Spillers Records
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spillers Records, established in 1894, is the oldest record shop in the world.[1] It is located in Cardiff, Wales. In addition to selling music, it is the city's main location for buying tickets for alternative music concerts.
Spillers was founded in 1894 by Henry Spiller at its original location in Cardiff's Queen’s Arcade, where the shop specialised in the sale of phonographs, wax phonograph cylinders and shellac phonograph discs. In the early 1920s, Spiller's son Edward took over the running of the business and, with the aid of the popular accordionist and bandleader Joe Gregory, sold musical instruments alongside the pre-recorded music. In the late 1940s, Henry moved the shop around the corner to a larger premises on The Hayes, where it has remained and thrived ever since.
As of 2006, Spillers Records is fighting for its life. Developers Helical Bar have said they are keen for the shop to survive but have increased the site rent prior to two new local developments. There is a vigorous local campaign to save the shop, (including a petition initiated by Plaid Cymru A.M for South Wales Central Owen John Thomas), supported by members of the Welsh Assembly, the Manic Street Preachers and Columbia Records.[1]
