US Rough Trade Store, FIRST Opening In Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Famous London record store/label Rough Trade will open its first ever US store in Brooklyn on November 25, according to Billboard. The long-awaited store (plans were first announced in April of last year) will make its home in a 15,000 sq. ft. former prop warehouse in the Williamsburg neighborhood. While many people think opening such a large store in a time when music retailers are in decline is a major risk, the Rough Trade brass seem confident in their decision.

"New York and London are similar in many ways -- they're kaleidoscopic celebrations of global differences and similarities," Rough Trade co-president Stephen Godfroy said in an interview with Billboard. "They enjoy an open-mindedness, a deep respect for the past, a voracious appetite for the future, which all combines to produce a climate that suits our individual approach to music retail." 

The flagship store will sell only new music in a number of formats. The space will also accomodate people who wish to just hang out and will serve as a venue for free in-store shows and ticketed after-hours concerts.

This city demands something truly special, and hopefully that's what we can achieve in collaboration with the people that visit and go on to define the space over the months and years to come," Godfroy said.