A brand new record shop opens in York today (Saturday).
Record Plant will open its doors on 26 Gillygate from 10am – offering a mix of new and second-hand records, cassettes, and memorabilia.
The Leeds-based business has its flagship shop in Farsley since 2023, and is excited to be opening its second bricks-and-mortar store in here in York.
YorkMix chatted with the owner, Choque Hosein, to find out more.
“I’ve been involved in music all my life,” said Choque. He’s part of the band Black Star Liner, which formed in 1994, and their second album Bengali Bantam Youth Experience! was nominated for the 1999 Mercury Music Prize.
The name Record Plant is inspired by the name of the studio where Fleetwood Mac recorded their album ‘Rumours’.
“That’s why there’s a lot of Fleetwood,” said Choque. “We just did it as a bit of a joke, really. It’s still the biggest selling album – it’s never left the top 100!”
Choque knew that this location on Gillygate was perfect, when he realised it was the same street as the iconic record shop Red Rhino Records that was open at 9 Gillygate (and then on Goodramgate) in the 1970s and 80s – which Choque used to shop at.
“So from coming to Red Rhino in the 70s and 80s, shopping, to actually landing here back in York – it’s that full circle moment.”
There’s a homage to Red Rhino Records in the corner of the shop, featuring some of the original posters – which were a gift from Red Rhino co-founder Gerri.
“I love this street, and the footfall here is unbelievable,” said Choque. “York is such a great city – I might end up moving!”
The reaction to the new shop has garnered a lot of positive interest. “Loads of people have been taking photographs. It’s so Instagrammable, it’s a beautiful looking shop.”
Inside, the walls are covered in posters and artwork – and even a couple of sparkly silver guitars, and a cardboard cut-out of David Bowie.
“I’m very particular about the way it should look,” explained Choque. “We wanted it to look fascinating when people come in – why do you just want to look at record sleeves all the time?
“The history of rock and roll is going on these walls.”
One of the posters is particularly special.
“Gerri gave me from the Red Rhino this poster of The Clash, because all the kids that used to come into Red Rhino used to say ‘can I have that Clash poster?’, so if we put that poster up some of the kids who were 16 or 17 in ’77 or ’79, will see that poster 50 years later in here.
“Which I think is amazing – that’s an exciting thing.”
Record Plant are planning to hold listening parties in the shop. “We did a listening party [in Farsley] for Hayley Williams from Paramore and we were invaded by all these goth girls – it was absolutely fantastic.
“We have 12, 13 year olds to 90 year olds buying records in our shop, and that’s what we’re hoping to repeat here.”
Future plans for Record Plant in York will also include opportunities for collaboration with other venues in York. “For us, it’s about integrating into the community of people here.”
Record Plant will open tomorrow (Saturday) from 10am. It will then be open seven days a week, with the initial proposed opening times of 10am to 6pm.
To find out more, visit the Record Plant website or keep up to date at their Instagram, TikTok and Facebook pages.
Take a first look inside York’s newest record shop in our gallery below.
Gallery
