JG Windows has been an iconic staple for North-East musicians and music lovers alike. Generations have browsed records, sheet music, and instruments in the store. Among its customers was Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys, who recalled his teenage years spent in the store. “As a teenager, I used to visit after school and ask to listen to David Bowie in one of their stereo listening booths and then browse through the records and sheet music and wish I could afford a posh guitar. It will be much missed.” Tennant reflected.
JG Windows has struggled to keep pace with the evolving music industry
Paul Smith, lead singer of Maxïmo Park, shared similar sentiments, saying he had spent, “many an hour rummaging through the CD and vinyl sale selection.” Fellow North-East legends Lindisfarne also paid tribute to the store on Facebook. They described it as a “Tyneside musical icon” and shared photos outside the shop last year.
Despite its long history, JG Windows has struggled to keep pace with the evolving music industry. The rise of online retailers and streaming platforms has significantly impacted its business model, as has the closure of its sister stores in Darlington and Gateshead’s Metrocentre in 2022 and 2018. The store had launched an online shop and the Windows Music Academy in recent years in an attempt to save itself, but these efforts were not enough to avoid financial difficulties.
In 2023, the shop was put up for sale, but no buyer came forward. Now, its 17 employees face redundancy, with General Manager Alex Cole acknowledging the battle posed by the industry’s digital shift.
"An institution that has shaped the musical culture of Newcastle"
In an attempt to preserve the store’s legacy, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched by Bronwyn Mogie, with a target of £500,000. The fundraiser highlights the shop’s irreplaceable role in the city’s cultural fabric. “The closure of JG Windows is not just the end of a beloved store - it is the loss of an institution that has shaped the musical culture of Newcastle”, reads the campaign’s statement.
The closure acts as a reminder of the changing tides in the music industry and the value of physical spaces where culture and community intersect. The GoFundMe remains online and open for donations: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jg-windows-in-central-arcade-newcastle
