Hilco donate piano to Dundalk School of Music

Members of Dundalk School of Music test out the new piano, which was kindly donated by Hilco Capital

Hilco Capital, the company behind HMV and Xtra-vision, have presented a new piano to the Dundalk School of Music.

Commenting on their Facebook page the DSM thanked the group “for their vote of confidence in providing the school with such a tremendous instrument as we continue to strive for excellence in music.”

Hilco’s Paul McGowan resides in Blackrock. The company recently took over the Xtra-vision chain and reopened HMV in the town in a dual HMV and Xtra-vision branch at the Long Walk last Friday.

The new piano is a timely boost ahead of DSM’s fourth anniversary on November 16^th. Further details on the school can be found at www.dundalkschoolofmusic.com

Related articles

• HMV reopening in Dundalk tomorrow (talkofthetown.ie)
• Future of Dundalk Xtra-vision secured (talkofthetown.ie)

Meanwhile, in Xtra-vision

A large crowd queued outside Xtra-vision in Dundalk last night for the release of Grand Theft Auto V.

The must-have game went on sale at midnight with plenty of keen gamers around the country eager to become one of the first to get their hands on it.

Above is a picture that was tweeted by Xtra-vision of the crowd in Dundalk.

HMV will reopen in Dundalk, Hilco boss confirms

It has been officially confirmed that HMV will reopen in Dundalk in the Xtra-vision store at the Long Walk.

Talk of the Town reported last week that owners Hilco were planning to open 26 stores as part of a “shop-in-shop” project within Xtra-vision outlets.

Earlier today Hilco chief executive Paul McGowan, who resides in Blackrock, confirmed via Twitter that the move was going to happen in Dundalk, with HMV reopening in Xtra-vision in the “next few weeks”.

Four HMV stores are set to reopen next month – three in Dublin and one in Limerick – while the shop-in-shop projects at the Xtra-vision outlets are expected to see a further 25 HMV stores open around the country.

HMV has already announced that it will be honouring valid gift vouchers for its stores when it reopens.

• Previously: HMV expected to reopen in Dundalk

HMV expected to reopen in Dundalk

HMV is expected to reopen in Dundalk but not in its old location at the Marshes Shopping Centre. Instead it will be a shop within a shop at Xtra-vision

HMV looks set to return to Dundalk – but not to the Marshes Shopping Centre.

Hilco announced yesterday that it plans to reopen four stores in Ireland over the coming weeks. They will be located in Henry Street in Dublin, Dundrum Shopping Centre, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and Limerick’s Crescent Shopping Centre.

However, Hilco are also set to announce the opening of 26 more stores next week, with each of these being “shop-in-shop” projects within Xtra-vision outlets.

While it will be next week before it is officially confirmed, it is expected that the Xtra-vision store at the Long Walk will be one of the 26 locations chosen for the new scaled down HMV.

According to Hilco Capital Ireland chief executive Larry Howard: “The Xtra-vision, HMV and Hilco teams have been at full stretch in recent weeks finalising arrangements and store designs for the new concession arrangements. We look forward to HMV once again becoming the home of entertainment retail in Ireland.”

Hilco chief executive Paul McGowan, who resides in Blackrock, said HMV would be launching its new digital product later in the year, with “more exciting developments” being announced in coming weeks.

When Hilco rescued Xtra-vision in June, Mr McGowan called the name “a very strong brand”, which would be “a good fit alongside HMV”.

Future of Dundalk Xtra-vision secured

The future of Dundalk’s Xtra-vision store at the Long Walk appears to have been secured after the company was sold yesterday to Hilco Capital Ireland for an undisclosed sum.

The movie rental chain went into receivership in late April, blaming the growth in online streaming and piracy for diminished profits, as well as large rent bills.

However, the chain’s business, stock and head office in Tallaght have now been taken over by Hilco, who also recently acquired HMV.

Yesterday, Talk of the Town reported that HMV was not going to be reopening in Dundalk but Hilco CEO Paul McGowan’s assessment yesterday that Xtra-vision was “a good fit alongside HMV” suggests that the company may look to merge the two brands together in certain areas.

Xtra-vision already sells a number of DVDs, boxsets and CDs and will be expected to expand on this now that it has become part of Hilco’s international entertainment retail division.

While a small number of store closures are expected, the future of the Dundalk store would appear to be secure. One of Hilco’s outstanding problems is renegotiating store leases with landlords but that would appear not to be an issue locally with Xtra-vision having recently relocated from the Adelphi to the Long Walk.

Previously: HMV reopening – but not in Dundalk

HMV reopening – but not in Dundalk

A number of HMV stores are set to reopen around the country in the next few weeks but Dundalk will not be one of them.

Amongst the stores set to be reopened by recovery specialists Hilco include shops on Dublin’s Henry Street, Limerick’s Crescent Shopping Centre and in Liffey Valley and Dundrum Shopping Centres.

More may open later in the summer, with locations earmarked for Grafton Street as well as Cork and Galway cities.

However, the store which closed at the Marshes Shopping Centre will not be reopening – at least not as a HMV – so any future plans Hilco has for a HMV in the town will mean it will have to be in a different location.

The current HMV premises in Dundalk, which now lies idle, is set to be taken over by DV8 Fashions, which will be opening soon.

UK-based Hilco’s chief executive is Paul McGowan, who resides in Blackrock.

The four stores set to reopen will create 100 jobs and while a long term project main involve a return to Dundalk, it is not thought to be currently in the pipeline.

Previously: DV8 Fashions to open Dundalk store in the Marshes

HMV won’t be reopening

 

HMV in the Marshes will remain closed

There’s bad news for local music and movie fans with the HMV store in the Marshes Shopping Centre set to remain closed.

There had been hopes that the store would reopen when HMV bought out the franchise, particularly as Hilco’s chief executive Paul McGowan lives in Ardee having recently moved there from Belfast.

However, The Argus reports that receivers Deloitte have failed to find a buyer for the Irish chain of stores. That means 10 local works will now be made redundant.

Source: Dundalk HMV branch will not reopen (The Argus).