Today has been a rather bleak day for musicians in the North East of England’s local scene, as the oldest and best known music shop in the region, J. G. Windows, closed its doors for the final time. Many musicians bought their musical instruments from there,including many famous musicians over the years.

In a statement from the shop, the representatives explained that the shop had been put up for sale in 2023, but a buyer could not be found, meaning they closed with immediate effect and the seventeen employees were all made redundant.

Many young players got their very first instruments there, using the store’s very generous hire purchase agreements. Unlike many other shops, they stocked more than guitars and ‘rock’ instruments. Their range of instruments catered for all, from pianos to every single section and instrument in an orchestra.

As a youth, I used to love going in to look at the rows of shiny trombones or stringed instruments ranging from the enormous (to me) double basses down to the tiny viols. To be honest, I still did as an adult.

Similarly, their extensive sheet music collection meant you could find almost anything you were looking for, from Bach cantatas to arrangements of movie theme tunes for the French horn, and everything in between.

I still own several guitar scores purchased from Windows over the years, often when asked to play a specific classical pieces over my years playing guitar for a living. More than once it saved my neck, especially in a time slightly before absolutely everything was available on the Internet.

Equally magical to the endless instruments awaiting visitors inside Windows is the gorgeous tiled arcade outside, and the stunning stone building in which the shop resided.

Central Arcade is housed within a Grade II listed building, part of the wider area of gorgeous Edwardian architecture built by Richard Grainger between 1824 and 1841 (and after whom the area is known as Grainger Town). The gorgeous tiled shopping acrcade currently inside the building was created in 1906 by Joseph Oswald & son, after having had previous lives as a newsroom and a vaudeville theatre (which was destroyed by a fire in 1901).

This building has had many lives and will certainly continue. I just hope this beautiful interior remains available for the public to enjoy in one form or another. However, it will take some time to disentangle the memory of Windows music shop from this arcade for many residents and visitors.

As for J. G. Windows, it looks like after almost 116 years, they simply couldn’t keep up with the competition of cheaper products, readily available online without a middleman to sell it. I’ve known several friends who worked there, and I always made a point of popping in when I was back in Newcastle, even if it was just to browse – but then, that’s certainly a factor in its demise.

Another win for capitalism, but a great loss to the region – and we’re all to blame for allowing it to happen.

It’s just a shame for all the children and young people learning an instrument for the first time. It was more than a music and musical instrument shop. It was a community, with a network of teachers (some of whom provided tuition onsite), repair experts, advice and shared love for the joy of making music. Their ‘band members wanted’ board was the first point of call for players looking to join or start a new band in Newcastle; another aspect of the local scene which has emigrated to an online space without any of us really noticing…

Farewell, J. G. Windows, and thank you for your many, many years of service.