In tune with the times

One of the hippest, coolest shops of its time, The Music Shop in Delhi is an experiment gone right.

In the era when shops were still named after the owner and his sons' names, it took one high school student to start a new trend.

Deepak Marwah decided it was time to break the mould and start a nice, peppy store that would attract youngsters and adults alike. Thus, in 1976 opened The Music Shop, in what is today one of Delhi's poshest markets - Khan Market.

Since the space was allotted to his father who came as a refugee from the frontier, the family never had to pay any rent for it. It was this exemption from rent that allowed for a very relaxed, smooth running of the shop.

In its first year, the shop managed to gather only a lakh of rupees in profit. But that wasn't much of a worry.

"We could go to school and come back to the shop without worrying too much since there was no rent to pay. Youngsters would come and hang out there and listen to records and chat with us," recalls Marwah.

In fact, some of today's biggest DJs used to spend time at his shop just listening to music "because those days everyone couldn't afford to buy music."

From selling LPs, EPs, SPs and black and white TVs (priced at Rs 2,000!), Marwah has seen the musical transition to walkmans, iPods and flat screens.

Gradually with south Delhi turning out to be the city's posh area, the shop's location started working to Marwah's advantage. Moreover, most government officials stayed within a three kilometer radius of the shop, making it one of the most visited and coveted music shops of its time.

Even now, The Music Shop works like a synonym for the market. However, the beginning of the retail revolution has resulted in a dip in the business. "It is true that we are closing the shop but I am looking at relocating in the same market... just for the sake of nostalgia," smiles Marwah.