A former Edinburgh chef has opened a record shop after losing almost everything during the coronavirus pandemic.
An Edinburgh resident for almost all his life, Richard Alexander has taken over the former location of Ilium Records on Marchmont Crescent, after 35 years of being a chef in the city.
The former cook used to own Spoon Bistro Edinburgh on Nicholson Street, which was popular with locals and started in the industry in 1987. He has now ventured into the record shop and hopes his local links can leave him with a pension pot of gold after losing his restaurant during covid.
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The 52-year-old opened up Spoon Records last week. The name of the store is inspired by the restaurant he used to own.
He said: "I have a massive record collection and I just couldn't do kitchen work anymore especially after lockdown, I'm just too old and my back is just giving way."
"I am completely un-musical, like embarrassingly badly so and I just wanted to open up a record store that or a book shop but i reckon there are too many book shops in Edinburgh now but I realise there is a lot of record shops."
"I've been doing a lot of renovation, clearing up and just going through the stock just to see how it is. I have a vast record collection and went from there."
Richard put his restaurant on the market before covid hit and gained a lot of interest from buyers who didn't come back after the pandemic had concluded.
He was then left with the property during the time of the coronavirus and unfortunately had to sell the property for a fraction of the price it was which was supposed to be his and his wife's retirement fund.
"I can't become a chef again my back is sore and everything hurts, ask any chef that has been doing it for 35 years, it is hard and the hours you do, I just can't do that anymore," he said.
"So that is why I am doing this, opening up a record store."
Richard talked about his connection to Marchmont, describing it as a great place for a record shop "because there are a lot of people my age living round here and that is the people buying vinyl."
"Our children have grown up here, there children and I love the people here in Marchmont and I hope with them coming here it will spread the word that we are open and come along."
"We have known this neighbourhood for a long time, they are all grown up and left now. We have almost been here for 20 years and that is another reason for opening up a shop here rather than somewhere else because we are part of this community."
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Richard's record shop, Spoon Records Edinburgh is located at 100 Marchmont Crescent. The Instagram can be viewed here.
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