Music shop owner moves to new Oak Mall unit as business booms

Reverence Music, which opened earlier this year, have now found a permanent space in Greenock's shopping centre, in the unit that used to house the popular Leo's Cafe.

It sits just beside what used to be the former Rhythmic Records shop, which closed 10 years ago.

Owner James Haggart told the Tele that the support he has received from locals since he launched Reverence has been incredible.

He said: "This is where we've wanted to be since we started out.

"We've got there fairly quickly thanks to the support of the people who have come in and used the shop.

"I'm really grateful for that, I think people have appreciated having a place like this in the area again.

"It was always the ambition to get somewhere permanent, hopefully this is where we'll be for the foreseeable future.

"Every day I've had a different person telling me how glad they are that there's a place like this in town, I think people really missed having a place to buy music.

People saying things like that has been a real vindication and has helped me realise I'm going in the right direction."

Reverence was previously based in the centre's Bluebell Walk, a collection of retail units located in the former Marks and Spencer.

In addition to selling records, the shop also ran a handful of in-store gigs and businessman James has recently taken on organising the mall's regular record fairs.

The businessman says that the new premises will help him improve his shop's offering even further.

He added: "We want to provide more services and hopefully run some events too.

"It would be great to organise more in-store gigs.

"I just want to thank my partner Lauren and also my colleague Danny who's been a big help around the shop.

"Inverclyde is rich with musicians and it's essential that they have a place like this to go to.

"It gives them the chance to come in and try things.

"I just want to keep building the way that we have been and I'm really looking forward to the future now."