Early Years: Origins and Growth
Founding in Queen’s Arcade (1894)
Spillers Records opened in 1894 at Cardiff’s Queen’s Arcade under Henry Spiller, specializing in phonographs, wax phonograph cylinders, shellac phonograph discs, and musical instrument sales and repairs Wikipedia. This eclectic mix placed it at the forefront of early recorded‐music retail during the acoustic‐only era.
Expansion under Edward Spiller (1920s)
In the early 1920s, Edward Spiller took the helm and broadened the shop’s offerings by selling live instruments alongside records. He enlisted the popular accordionist and bandleader Joe Gregory to attract live‐music enthusiasts and elevate Spillers as a cultural hub The Guardian.
Relocation to The Hayes (Late 1940s)
By the late 1940s, growing inventory and customer demand necessitated a move “round the corner” to a larger premises on The Hayes pedestrianized shopping area, integrating seamlessly into Cardiff’s bustling city centre The Guardian.
Surviving Modern Threats and Revival
The 2006 Rent Crisis
In 2006, property owner Helical Bar doubled the rent on Spillers’ Hayes premises, imperiling its existence. A grassroots campaign led by Assembly member Owen John Thomas, bolstered by music luminaries like the Manic Street Preachers and Columbia Records, successfully rallied public support to save the shop Long Live Vinyl.
Trial Move to Morgan Arcade (2010)
On 26 June 2010, Spillers closed its doors on The Hayes and reopened a month later in nearby Morgan Arcade on a trial lease urban75.org. The move proved a success, and under owner Ashli Todd the shop settled permanently into this historic arcade, continuing its uninterrupted run Wales.
Cultural Impact and Recognition
Guinness World Record Acknowledgment
Spillers holds the official Guinness World Record as the oldest shop selling records, continuously operating since its 1894 founding—a distinction that has drawn international attention to Cardiff’s musical heritage Guinness World Records.
Community Hub and Live Events
Under Ashli Todd’s leadership, Spillers has expanded beyond retail into live music, hosting regular in‐store gigs and events that foster community among vinyl enthusiasts and support emerging artists Wales.
Bridging Past and Present
Through technological shifts—from shellac to vinyl to digital downloads—Spillers’ resilience embodies the timeless appeal of tangible music formats and the enduring value of independent record shops in the UK The Guardian.
