The boss is ready to ‘draw a line’ and start afresh in Birmingham.
Hobgoblin Music has reopened in Birmingham city centre(Image: Hobgoblin Music)
Bosses at a 22-year-old Birmingham shop that was forced to move during development works in the city centre have shared their relief at moving into a new location.
Hobgoblin Music first opened its folk and acoustic musical instrument shop in the Custard Factory back in 2004, moving to the city centre a decade later.
However, the Priory Queensway flagship store was forced to move to a temporary location after work began on the redevelopment of the site at 2 Colmore Square and Cannon House.
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Bosses say the move resulted in a drop in foot traffic, adding that the last few years had been ‘very challenging for the business’.
However, Hobgoblin has now opened in the new development where the Snow and Rock store used to be, facing onto The Priory Queensway.
It is hoping visitors will return to see its range of new and second-hand brass and classical woodwind instruments as well as its folk and acoustic options.
There’s even a dedicated woodwind and brass repairer working on site to keep Brummie instruments in top condition.
Manager Mark McCabe commented: “We’re so happy to be back at this end of the street. It’s been a frustrating few years but it’s great to be welcomed back to our old home.
“We’ve already had several people come in and say they never knew we had a shop in Birmingham.”
Inside Hobgoblin Music in Birmingham(Image: Hobgoblin Music)
Hobgoblin has been in Birmingham for two decades but the business started in 1976, with husband and wife team Pete and Mannie McClelland launching in Sussex.
It now has branches in Leeds, London, Bristol, Brighton, Canterbury, Southampton, Edinburgh, Manchester and Norwich, as well as in Birmingham.
Pete and Mannie’s daughter Nicola Rain is the current managing director and co-owner of Hobgoblin Music.
Nicola said: “I’m so happy we can mark our 50th anniversary by re-opening in this great location.
“Moving out of our much-loved shop in 2022 was the start of a difficult time for us in Birmingham and now we can draw a line under all of that, and start afresh.
“Mark and his staff did a phenomenal job getting the new shop set up in such a short time – we are so lucky to have employees like this.
“The new shop is the best looking we’ve had in all our time in Birmingham.”
You can find Hobgoblin Music open seven days a week at 4 Priory Queensway, B4 6BS.
