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The stage at HMV's Causeway Bay flagship store. Photos: Dickson Lee

HMV reinvented: live music, bar, restaurant and more at new Causeway Bay store

Kylie Knott

Hong Kong's live-music scene is on the up, with a growing number of bars and restaurants hosting intimate performances, from live jazz sessions at Le Boudoir to DJ and dim sum nights at Duddell's.

A newcomer to the live-music club is HMV, which is hosting sessions at its new three-storey flagship store, in Causeway Bay.

The 40,000 sq ft space has the usual range of music-related products (CDs, DVDs, magazines, stereos and headphones) but new to the mix is a stage (Wi-fi, PA system, custom lighting, DJ booth, keyboard and drums) that has already had the city rocking. Last month, it hosted electronic R&B outfit The Anello and electronica musician Yeung Tung.

The Causeway Bay store also houses the first HMV Bar & Restaurant.

It's no secret that HMV, which has been selling music-related products for almost a century, has struggled in recent years, hit hard by falling CD sales. But Kelvin Wu King-shiu, co-founder of private equity firm AID Partners, which took over HMV's businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore two years ago, has turned the struggling British brand around by reinventing it as a lifestyle store, selling a wide range of design-savvy products, cool gadgets and even drones.

And it has a huge stock of vinyl - the biggest in the city, according to Wu - built to meet a revival in the popularity of 33s.

Burger and fries at the HMV Bar & Restaurant.

The Causeway Bay store also houses the first HMV Bar & Restaurant, a 230-seat Western and Chinese (cha chaan teng-style) eatery and a post-work watering hole.

A word of warning: drinking while surrounded by a huge selection of vinyl and cool gadgets could damage your bank account.

HMV is in Pearl City Mansion, 22 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, tel: 2504 3669.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Music to your ears
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