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