of Paul McCartney and David Bowie have visited the store in its 34-year history, Derbyshire added: "I wouldn't recommend buying the shop as a chance to meet famous people."
Although the store is listed as 'profitable' on Ebay, the current owner warns that the anyone looking to take it over should be "at the stage in your life when you don’t have to worry about making money".
Encouragingly, it seems that more than the money, what the eccentric shop owner wants is someone to look after his store and love it as much as he has, saying: "I’ve given it my heart and soul for all these years but it’s time for me to step down and let another passionate music lover take over."
