Rough Trade doesn’t need much of an introduction anymore. Among music and especially vinyl lovers, the name is legendary. Over the past few years, the two record stores in London have been an absolute must-visit for me every time I’ve traveled to the british capital. Unfortunately, I haven’t made it to the new store in Soho, which opened in 2022, yet. Rough Trade also has stores in Bristol, Nottingham and New York. Additionally, the largest record store in the UK is currently in the planning stages in Liverpool. A specific opening date has not been announced yet.
Berlin store opens on April 18th
Last year, Rough Trade announced the opening of its first record store on the European mainland, alongside its own EU online store (necessitated by Brexit). The store will open is Berlin, specifically in the increasingly trendy neighborhood of Neukölln. It will be housed in Kalle Neukölln, a former department store that has been transformed into a “local creative cosmos” (as described on the website) in recent years, featuring offices, shops, a café, food market and a rooftop garden.
As someone who has lived in Neukölln for many years and witnessed the effects of gentrification firsthand, I am curious to see how Rough Trade fits into this environment. The opening date has now been announced: the doors of the new store will open on April 18th, two days before Record Store Day, alongside the previously announced Opening Rave featuring Digitalism, Monolink, or Kasper Bjørke at Kreuzwerk (tickets available here).
For those who subscribe to the Rough Trade EU newsletter, visiting the store during the first two opening days will entitle them to a free beer or coffee. Additionally, subscribers will receive a 10% discount on their first order from the Rough Trade EU online shop.