A full stop was placed on 87 years of retailing history as the shutters were pulled down at the one of the city's oldest Marks & Spencer stores on Saturday.
The shock closure of the Sauchiehall Street outlet, which was announced back in January, came as M&S executives said “changing shopping habits” has led them to rethink their retail strategy.
As more and more Glaswegians opt to shop online, the city has seen an increasing number of once popular high street names shut for good.
But, while retail giant M&S has pledged to invest in their 12 other Glasgow stores, there was something special about the city’s second Marks & Spencer’s, which opened back in November 1935.
It was a rite of passage for generations and hundreds of heartbroken Glasgow Live readers have taken to social media to share their memories of what shopping at the art deco landmark meant to them.
Janice Young commented: "So sad was such a great store back in the day. Remember my mum taking me there shopping and was in often when I later worked next door in Boots in the 90s.
"Sadly Boots is not the store is once was either heartbreaking to see these iconic stores suffer not forgetting the staff who have lost their jobs. Sad day for Glasgow.”
Jay N. Peart said: "For some reason, I preferred that branch to the Argyle Street branch. It could be because it's an older building, or maybe just because I've got many wonderful memories of Sauchiehall Street from my younger years. It'll be sad to see that branch go. Sauchiehall Street just isn't the same as it once was."
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Caroline Hugo added: "I popped in on Thursday for one last time and had to leave as I filled up with tears seeing it so empty of stock and people and a thousand memories flooding my mind of years gone by when shopping in there with my mum and gran and my own kids.
"Definitely the end of an era and of a once great street. So sad."
Dee McLaren recalled: "I had my first job in there. I worked in the Café from 2004 for about a year and a half. Made a couple of really good friends in the job and used to love chatting to the older regulars who’d come in every night. It’s sad to see the place go.”
Locals have said the closure of the famous Marks & Spencer outlet is yet another worrying loss to Sauchiehall Street, which has waved farewell to a number of high-profile retailers in recent years, including BHS and Watt Brothers.
Elaine McCue said: "Sad to hear M&S in Sauchiehall Street has closed. That street was a favourite of mine for a long time.
"The demise of Sauchiehall Street as a shopping area started many years ago when Buchanan Galleries opened, and with shops like BHS and Watt Bros going bust and two fires at the art school. All that added to the move to online shopping and the covid pandemic lockdowns just made the situation so much worse.”
Jay Dingwall commented: “I’ve only lived in Glasgow for five years (two in a pandemic) and even I can see how downhill Sauchiehall street has become. At one end you just have the bars and takeaways and between that and the Galleries is just empty shops or temporary shops filled with tat.”
John Wall said: “The final nail in the coffin for what was one of the best streets in Scotland to stroll along. Its rebirth is beyond the ability of a dreadful Glasgow city council.”
McMoodoo Lola added: "We walked past today, so sad. Sauchiehall Street is becoming like a ghost town, so many empty shops."
