A Newcastle music shop that was the "cornerstone of the region’s musical heritage" for more than a century has closed for good. 

JG Windows - which has been a fixture in the city centre since 1908 - has today (November 29) announced that it has closed permanently, as the firm prepares to go into liquidation. 

The musical instrument, sheet music and recorded music store had called the city's Central Arcade home since 1908 - two years after the site's grand opening in 1906. 

But now, the much-loved store has closed for good, with the business appointing Andrew Little and Gillian Sayburn, of Begbies Traynor, as joint liquidators. 

All of the firm’s 17 employees have been made redundant.

Mr Little said the business had been "unable to compete in a market that had become dominated by large online retailers", despite the directors’ "innovative approach and tireless efforts".

He said: "While other shops have come and gone, JG Windows has always remained and flourished, becoming one of the UK’s oldest and most respected music stores with an unrivalled reputation for their fantastic range of instruments and musical expertise.

“Its closure is incredibly sad and bears no reflection on the firm’s directors who have ceaselessly gone above and beyond to try and drive the business forward.

"Competing in the current market had become impossible for them and they had no viable choice but to cease trading.”

The news comes just months after JG Windows - which had sister stores in Darlington and the Metro Centre before they closed in 2022 and 2018 respectively - was put up for sale in 2023.

However, a buyer sadly could not be found for the business and turnover continued to decline.

The store’s general manager, Alex Cole, said he was deeply saddened by the closure of the business.

He said: “JG Windows has been a cornerstone of the region’s musical and retail heritage for over 115 years and generations of musicians and music lovers, including my family and myself, have bought their first instrument, listened to their first LP, or learnt their first song within the iconic Central Arcade store,” he said.

 “The retail environment, and particularly the music sector, has changed so much over recent years.

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"Despite our best efforts to transform and adapt through streamlined operations, the introduction of the Windows Music Academy, and the launch of a new online offering, we have been unable to compete against falling margins, rising costs and the general shift within the UK to online shopping, streaming and downloads.”

Mr Cole added: “I would like to thank the J G Windows team for their incredible service. I can confidently say there was not a better skilled and more knowledgeable, experienced, or passionate team of musical experts in any music store across the UK.

“I would also like to thank the thousands of customers who have given us their support over the years and to whom the store means so much. It has genuinely been an honour and a privilege to be part of the J G Windows journey, the city will be a quieter place without it.”