Marvindodgers said:
jimbofisher said:
Marvindodgers said:
I walked into my local second hand record shop at the weekend to find the sad news that they are having to close due to the landlord upping the rent. Whilst getting over this devastating news (I've been buying records from these guys for 30+ years) I felt it my duty to try and reduce their load when removals day arrives and bought a small pile of vinyl. Been working my way through them this evening.
A slightly eclectic playlist but a fitting tribute to Scorpion Records/Counter Culture. Fingers crossed that they'll find new premises someday soon.
Marvin, where are you? I ask as you mention Scorpion Records, I know there are probably a few shops of that name but I grew up in High Wycombe and used to spend a lot of time after school flicking through the second hand records there but I thought it had closed a few years ago to make way for a new development.
Hi, yes the Scorpion Records that I referred to is the one in High Wycombe. It did indeed close a number of years ago as the guy who ran it decided to retire to look after his ailing wife and the land is now under a giant Sainsburys. Steg (the guy with the big beard if you remember him?) and Cheryl relocated to Desborough Road and opened up as Counter Culture soon after Scorpion closed and they've been there for a number of years now. They only use half the shop unit they are in and unfortunately their landlord needs to maximise his income by leasing the whole unit and they just cannot see a way of making that pay and so they have had to take the sad decision to close up shop this saturday. They've tried to find a shop share with another business, but they've so far been unsuccesful. They sell a lot on eBay and will continue that for now and they are continueing to look for alternative premises, but sadly at present it's looking like the end for now. Very sad indeed as I've been buying from them since I was 12 years old (42 now!!) When I spoke to my sister about it, she did remark that they were probably responsible for over half my collection and she is probably not too wrong! Sad times in HW!!
Sad times indeed, i spent many a happy time in Scorpion from 82-88 after school 'whilst waiting for the bus'. Spent a lot of pocket money and weekend job money in there.
I do remember Steg. One of the great things was there was no snobbery about what you were buying. They were also happy to let you browse and browse.
Can't claim to have bought my first records there as before I went to upper school I rarely went into HW, we lived in Flackwell Heath and used to go into Bourne End. There was a toy shop there, Cliftons, which had a corner of the shop dedicated to selling records, even had a separate booth for the till. Don't see shops like that any more.
Perhaps Counter Culture should have had a shop share with Childs toy shop, another institution from my youth which was originally next to Scorpion but moved to Desborough Road, spent a lot of ptre-teen time in there too. Also bought my first bike from the shop next to Scorpion. Happy days!
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