Some Great Reward had become something of a mainstay at the park end of Victoria Road. Serving up hot coffees and good tunes, and playing host to Radio Buena Vida, it was a haven for vinyl addicts and heads. Now they’ve moved a few streets over to a new bustling spot - The Cooperage

By giacinta frisillo

Olly McFadden opened Some Great Reward nearly five years ago. With the friendly help of manager Faye Woodcock, SGR became a mainstay of the Govanhill’s community, adding their bright pink and purple branding to what was then a relatively quiet part of Victoria Road. Times have changed since, however, and that end of the street is flourishing with local businesses. So why have they left?

“We loved our old space and the community we created,” explains Faye. “But, as seems to be happening throughout Govanhill, we’re seeing more and more rent hikes. After coming to the end of our five-year lease, the proposed increase in the new tenancy agreement would’ve made continuing our business untenable”.

And so they’ve found a new home within The Cooperage – a colourful courtyard hidden amongst the hustle and bustle of Pollokshaws Road home of small businesses, trading everything from vintage clothing to vegan treats. “We miss Victoria road, but we’re excited for our new home and what is turning into a great community hub”.

Being off the main road could mean a decrease in some of their more regular foot traffic, but they have built a loyal community who, in the few weeks they’ve been trading at the new location, have continued to visit regularly. Faye says: “We’ve seen a mix of old and new faces and it’s been great to bring people into this area. Many of our customers have told us they’d never been here. We still have people popping by for chats, as they always have, and now with a slightly bigger space, we’re able to have tables inside. Since we’ve got a more child-friendly enclosed courtyard, some of the families who began visiting us in our Victoria Road location are actually spending even longer amounts of time hanging out with us”. Even though there have been changes, SGR continues to be a safe inclusive space for families, dogs, and anyone bringing good vibes.

The Cooperage has been hosting occasional pop-up markets for local vendors with and without storefronts to hawk their wares. As the frequency of these pop-ups increases in the lead up to the festive season, SGR say they are “Hoping to welcome in some of the diversity [they] were used to seeing on Victoria Road” - making clear to the area that The Cooperage is welcoming to everyone.

Along with pop-ups, the new space is making them consider what live in-store events they can host. For example, “Even though our good friends at Radio Buena Vida have moved into their own separate location on Victoria Road now, we’ll continue to collaborate with them, hosting DJs on special occasions”.

What other changes are in store? “We’ll continue to stock fantastic new releases and reissues, but soon we’ll also begin to stock some secondhand vinyl, as we receive a lot of requests for this from our regulars”, says Olly.

Check out Some Great Reward in their new location next to Seamster Vintage. Satisfy many of your other needs by popping into ViVi’s Deli, 1 of 100, Rudan, and Sun and Moon Tattoos.