EVERY so often some journalist will write a story about how Byres Road isn’t what it used to be.
In fact Glasgow City Council agrees, as it has set aside £9million to improve the area, and will now have meetings to decide how to spend the cash. Nicer bins, that sort of thing, no doubt.
So one of the criticisms usually trotted out is that you don’t have proper shops any more – shops like George Todd’s fruit shop near the corner of Ruthven Street, pictured here in 1965.
It is a thing of beauty. Just look at the perfection of the display. You almost want to set up an easel and paint the scene. And look at how well dressed Byres Road shoppers were in those days.
West end women didn’t just pull on a fleece and trainers in those days. And they had proper shopping bags.
Difficult to make out, but in the bottom right-hand corner is a plaster statue of a boy in a wheelchair which was a collecting box for a polio charity, I think.
Still, 20 years ago the criticism was that Byres Road was just full of estate agents, banks and building societies. But it’s actually not that bad today. There are new cafes and delis opening up, and hurrah for Waterstones recently opening a bookshop.
And fruit shops? Well they seem to be making a comeback in Glasgow, thanks mainly to immigrants opening stores and not being afraid of putting in the hours to tempt customers with displays like George did here 50 years ago.
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