Brixton resident and vinyl lover Nick Lucas will tomorrow (8 July) open Soul Proprietors – a record store intended as a treasure trove for rare vinyl funded by a redundancy payment.
Visitors to the opening at 11am at 64 Elm Park SW2 2UB – off Brixton Hill – can enjoy goodie bags, raffles, giveaways, free food and drink and great music all day.
Nick, who has worked in sales in different parts of the country, decided to settle in Brixton nine years ago.
He says music has always been his passion and that his love for vinyl predates the current trendy revival.
A redundancy payment from his last employer gave him the impetus to follow his dreams of vinyl collection and distribution.
“I spent about four years in and out of charity shops, antique shops and car boot sales and was surprised at the gems I discovered,” he says.
There were records worth hundreds going for just a couple of quid. Eventually, I was able to pay rent with the money earned selling rare records that I procured for next to nothing from unexpected places
“There were records worth hundreds going for just a couple of quid. Eventually, I was able to pay rent with the money earned selling rare records that I procured for next to nothing from unexpected places.
“It got to the point where I had too much of a good thing, so the next step was opening a shop.”
The first five admissions from the 11am start will receive a mystery goodie bag and first dibs on gems and rarities that Nick has collected over years of car boot bargaining and hand-me-down haggling.
Purchase of any record will enter the buyer into a raffle for rare and highly signed vinyl. There are three prize records up for grabs: one soul, one rock and one hip hop.
A Michelin-star-winning friend will be preparing salads and marinated meats to go with the limited number of free celebratory drinks.
“Out of everywhere I’ve lived, Brixton’s the first place I’ve moved to that instantly felt like home,” says Nick. “Perhaps because – as well as amazing people – it has a rich musical history. Over the years it’s been a home for David Bowie, a muse for The Clash and host to a fertile reggae scene.”
Nick is determined to create something more than a run-of-the-mill music shop. “All our staff will be approachable. We want people to come in and nose around,” he says.
“We have a lovely space out the back in which I’ll be barbecuing throughout the summer. We’d also love local bands, solo artists and DJs to come down and play a set. Further down the line, we hope to have artists in for signings and appearances. That’s how you build a community.”
Soul Proprietors opens at 11am, Saturday 8 of July at 64 Elm Park, Brixton, SW2 2UB. Regular opening hours will be 11am-7pm Tuesday to Saturday. The shop is a five-minute bus or 15 minute walk from Brixton station.
