Brand new record shop, Regency Records, has opened its doors in Stockton town centre. Lee Allcock caught up with owner, Stephen Thompson, to find out more about what record lovers can expect.
Tell me a bit about yourself and your music background…
Well, first and foremost, I’ve always been a music lover and the dream has always been to be able to make a living out of it in some way. I’ve been in bands (most notably Coldseat and Crystals), produced music (as Hall North, Ricochet and Huntsman) and I’ve been a DJ for well over 20 years. And now I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do, and that is to own and run my own record shop. So I suppose the dream is still a possibility.
Why have you decided to open a new record shop?
The loss of Tom Butchart – who I considered to be a very good friend – and his Sound It Out shop has hit Stockton hard and left a gaping hole in the town. I love Stockton dearly and it both needs and deserves an independent record shop. So I suppose that is the rationale for my decision to do it now. But like I said before, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do anyway.
How did your opening event go?
The opening event was fantastic. Having two of my wife and I’s favourite local artists (George Boomsma and George Bailey) performing in our little shop was a genuinely special moment that I’ll treasure forever.
What can customers expect to find?
Customers can expect to find a whole host of vinyl records – some new, some old – covering all kinds of genres, as well as CDs and music-related books and memorabilia. They’ll also find a friendly atmosphere and can just have a chat with me if they don’t want to buy anything. I’ll talk the hind legs off a donkey once I get started on my favourite topic: music.
What are your aims and ambitions?
Eventually, my wife and I hope to be able to run the shop as a Vinyl Cafe, where people will be able to sit and have a coffee/cake as well as browse for records. That’s very much the long-term aim though. In the medium term, we want to have regular in-stores from local and visiting artists who we love and who may have records to sell. We’re already in talks with several awesome bands and solo artists, so watch this space! My aim at the moment is nothing more than ensuring that the shop succeeds and is able to provide a good service to people.
To find out more about Regency Records, head to facebook.com/regencyrecordsstockton.
