York’s HMV branch in Coney Street to close this month

Signs at the branch in Coney Street say the shop will be closed from Monday, August 31 until late October.

A HMV spokesperson told The Press: “HMV is excited to elevate the shopping experience at its York shop, temporarily closing to build a reimagined space designed to enhance the way customers discover more of what they love.

“While we are currently unable to share any further details, we will share more information nearer the time of reopening.”

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The retailer, which has traded in Coney Street since before 1990, has suffered several threats of closure over the years, reflecting the turbulent times retail has faced.

The exterior of the hmv store in Coney Street (Image: Ben Hardy)

The first threat was in 2013 when the retailer first went into administration. This followed the closure of the Monks Cross store in 2011, which opened along with the shopping centre in 1998.

Restructuring firm Hilco later bought the company out of insolvency but it too called in the administrators in December 2018, citing a weak trading period, plus cost pressures like rents. The business was rescued in February 2019 when it was bought by Doug Putman, owner of Sunrise Records.

The Press reported on several threats to close the Coney Street store in 2019 and 2020, with high rents cited as a factor. ‘Closing Down’ signs had appeared in the store in March 2019.

Fortunately, new rents were agreed with the landlord, saving the business, which continues to be a city favourite, with it receiving 4.3 stars out of five on Google, based on 763 Google reviews.

One of the signs advertising the temporary closure. (Image: Ben Hardy)

HMV, which has 114 stores in the UK, now seems to be enjoying better times, with it reporting visitor numbers to its shops were up 12 per cent in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2025.

This means it is expecting around 50 million visits to its stores over 2026.

Efforts post-Covid to revamp the spaces with areas dedicated to popular culture, selling products like soft squishy toys, trading cards and K-pop merchandise, have helped drive this growth.

HMV’s managing director Phil Halliday said: “For years, it was quiet on a Saturday, and that’s when the kids used to come in.

“The store colleagues will tell you, it’s heaving on a Saturday now… and you can see it in the numbers.

“Kids are coming back in because they want to be around each other and spaces where they can gather to share experiences… not everyone wants to sit at home on the computer.”

The Coney Street revamp comes in advance of the wider Coney Street Riverside project. Work has already started to revamp retail space, create accommodation on the upper floors of buildings and create new hospitality venues.

Artists impression of the Coney Street Riverside project (Image: Pic supplied)

In June, The Press reported scaffolding being erected around buildings at the St Helen’s Square end of Coney Street in preparation for work to renovate shopfronts in the street.

Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, the York-based developers behind the plans, told The Press at the time the initial work to renovate the shopfronts aim to be completed by September.

It will include the former JD Sports shop being renovated before the Space NK beauty store moves into the unit, he said.

Mr Reeves said later work will see the upper floors of JD Sports and its neighbouring units converted into flats.