A POPULAR music store that has been a mainstay in Westcliff for more than 30 years is set to close at the end of this month. 

Professional Music Technology (PMT), on Queens Road, has been placed on the market for a whopping £625,000. 

The business originally opened in 1991 and was the first PMT outlet before 15 sister sites opened up and down the UK. 

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James Michael Clarke worked at the store for six years and was also the assistant manager for two years, until leaving very recently after being told about the closure.

He said it is a real shame, and a devastating loss to the city.

James said: “It is a devastating loss of a historic shop.

“It has links to the local legacy of amazing music stores we have been very lucky to have in Southend.

“It is a shame that PMT have made the decision to close the store and not open a new one in the area.

“Especially as Southend was the birthplace of the PMT company.”

Once the Westcliff site closes, the closest PMT will be in Romford. 

The property is now listed for sale online, for £625,000 by estate agents Dedman Gray.

They say it is “a substantial two-storey, mid terrace, retail showroom located a short distance from Southend High Street.

“The property benefits from extensive glazed shopfront and is arranged to provide largely open plan sales space on the ground floor with supplementary sales, storage, and staff amenity areas at first and second floor levels.

“Subject to the appropriate consents, the property offers conversion and redevelopment possibilities.”

The store will close on November 27, and staff will be offered jobs at the Romford store. 

David Black, managing director of PMT across the country, added; “It is not without an element of sadness, and there is an end of an era feeling, as we have had this store for nearly 30 years.

“But we don’t own the freehold, the company changed hands in 2019, and the freehold is owned by the former business owners.

“So, we will now cease trade from November 27 in Southend, and instead reinvest in our Romford store, which will go on to serve the Essex catchment.”