St Kilda Stalwart Pure Pop Records To Close Next Month

25 July 2014 | 12:13 pm | Staff Writer

So long, and thanks for all the gigs (and drunkenly bought albums)

The long fight for survival by iconic St Kilda venue/record store Pure Pop Records has reached its disappointing conclusion, with shop owner Dave Stevens revealing that it will officially close its doors for good on August 17.

However, in the written statement about the closure, hosted on Pure Pop's website, Stevens takes pains to assure punters that efforts are being undertaken to ensure the venue's ongoing survival in one form or another.

"Rumours and speculations have been flying thick and fast about the future of Pure Pop Records and I'm sorry it's taken so long to set the record straight," Stevens, the son of late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, wrote in the statement. "The reason is that in the past I've sent out progress reports and had the rug pulled out or new obstacles placed in front of me.

"This time I wanted to be sure that I could tell you all where we're at and what we're doing about it."

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Stevens details a dispute with the premises' landlord in which he says, following communication that the space was ready to commence its necessary renovations and upgrades to become compliant and secure in its future, he was blocked from proceeding at the last minute.

"All we needed was the signature on the plans by the owner of the building before submission," Stevens wrote. "I was then told by the landlord that he would not allow the renovation to take place. He has refused to give a reason for this decision. I was absolutely devastated.

"I have fought tooth and nail at great financial and emotional expense for years and to have the rug pulled out just as I was nearing the finish has been quite heartbreaking. The only thing he would tell me is that, 'All along I never said yes.'"

However, there is a silver lining to all this, and that is that Stevens will be continuing to host gig nights at Pure Pop's current space until the day they close, and consequently under the "Pure Pop Presents..." banner at other venues while his own search for a new space continues.

Donors to the venue's recent "buy a brick" campaign will still be placed with pride upon the new premises' walls, when such space is found. In addition, if you didn't buy a brick, you now have the chance to own some very different pieces of Pure Pop history — its product line, appliances... "everything", Stevens said.

"The search is on for new premises," Stevens confirmed. "I have already looked at a few places and rejected them for a number of reasons - nearby residents, too small, too big, zoned for retail not hospitality, etc, etc - but the search continues.

"All of the plaques for the brickbuyers have been made and engraved. They've been sitting here at the store just waiting to be put up on the new wall for a year now. All it means is that they'll be going up on a different wall.

"So Pure Pop Records will be leaving 221 Barkly Street, closing the doors here on August 17.
Up until then, everything is on sale, not only our collection of CDs and vinyl, but fridges, CD racks, sandwich press, glass washer, everything!"

"No one has lost Pure Pop except the landlord of 221 Barkly Street," Stevens concluded triumphantly.

Last month, it was revealed that Pure Pop would be hosting live gigs to fledgling event space St Kilda Memo in the wake of the establishment's ongoing battle with council over noise restrictions and resident complaints.