Oxfam are taking up a lot of the slack with excellent music shops, bookshops and vintage clothing, but they seem to rely on their charitable status to help them do this. If this is the way forward though, then it’s not a bad one.

Tim – Neal’s Yard was always going to price out something like Rough Trade, it’s such an exclusive postcode. I would hope that London is big enough that some of the less central locations can provide enough of a market to keep some of these places alive, whilst still being out of the way enough to keep rent manageable.

Banquet Records in Kingston (all that remains, I think, of the split between the shops and Beggar’s Banquet the record label) springs to mind, although that’s a bit too out of it. Nice little shop though.

But, just take a look at porn (not literally, unless you’re inclined). Completely free pretty much anywhere you click, or available very cheaply through paysites (so I’m told). Doesn’t seem to slow down adult bookstores. And apart from the obvious differences, it’s sort of the same customer in many ways – obsessive, extra cash, trades regularly, likes obscure stuff…

Countrygrrl – I know Elvis Shakespeare, it’s an absolutely lovely place. Somewhere you can’t help but walk out of with new things.

there used to be a fellow who worked there who introduced me to mr. bungle, and as it took my daughter and me a while to learn his name, we always referred to him as mr. bungle. sadly for us, he’s moved on to bigger and better things. : )

Every one of us who does this blog malarkey must have at one time (or indeed still have) dreams of owning a record store.

I’m always disappointed to find anyone from Glasgow or Edinburgh who claims to be a music fan and yet doesn’t make Avalanche or Fopp the first point of call when buying CDs or vinyl.

It was pay-day today, so as usual it was a trip round to Avalanche and I ended up with 8 x 7″ singles, 1 new CD and three second-hand CDs of stuff that I’ve learned to like through blogging. I walked out feeling ten feet tall….