Customers traveled from as far as the Isle of Wight to be among the first through the doors of 3 Phase Records, a new independent record shop in Birmingham's Gun Quarter that opened on Saturday, July 4. Owner Tom Berry expressed his amazement at the turnout, with some collectors catching the first ferry of the morning to visit the store.
New Store in Historic Building
Tom Berry launched 3 Phase Records on Loveday Street in the historic Gun Quarter after building a reputation online. The new shop occupies two storeys in a Grade II-listed building, which Tom has filled with more than 5,000 records. While it specialises in underground electronic music, 3 Phase Records also stocks techno, house, trance, hard house, drum and bass, and Northern Soul records.
Tom says that there are 'thousands' of rare, collectible and hard-to-find vinyl records in the new spot and that the 1700s building was the perfect place to house them.
Customer Dedication
Tom commented: "Opening a record shop has been the ambition from day one. I've spent years building the business online while searching for the right premises." He said that seeing people travel from far and wide was something he will never forget. "What surprised me most wasn't opening the shop, but where people travelled from. During opening weekend we welcomed customers from across the UK, including collectors who travelled from the Isle of Wight, catching the first ferry of the morning to be there. Others travelled from London, Manchester and across the Midlands simply to visit an independent record shop specialising in the music they love."
Atmosphere and Experience
Tom says that while streaming has changed how people listen to music, 'it hasn't replaced the experience of discovering records, talking to other collectors and supporting independent shops'. "That's exactly the atmosphere I wanted to create," he said. As well as shelves of vinyl, 3 Phase Records has listening stations and merchandise for sale for music fans.
Birmingham's Independent Record Shops
Independent record shops are some of Birmingham's most beloved and celebrated shops. Among them are The Diskery on Bristol Street, which has been in business since 1952, and Swordfish Records on Dalton Street, the roots of which can be traced back to Birmingham 1979. Rich Perri's fan favourite haunt Ignite Records is still trading, like it did in the Oasis Market, only now in Great Western Arcade.
3 Phase Records is at 45-46 Loveday Street, Birmingham, B4 6NR.
