HMV has confirmed it will open its first store in Ireland in almost eight years, returning to Henry Street in Dublin.

The new store will mark the opening of HMV's first flagship outside the UK under the company's new ownership. The store will set up in 18 Henry Street, with a planned opening around mid-July this summer.

The entertainment retail company currently has 120 shops across the UK, and had previously been in business across Ireland for 40 years since opening a popular store on Grafton Street in 1986.

The company's stores closed nationwide in 2016 under management by Hilco Capital Ireland, and the announcement of a new location in Dublin is the first foray into Ireland for HMV under its new owners – Doug Putman’s Sunrise Records.

The 6,000 square foot space will play host to three floors, stocking a huge range of vinyl albums, CDs, music technology and pop-culture merchandise.

HMV Wigan, which will share the same store design and updated logo as the new Dublin store.

The new retail space is also promising to offer performance spaces to create the city’s latest live music venue, hosting shows and signings from some of the country’s biggest artists, as well as international stars.

In the past year, HMV stores across the UK have welcomed artists such as Charli XCX, Stormzy, Shania Twain, Raye and Ellie Goulding for signings, and the Dublin shop is expected to draw names of similar quality.

The store is also set to stage performances from up-and-coming acts through the HMV Live&Local programme which has been established to showcase local acts and give a platform for fresh talent.

Loved our #liveandlocal session at @hmvSheffield yesterday. Here’s a clip of one of four originals we did. Rinse/Repeat was written during lockdown in 2020 & it’s great to be able to play it together in a venue championing live music & local unsigned bands! #hmvliveandlocal pic.twitter.com/lFL2PqsrSY

— Low Lights (@LowLightsBand) May 14, 2023

The announcement of a return to Dublin represents the latest sign of a dramatic turnaround of the HMV business under Canadian owner Doug Putman, who first took the reins in 2019.

In a statement regarding the new store's opening, Doug Putman said that the company's return to Ireland "marks the culmination of the team’s hard work having established a new HMV shopping experience across the UK". Putman also looked to expanding further across Europe.

“We want Henry Street to become a home for a new community of fans to come together. What’s more, we hope that once we’ve got our feet back under the table in Ireland, further HMV shop openings will follow.”

Irish Life Investment Managers have partnered with HMV for their new expansion into Ireland. Sarah Coyle, Fund Manager at Irish Life Investment Managers said the investment company is "delighted to partner with HMV on the opening of their new store and would like to welcome them back to Ireland".

"We are seeing very strong demand from tenants looking to locate in premier retail locations like 18 Henry Street, with footfall having bounced back strongly to pre-pandemic levels.”