Long before the era of shopping centres and online orders, the streets of Glasgow thrived with independent shops, family-run businesses, and bustling department stores that created strong memories for generations. For many Glaswegians, memories of these places are stitched into their sense of the city, from the smell of fresh rolls at the local baker to the sight of elaborate window displays on Argyle Street.
From the grandeur of household names like Copland & Lye, Pettigrew & Stephens, or Lewis’s - their food hall was a treat in itself - to sweetie shops and newsagents tucked into neighbourhoods, these places formed more than the just backdrop to local lives. Take a look back at some local landmarks that were important to different generations.
5. Lost Glasgow shops
The John Smith Bookshop in 1998. Photo: Robert Perry
6. Lost Glasgow shops
The Danish Food Centre on St Vincent Street offered up a veritable smorgasbord of Dansk culinary delights for Glaswegian food lovers in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Opening in 1969, the Glasgow centre was the 3rd of its kind in the United Kingdom after London and Manchester, and a unique type of restaurant for its time, introducing Brits to a wide range of the best Danish grub. As well as the restaurant, the centre also offered a couple of shops, one selling Danish art work and other goods, and the other a selection of Danish foodstuffs. | Contributed
7. Lost Glasgow shops
Watt Brothers on Sauchiehall Street was an institution. The store closed in 2020 after more than a century in business. Photo: Thomas Nugent/Geograph
8. Lost Glasgow shops
Time computer store in Sauchiehall Street. Photo: TSPL