Croatia Records: Cult music shop in Zagreb closes its doors and moves after 57 years

by croatiaweek
February 2, 2021
in Entertainment

The oldest record store in Croatia and one of the cult shops in Zagreb has closed its doors and relocated.

Music Shop Croatia Records, which was formerly Jugoton, located on Mirko Bogović (Bogovićeva) street in downtown Zagreb has closed after 57 years in the same location.

The music shop opened in 1964, seventeen years after the founding of the first record company Jugoton.

Music Shop Croatia Records closes doors in Zagreb

When it was Jugoton (Photo credit: Croatia Records)

(Photo credit: Croatia Records)

For more than half a century, the Zagreb store was the go-to place for everyone who wanted to buy a new record and listen to it at home.

(Photo credit: Croatia Records)

It was also a place where finally everyone could see their music idols up close in in-store meet and greets. Records and cassettes produced in Zagreb’s Dubrava quickly reached young people who could buy them, without waiting for relatives in America or Italy to send the much-coveted record, Jutarnji list writes.

(Photo credit: Croatia Records)

For 57 years, the music store in Bogovićeva was the first and direct connection to discophiles and those who became passionate record collectors with the first record they bought, and the store quickly became a gathering place for the musicians themselves.

(Photo credit: Croatia Records)

“It was a cult place, a little cramped, perhaps too cramped, but warm, somehow intimate. It was a space where musicians could socialize with the audience in a beautiful, cultural way. It is a big handicap that this is now becoming a thing of the past,” said singer Tereza Kesovija, adding that fans had no problem standing in line just to be among the first to buy a new record and get an autograph.

(Photo credit: Croatia Records)

In addition to the music shop, in 2015, Nova Ploča cafe opened there and many musicians would perform their live concerts there. It became a place where almost all new albums were promoted, shows were recorded, and festivals presented.

Nova Ploča (Photo credit: Croatia Records)

The digital age and the growing consumption of music through streaming services have led to a new step in the history of Croatia Records, the nation’s largest and oldest record company.

Croatia Records music shop has relocated to a smaller space in nearby Gundulićeva street, number 3, and music will still be able to purchased there.

After 57 years cult Zagreb music shop closes doors

New Music Shop Croatia Records in Gundulićeva street (Photo credit: Luana Racan/Croatian Records)

“Croatia Records music shop will continue the tradition of welcoming its big stars, and customers will still have at their disposal the largest and most interesting selection of domestic and foreign music. All true music lovers, as I am, will come to their own,” says Želimir Babogredac, director of Croatia Records.