Zhivago... finito?

cfeeneyinterior

Just with all the threads about places that did or didn't go bang since christmas. I hear the last bastion of Irish record shops is gone Wallop. Sorry for all the staff but I suppose it's been coming for a while.

bigtuna

It was closed early today but it said it was for stock take. Hopefully it's not.

PomBear

cfeeneyinterior wrote: »

Just with all the threads about places that did or didn't go bang since christmas. I hear the last bastion of Irish record shops is gone Wallop. Sorry for all the staff but I suppose it's been coming for a while.

source?

TheCosmicFrog

As much as I dislike Zhivago, it's obviously a well-known establishment in Galway. Losing it would be like Dublin losing Bewley's on Grafton Street. It would be a shame to see it go.

The grammar nazi in me always cringed when I looked at their new sign. Someone needs to tell them it's DVDs, not Dvd's.

GerardKeating

bigtuna wrote: »

It was closed early today but it said it was for stock take. Hopefully it's not.

Closing Early on a Friday is odd, it would be busy, or at least busier than mid-week.

cfeeneyinterior

Half price sale last weekend and closed since then for stocktake.... 5 days for a stock take?
They did say on the signs that they would be open Friday.... they weren't... Anyways, spoke to two people in shops nearby. One said they were 110% certain it was gone as had spoken to staff there, second said they were boxing up things during week and a liquidator is going to be appointed. Not in the papers yet or picked up here yet so said I'd post.
I'm sure this will be locked soon but opened again with peoples fond memories.

Amazotheamazing

Tbf, they've been going downhill for ages but back in the early 2000's (when I first stumbled into Galway) it was a great shop.

Zhivago is gone? That's mad. Then again it was quite a long time coming; once HMV opened it's doors in Galway, it was only a matter of time until they went out of business, which is made worse that that HMV may close - has it been confirmed which are closing in Ireland?

Is this closure confirmed or is it still speculation?

amiable

A confirmed source would still be nice

skelliser

how in the name of god can a shop that for decades had a monopoly on music in galway go bust!!
I never really bought anything in there cause i always thought it was a rip off but the place was always packed.
I wonder did they get greedy and mortgage the business on some field.

GerardKeating

skelliser wrote: »

how in the name of god can a shop that for decades had a monopoly on music in galway go bust!!
I never really bought anything in there cause i always thought it was a rip off but the place was always packed.
I wonder did they get greedy and mortgage the business on some field.

Cause so many people get music online, and/or go to HMV instead.

TheCosmicFrog

skelliser wrote: »

the place was always packed

When was the last time you were in Zhivago, 2002?

brianthebard

That's a pity they were as good as hmv for most things (that I wanted at least) and often had stuff a bit cheaper than hmv, or metal stuff you wouldn't find in hmv.

KylieWyley

HMV going..? Zhivago gone..?

is this the start of the end of physical music distribution?

Irish_Elect_Eng

Hmmm...It was a long slow death from a great shop, to little more than a budget knic-knac store....I bought my first Album (U2 - Boy) there, on cassette :-) Ah.. the memories.....

I think that the recession had little to do with this closure.

Bad news though.

Caitlinn

If they are closed for good it's a shame (especially for the staff) but I saw it coming since they closed their Eyre Square branch.

TheCosmicFrog

Are there actually rumors that HMV might be closing?

Mr Keek

Sad to hear this news but not shocked. As some else said, it became a Knick Knacks store. Have't bought a CD in years an always go to HMV if I need to buy any BluRay.

Feel really bad for the staff, always really cool people through the years.

My Dad is really gonna miss the place, he'll have nowhere to go to get his country n Western an Irish Country stuff!

_Whimsical_

A great shame. Most of us got our first tapes/CDs in zhivago. It's sad to see it reduced to this.

You'd really start to wonder what the year holds for the locally owned shops here. Will there be tumbleweed blowing up Shop Street by 2012? It must be frightening to be in retail now.

_Whimsical_

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Are there actually rumors that HMV might be closing?

It was in the news last week that HMV are closing stores in towns/ cities where they have more than one shop. They said they didn't expect closures in Ireland.

