Music fans have expressed sadness at the news that independent music store Road Records is to finally close its doors, less than two years after customers helped saved it from going out of business.
In a statement issued on its website, the shop's owners, Dave Kennedy and Julie Collins, said they were no longer in a position to keep it running.
The shop opened in 1997 on Fade Street in Dublin 2, but it nearly closed down in January 2009 due to a number of factors, including online CD sales, illegal downloads and declining footfall.
Road Records was saved, however, after a number of loyal customers donated up to €1,000 each in a bid to keep it afloat.
However, the shop's owners said today despite breaking even last year, it had once again begun to find themselves in financial difficulties and were unable to continue to run up debts.
"It's been a difficult two years since we first faced the prospects of closure, and we have literally worked night and day to try and see if we could save the shop and make it a viable business again. The current economic situation in this country added to the many problems we faced in the past have finally caught up with us, and we can no longer sustain this little shop," said Mr Kennedy.
"This time, I am sad to say, there is no alternative for us; we have literally tried everything in our powers to keep this place operating, and nothing has worked for us. It hasn’t been an easy decision to make, if anything its even more difficult than two years ago, we have had amazing support from people, but nothing we do seems to work anymore.
"With debts beginning to build again Julie and myself have finally decided that we cannot take any more risks personally and before things get any worse we will have to finally walk away from the shop for the last time," he added.
The shop is to close on Saturday, July 24th. A closing down sale begins this Saturday with prices reduced by 25 per cent.
Mr Kennedy said that while he did not know what they would do next, neither himself nor his wife regretted the past 13 years.
"It's been a real blast and a pleasure to be here over the years. We have met some amazing people and have become friends with some truly amazing bands. The level of support we have received since last year has been truly mind blowing, but so much has changed economically since then that its just not possible to sustain such a small record shop like this anymore," he said.
"I am not going to give out about the music business this time around - it's just one of those things and we have finally come to a stage where I think the days of the small indie store are numbered. It’s sad to have to admit that but this time I think it's true; we can’t blame digital sales, illegal downloading etc. The world is a changing place, and I can’t see any room in it for kooky little indie stores like ourselves," he added.
