New second-hand record store, Crates R Us, opens in South London’s AAJA Basement

“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.”

In October, a DJ and producer based on the south coast of England set a new Guinness Word Record for the most record stores visited, with an album purchase, in 24 hours.