What is going on at Mole?

[David Ayers]

I called in Mole just before closing yesterday and found the stock seriously run down. Maybe they had had a good day? Or maybe they are in difficulty? Maybe this is the run up to the January sale?? Or none of the above?

Anyone in the UK know what is going on? If anything?

[Chuck Nessa]

I placed a sizable order with them online about a month ago. They have ignored it, and my subsequent emails. The retail website is gone as well.

[Clunky]

wasn't the owner in hospital with something fairly significant. I am sure I read this somewhere, perhaps Jazz Review re Ben Cree ?

[David Ayers]

Thanks for the input. I hadn't heard of anyone being ill, but I had noticed the online site had vanished. It sounds ominous. If I find out anything else I'll post it.

[JohnS]

I've not been there for a while and failed to renew my mailing list request so I'm out of touch but this sounds pretty bad. New Note took a stake in the business a while back which gave them a useful outlet but with all the original partners gone it could be a real possibility that the end is nigh.

For those whose memory goes back far enough, I always felt that the down slide started when Graham Griffiths left to start New Note. I haven't seen him for some time but last time I came across him he was unwell. I wish him well.

[sidewinder]

This is very sad to hear - Mole have done well to keep going as they have all these years. I was in the store during the Summer and there seemed to be quite a bit of good stuff in the vinyl racks (I came out with a bagfull). This was probably surplus material that didn't make it to the most recent auction. Reports provided by a friend who has been there in the past few months are that stock is very depleted (a lot of the CDs in the ground floor area seem to have been cleared out) and that the lights were off in the upstairs vinyl area. Sounds ominous I'm afraid. Hope to have an update from him later in the week.

Mole was actually the first place I bought second-hand vinyl (a Miles Davis 'Green Haze' Prestige double) - purchased from what must have been their very first mail-order list over 25 years ago. I believe it was then operating from Ed Dipple's home address.

[David Ayers]

Hope to have an update from him later in the week.

Be sure to let us know.

[sidewinder]

Hope to have an update from him later in the week.

Be sure to let us know.

Unfortunately, my friend didn't get the time to call in at Mole this week so no further information at present I'm afraid. Anyone else been up there?

[PFunkJazz]

I was in there yesterday and asked if they were having difficulties. Not at all, everything is fine, I was told.

Sadly, I am reminded of the old journalist's dictum: don't believe anything until it has been officially denied.

We all know how tough it is for specialist stores to survive these days. It will be a sad day if Mole go out of business.

[John C]

Martin has been ill and has now left Mole. Ben Cree, responsible for the auctions, has been ill as well. The current CD stock is certainly lower and the Lps arent turning over as much as before. I picked up the Shorty Rogers Mosaic vinyl set there yesterday. Theres a very helpful American chap behind the counter most days now.

Rays by contrast seems to be doing very well and picks upa lot of traffic from the bookshop and benefits from the cafe and live music.

John

[JohnS]

Hey John, Nice to see you here.

[David Ayers]

Hi John. Thanks for the update.