Diabhal Beag

Guys nobody has given a good source so far so let's not mourn the loss just yet.

skelliser

skelliser wrote: »

how in the name of god can a shop that for decades had a monopoly on music in galway go bust!!
Ifield.

Because it doesn't have a monopoly anymore. Was in earlier in the week and thought the shelves were bare. It is a pity to loose it if it is true.

blindpilot

Spent a lot of money in there over the years when they were a cd and dvd shop but then they started bringing in all sorts of crap, touristy Irish things, poor quality band tshirts and toys. Thats when I gave up on them as their selection had diminished so much. It was more about pushing the crap than what they used to sell. A great shop in its day but if it does go I cant say I'm surprised at all.

FlashD

Thats a pity to hear about Zhivago but it dosen't surprise me

Many a visit over the last 20 years spent browsing their cd racks. It was always one of the reasons I would head into the city centre.

The last few years though I reckon all similar cd/dvd stores have taken a severe hit with online music..... the recession is the killer blow!

To be honest, 10 years from now we might all be wondering what a record store once was.....HMW, Virgin, Zhivago...they will all be relics of the past.

Utopia Parkway

Even multinationals like HMV are under pressure so I guess it's not too surprising that Zhivago may have reached the end of the line. A pity as I used to live in the place years ago buying CD's but even I haven't been in the place in a good few years now.

Xiney

I think they started selling "gifts" because they saw the writing on the wall vis a vis CD and DVD sales. They were trying to diversify their interests... I actually liked the stuff near the back... cute stationery, hand bags & wallets, welcome mats... didn't buy it though because I certainly didn't need any more stuff!

(The oirish stuff near the front was crap)

Pool4Life

I was talking to a Staff member they were told yesterday it's closed.

snubbleste

Once cdwow started free shipping to Ireland in 2000ish, it was only a matter of time. I remember the same new release cd being £21 in Zhivago and £22 in Golden Discs versus £12 on cdwow.

barryd09

IF this is true this is a sad day for Galway

Zhivagos provided me with hours of browsing and listening for probably the last 16 years or so!
Used to buy loads in there,cds,tapes,vinyls,dvds etc.

It was obvious they were changing route with the non music/dvd items to make it viable.

Again,still not confirmed by anyone yet.just like during the week i had someone SWEAR to me that the skeff was closed only to do a bit of research myself and apparently they were closed to repair pipe/water damage and they ARE very much still open.

996tt

dont forget those **** tesco, their buying power is so strong that they can buy most products cheaper add their mark up and their sale price is still lower than most local business can buy the product for. There was a good documentary on one of the uk channels a few years ago on their affect on towns. They turned some UK towns into ghost towns with their hyper markets, petrol stations and express shops.

Its slowly happening in Ireland to the following sectors:
-petrol stations
-corner stores
-specialty shops which offer a good selection/service such as:
-off licenses
-music shops
-bakerys
-list is endless

and thats not to mention what they are doing to the local food growers in ireland.

We all feel good when we get a bargain in tesco(cd/loaf/milk) but its bad for us in the long term

kippy

996tt wrote: »

dont forget those **** tesco, their buying power is so strong that they can buy most products cheaper add their mark up and their sale price is still lower than most local business can buy the product for. There was a good documentary on one of the uk channels a few years ago on their affect on towns. They turned some UK towns into ghost towns with their hyper markets, petrol stations and express shops.

Its slowly happening in Ireland to the following sectors:
-petrol stations
-corner stores
-specialty shops which offer a good selection/service such as:
-off licenses
-music shops
-bakerys
-list is endless

and thats not to mention what they are doing to the local food growers in ireland.

We all feel good when we get a bargain in tesco(cd/loaf/milk) but its bad for us in the long term

Sadly, and ultimately, the main thing that matters to MOST consumers is price.

While I am sorry to hear the name Zhivago will no longer be associated with Galway, business close due to market pressures. With some luck a new business will take its place. A business that will be able to take advantage of cheaper rents, cheaper wages and opportunities to negotiate cheaper prices with suppliers.
It is sadly a sign of the times we live in.

sgthighway

They are open in the Galway Shopping Centre right now????

barryd09

Theres a documentary called 'Walmart - The high cost of the low price'

Well worth a watch.

biko

Rumour closed.

