ONE of Birmingham's best-known names is to disappear from the high street after 39 years. Reddington's Rare Records' boss, Dan Reddington, is giving up retailing to run a mail order internet-only business. Long-serving assistants Amid Quadri and Bob Cambridge will lose their jobs after more than 35 years' service between them, Now aged 65, Dan said: "The lease is up at our present site in September and the costs just keep going up and up. "We've been at the Smithfield House site in Digbeth for five years and for two years did quite well. Once the Bullring opened we thought we'd do better but the reverse has happened. "The last three months have been really poor and Saturdays are quieter than during the week. "There's virtually no passing trade and it's very expensive for people to park round here now. Where I holiday in Florida they waive parking charges on Saturdays and Sundays, but not here." Dan has launched a half-price sale to help shift extra copies before leaving the premises completely bare by September 10. The business started off in St Martin's House Parade before Dan moved on to Greet and Moor Street. Over the years, Reddingtons has been like a magnet for record collectors and stars alike. Dan added: "I've never met Ozzy Osbourne, but Led Zeppelin's guitarist Jimmy Page was once waiting outside Moor Street at 10am and he was dressed in an old RAF coat. "Bev Bevan has become a good friend and he's got one of the best record collections around. "Robert Plant phoned me up recently to say he'd be coming down again this week - he was sorry to learn we're closing as he's been a real regular over the years. "I'm going to miss being in the shop and talking to people," said Dan. "I'll just be stuck in front of a computer doing the same thing on a PC." ..SUPL: | 
