Bad Times Disco, which has served as a pop-up record store and party series for the past three years, has launched a temporary physical shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

Opened on 11th January 2023, the physical store named, Bad Times Records, will sell a selection of second-hand records – focussing on rare Asian grooves and electronic music ranging from the 90s to the 2010s. 

Situated on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, adjacent to the renowned Chung King Mansions, the 648-square-foot store aims to draw in a fresh demographic of creatives and music professionals to the shopping complex. 

The main objective of the five-month pop-up is to establish a stable and grounding physical space in Hong Kong for music lovers and DJs to connect, providing an alternative to the transient nature of parties and events.

Along with a selection of secondhand and vintage clothing, curated by No ThrillSS, Bad Times Records will offer locally sourced beverages and serve as a venue for workshops, events, and gatherings catering to the local DJ, producer, and music enthusiast community. 

The store will operate as a pop-up for five months, primarily due to founder Ani Phoebe's touring commitments and the financial uncertainties associated with opening the business. 

Speaking on the launch, Bad Times Disco said: “The essence of the 5-month pop-up is to provide a physical space for music lovers and DJs in Hong Kong to meet each other that is not a party or an event – but rather a more stable and grounding, calming space. 

“Hong Kong is a hectic city where many people do not have time, let alone space, to meet each other. Party promoters and DJs are often isolated by their busy schedules and the city's frenetic rhythm. Bad Times Disco will create a temporary music community space where people can come together to plot out new ideas, learn from each other, launch new music, exchange new ideas, and strengthen the city's small underground music scene that has a lot of potential to grow.”