New second-hand record store, Crates R Us, opens in South London’s AAJA Basement
The shop has roots in pop-up record fairs at the address, with the next special event on Saturday 6th December.
A new second-hand record store has opened inside South London bar, radio hub and venue, AAJA Basement.
The crew behind aptly-titled Crates R Us have been active at the Deptford High Street address since 2018, where they have run a number of record fairs. This relationship has now blossomed into a permanent residency, helping to retain and grow daytime footfall at a time when grass roots music operations are struggling.
Record fairs will continue to be a prominent part of the shop’s calendar, with the next event set for tomorrow, Saturday 6th December. New stock will be on sale from 11PM to 5PM, with local DJs and artists providing the soundtrack.
“The opportunity to house Crates has helped us to adapt to some of these challenges, providing financial support and increasing our resilience to rising costs, and the volatility of being a grassroots organisation,” said a spokesperson for AAJA in a statement.
“So far it seems people end up here for hours, making new friends, discovering new music, and further utilising the space in a way we always hoped for,” they continued. “It feels really special to be part of such a strong community and recognise faces and personalities, particularly in London, where day by day community is drawn away by gentrification.”
