New music shop One Love Records to open in Cowplain this summer
New music store a ‘labour of love’ for owner
It was only three years ago that Lee White began collecting records and now the Waterlooville man is preparing to open his very own record store.
The 52-year-old who runs his own flooring business has announced that One Love Records will be opening in around two months time on London Road in Cowplain. It has been a whirlwind three years for Lee, whose attention only turned to record collecting after he decided to change his life and give up drinking.
He said: “For 35 years I would leave work and go to the pub to meet my mates, then walk home and get some cans of beer at Tesco on the way. I would be like that and my life needed a change. Some people get that chance to change their life and I have, and I discovered my love of music because of it.
“I wanted to change and I feel very lucky that I did, I have never missed a day of drinking since. I enjoy what I am doing now, I have a different focus and it’s healthy, not for my bank balance but its healthy.”
Lee soon discovered the knack of finding rare records which brought him to the attention of Rocka-Buy Records, a prominent independent record store in Oakham. He has supplied them with a number of records and it was they who encouraged him to open his own store.
One Love Records, a name inspired by his love of Bob Marley and reggae, has been in the works since November last year. Building works have been ongoing at the site with Lee hopeful of getting the keys in time for a mid July opening.
The store will sell a range of second hand vinyl and new releases, while also stocking CDs and tapes. On top of that Lee has plans for a coffee bar and is applying for a licence to serve bottled alcohol at the premises during live events such as hosting acoustic bands and themed nights like soul music nights.
Lee’s other businesses takes him around the country where he searches out record stores for his collection and uses as inspiration, finding his favourite bits to “cherry pick” for his store.
He said: “It is going to have an industrial feel with a concrete floor, exposed brick wall and apple crates to hold the records. It will also have a pop-art wall with a focal colour as a background.”
Since announcing the new store on social media he has received a positive response from the community.
“This is a labour of love, it has got to run as a business and make a bit of money but we are realistic. We know we are a little bit out the way being in Cowplain, Waterlooville so we have to get the word out about us.”
One Love Records will stock a range of records from rare finds priced in the hundreds and thousands to anything from £3 upwards. The store is also on the lookout for records and collections to buy.
More details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582761562827.