J G Windows

[geordie_60]

I was sad to read of the immediate closure of the oldest music shop in Mark's (and mine) hometown of Newcastle, J G Windows. He speaks of buying his first guitar in this shop in the Guitar Stories series and is filmed meeting john Illsley outside J G Windows. The shop has been there since 1908 in Newcastle's magnificent Central Arcade.  I spent many hours with friends in the 1970s trying guitars and buying vinyl. Unlike in Wayne's World there wasn't a sign in the guitar section reading NO STAIRWAY, but perhaps there should have been!  Anyway this is another sad story of businesses being able to compete with online retail.
I also remember being served by Dave Brewis in the shop, who later found fame as the guitarist with the Kane Gang. Many years later I met up with Dave Brewis to do a story on his ownership of Jimi Hendrix' psychedelic Flying V which is now in the New York Met, but that's another story.

[Heike]

oh, this is really sad! I was there for the first time last September, a great store In a great Arcade! Loved to be there. Another  store gone... I would never buy a guitar online. Have to feel and hear  it before spending money. right? Thanks anyway for the news.   Heike

[taylor565]

 It obviously feels a shame to see those historic, traditional stores shut their businesses. Still, I like the part where you were speaking about the sign that prohibited going upstairs through a stairway – you missed this one! It seems like what used to be such a wonderful place for so many people during the years. It was good to read your memories, because it makes everything much more alive to imagine the shop like this.

[stratmad]

At least they should put a Blue Plaque on the house, if they have those up in Geordieland:
"In this building, MK did not drop a guitar in 1963 or whenevever it was." 

[Knopflerfan]

How sad, nice to have visited there shortly before seeing the master in concert..