20年という月日を目の前に、2010年8月22日を持って閉店となってしまった「HMV渋谷」店。やはり、インターネットによる音楽配信の増加で売上げ増加は厳しかったのだろうか。とても残念すぎる。それにしてもあの立地を手放すのはそう簡単ではなかったはず。何しろ、渋谷のど真ん中にあるのだから。そう、HMV渋谷店が閉店し、同場所にフォーエバー21（FOREVER 21）が来年1月頃までに進出すると発表されたのだ。ファストファッションで知られる「ZARA」「GAP」「H&M」は既に渋谷エリアにあり、ライバルファストファッションストアと言えば、やはりフォーエバー21しかなかったのだ。それはさておき、レディースアイテムの充実度は見ていてとても伝わるが、メンズアイテムももう少しファッションらしいアイテムを取り揃えてほしい。
It was with great sadness, but not so much shock, that it was announced that the iconic HMV flagship in the heart of Shibuya was to close this month. The British store had become a cultural icon of ‘Shibuya-kei’ during the 1990’s, but nostalgia couldn’t compete with the rapidly changing world of online music sales and the dorrs closed for the final time August 24th.
So who is to take over? Forever 21, the American fast-fashion chain, has won the battle for this prime location. The Los Angeles based retailer aims to open at least 10 stores annually in Japan over the next few years and this location is a major coup as it joins Zara, UNIQLO and H&M nearby.
I went into a Forever 21 once with a friend. She picked up some stuff but to be honest the merchandise on the men’s floor had NO business being in a store in Harajuku. TOPMAN has that British boy vibe, H&M has key seasonal trend items (their Shinjuku store has the best mens section) and UNIQLO is THE destination for basics. Forgive my lack of English but Forever 21 menswear is ‘sugoi futsu’. If they need some help they should get in contact we could give them a few pointers.