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A local retailer has rocked into the town market, transforming a religious bookshop into a “funky record shop” selling vinyls, record-players, quirky objets d’art and furniture.
Launched in 1993 in Colomberie, local games and music retailer SeeDee Jons is expanding with a new store in the Central Market, which owner John Holley hopes will bring a Covent Garden vibe to the area.
Video: Meet the Central Market's newest tenant...
The new shop, which has taken over the unit previously occupied by the Christian Bookshop Mission, aims to complement the Halkett Place-based premises, with each selling different stock.
The market shop will sell vinyls, record-players, as well as furniture and a selection of “quirky home decor” SeeDee Jons has become known for.
Meanwhile, the original premises will continue to provide gaming consoles, video games, CDs, DVDs, and a different range of home décor.
With the Playstation 5 coming out later this year, John says he expects his 47 Halkett Place premises to get busy later on.
Pictured: John Holley, the owner of Seedee Jons, described the market store as "a funky record shop".
The market store will also soon get rocking for Record Store Day - an annual event that aims to celebrate independent record stores taking place on 29 August.
“We have got lots of exclusive vinyls coming for the day,” John said.
“Both shops will have different things - what’s the point of having two shops if they sell the same things?” he added.
“I’ve moved all the vinyls into the market to make it a funky record shop, with furniture that is not available in the other shop.”
Pictured: The shop at 47 Halkett Place will continue to sell gaming consoles, games, CDs and DVDs.
John explained he had been looking for a pop-up store for a while when the unit became available at the market. When he heard about it, he didn’t hesitate to put his name forward and apply to expand his business.
“It’s 50 yards away from our current shop, so it’s easy to maintain,” he said. “I started where Jack’s is. I then moved to Lady Jane Records, which is now Vienna Bakery, then where Sinful Vegan is. I’ve moved all around the market and I always loved it.
“I love Covent Garden and the vibrant, funky atmosphere they have there. I wanted to get that to Jersey.”
Pictured: Piece of furniture and quirky home décor are also available in the market.
John started the initial consultation for the unit early on this year, with the first interview taking place. But then, lockdown happened.
While many businesses might be wary of expanding in the wake of the pandemic, John says he is remaining as optimistic as ever.
“I am taking a big gamble, I lost thousands in the lockdown,” he said.
“But I would never sit on my laurels. When things like this happen, I would always reinvest and try and make it interesting for people to come into town.
“Some people might think, ‘I’ve lost a lot of money. I better not buy anything else,’ and it’s all doom and gloom. I am the complete opposite; I am always optimistic, I am always buying new stock.”
Pictured: The unit looks completely transformed.
John has completely transformed the unit, turning it into a ‘trendy’ store with dark paint brightened up by funny neons spelling out ‘man cave’ and colourful ‘objets d’art’.
The retailer also picked a 86-year-old piece of oak, which was damaged in a fire, and then engraved with the shop’s logo by a local artist, to use as a counter.
Despite having only opened last Saturday, the store has already caught the eye of many tourists who told John they wished a store like his existed in their town.
“We’ve had a fantastic response, especially from the holidaymakers,” John said.
Pictured: "I am always optimistic," John said.
With lockdown leading to financial losses, John praised the Government for its co-funded payroll scheme, which he said helped his business “stay afloat”.
He is optimistic that, as more and more people come into town, the situation will keep improving, although no one can rule out a potential second wave of covid.
“People have a little bit of money to spend right now, because they are not going to restaurants, they are working from home and still being paid the same. As they spend more time at home, they might think about getting a record player or some records to play at home.
“I am anxious about [another lockdown], but, if it happens, it’s done for a reason. So far, I think the Government have really played it well. They’ve been clever, they have learned a lot more about the virus now, they are in a better place to tackle it.”
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