HMV opens Europe’s biggest entertainment store

A new branch of HMV opened in Birmingham today (October 11), the biggest entertainment store in Europe - it's almost the size of 12 tennis courts. HMV almost went bankrupt, when Sunrise Records owner Doug Putman bought the company, keeping over 100 stores open, though 27 ended up closing. The new Birmingham store, to be known as the HMV Vault stocks 80,000 CDs and 25,000 vinyl, it would also stock an "unparalleled" range of specialist music titles, plus movies, books, posters, T-shirts, exclusive merchandise, and a permanent stage has been installed to showcase live music and performances, BBC reports. Retail analyst Richard Hyman says he is skeptical about how HMV would continue to thrive when the same album could be bought online at a lower price.