An iconic music shop in Cardiff city centre is set to close its physical store after 65 years of service. Gamlins Music Centre, located on St Mary Street, will have its last trading day on Saturday, August 31. Despite closing its bricks and mortar shop, the business will continue to operate through its website and phone service. Over the years, the family-owned shop has been a popular destination for Welsh musicians, including famous customers like Tom Jones, Manic Street Preachers, and Stereophonics.
Established in 1960 by Horace Gamlin and his wife Maureen, the shop initially focused on pianos but evolved to cater to the rise of rock music with electric guitars and amplifiers. Philip Gamlin, the current manager and son of the founders, recalled Tom Jones as one of their early customers. Despite announcing closure plans previously, the shop remained open, but now, its physical presence in the city centre will come to an end.
In a social media post, the management expressed gratitude to all their customers over the past 65 years and invited them to visit the shop for one last time on Saturday. The closure marks the end of an era for a beloved establishment that has been a cornerstone for musicians of all levels seeking instruments and equipment or simply a chat about music. Gamlins Music Centre’s legacy will live on through its online platform as it bids farewell to its physical location in Cardiff city centre.