PM a mod with a linkable source to open

biko

Ok, we have confirmation so thread reopened.

http://www.galwaynews.ie/17078-zhivago-music-shops-go-voluntary-liquidation

The company, which owns Zhivago music stores in Galway, has gone into voluntary liquidation with the loss of a dozen jobs.

Sound City Galway Limited operated the main Zhivago outlet at Shop Street in the city and the Zhivago outlet at Galway Shopping Centre.

The Shop Street outlet shut its doors a number of days ago, while the outlet at the Galway Shopping Centre will trade under a new name.

Wompa1

A victim of the torrent sites I'd imagine. The revamp was so strange too, I could see why they'd do it but it always felt weird being in there with teddy bears around the place and the ticketmaster just there.

Actually good question now, what happens to ticketmaster!?

Lockstep

Crying shame it's gone, they were great for more obscure bands.

JohnCleary

So sorry to hear this. Not that I ever shopped in there, but just that it was such a Galway shop. I used to buy the odd poster in there as a kid, and bought my first ever tape (Now! something other when I was about 10) in there

SinewaveSurfer

can't say I'll be crying myself to sleep over this.

wet-paint

Same, it was a bigger loss to lose Redlight.

And I doubt Galway is such a hotbed of illegal downloads that enough purchasing power moved online, and closed down Zhivagos.
That's the way all music distribution is moving, legal or not, and those firms that don't change with the times get left behind.
It's **** though that they couldn't adapt to it, it's a big store on Shop st, and it'll be hard to fill I'd say.

snubbleste

wet-paint wrote: »

It's **** though that they couldn't adapt to it, it's a big store on Shop st, and it'll be hard to fill I'd say.

Euro2 shop or for some budding entrepreneur a Euro1.98 shop

Malice

kickoutthejams wrote: »

Crying shame it's gone, they were great for more obscure bands.

I think I must have a very different definition to obscure than you. Even ten years ago it was impossible to find any less well-known bands on their shelves. I am referring specifically to the Rock + Metal end of things mind you, maybe it was different for other genres.
Having said that I can't remember the last time I bought anything in there. The ease of Internet shopping means all my CD/DVD/Blu-Ray purchasing is done online.

dmcg90

As gaming has become so profitable, I find it surprising they stopped selling games in there years ago.

Robbo

Hey kid, I'm a computer. Stop all the downloading.

Shryke

It really did go downhill years ago. The only thing I'd be in there for is Ticketmaster. As someone already said, I wonder what will happen there.
I hope HMV stay open. They're expensive but they have a good selection.

Aiel

Their cd's and dvd's were nearly always a few euros more expensive then other shops(HMV,Tower Records in Dublin,even Redlight Records).They had the monopoly in Galway for years and took advantage of it by ripping people off.I remember seeing Moby signing albums in there in the mid 90's "back in the day":).

SinewaveSurfer

Aiel wrote: »

Their cd's and dvd's were nearly always a few euros more expensive then other shops(HMV,Tower Records in Dublin,even Redlight Records).They had the monopoly in Galway for years and took advantage of it by ripping people off.

+1

qwytre

Sad to see any business go under.

The prices they used to charge were shocking. I remember cds being priced at £19.99 back in 1996.

Bummer1234

Sad to see it go

Does this mean there not one Ticketmaster seller in The city centre now?

dmcg90

The Galway Shopping Centre one is still open (as of about 10 minutes ago when I was in). Doesn't look to be big discounts on anything, 10-15% off electricals but thats pretty much it. They're probably saving most of their new stock for the new store going there.

LadyMayBelle

Can't say I am particularly sad to see it go. Okay, yes I am sad in the respect it was a Galway family run business, but for the past five years at least it has been selling tack, with garish shop signs obscuring the nice building on shop street. Things have always been over priced, and there are only so many rubbish boxsets you can try and flog.
I think the problem with Zhivago is that it begain selling everything from gifts, to Irish merchandise, to novelty gifts etc instead of reducing in size and selling quality stuff and not pound shop tack.. My opinion anyways.