End of an Era: McColl’s Shop in Glasgow City Centre Closes After Decades of Service
Described by its staff as a “little gold mine” the store has been a staple of the area near Queen Street Station for decades
EXCLUSIVE by Gary Fanning
It’s the end of an era for a beloved shop in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre, as McColl’s, pictured above, next to Queen Street Station, closes its doors for the final time today (Friday) leaving both staff and loyal customers devastated.
Described by its staff as a “little gold mine,” the store has been a staple of the area for decades, offering a quick pit stop for commuters, workers, and locals.
But after years of service, the shop will shut its doors for good, marking the end of a piece of Glasgow history.
The news came as a shock to employees, who were informed of the closure on Hogmanay.
One shop source said the announcement felt like a “kick in the teeth”.
“We were called to a meeting on Hogmanay and told it was closing.
“We were only given four weeks’ notice.
“The way we were told was horrible. We weren’t t even allowed to speak about it on social media. As if we would, we were gutted. It was heart-breaking.”
Popular The McColl’s in Dundas Street near Queen Street Station is closing for good today (Friday). All pictures by Michael Jordan
For 18 months, staff had been promised that the store would be revamped into a Morrisons Daily, who took over the store following the collapse of McColls in May 2022.
Morrisons then agreed to take over the business, paying off McColls £170m debt.
The supermarket giant permanently closed 132 of the 1164 McColls shops, putting 1300 staff at risk of redundancy and insisted the rest of the shops would be rebranded Morrisons Locals over a two to three-year period.
But those plans never materialised for the Dundas Street shop. “The staff kept waiting for the transformation, but it just never happened,” the source explained.
“We believe the landlord is behind the closure, not Morrisons. We don’t even know who the landlord is.”
The closure will impact seven staff members, with four taking redundancy and the rest being redeployed to other stores.
But the emotional toll is much larger than that. “This shop has such a rich history. Some of our customers have been coming here since they were kids, and now they’re all grown up,” the employee said. “It’s a huge loss, not just for us but for the whole community. People are angry and upset. One customer told me it was a disgrace.”
‘Little gold mine’ Staff gutted to find out that the McColl’s shop would shut for good
Customers have flocked to the store for decades, popping in for juice, cigarettes, or a paper. It has been a vital part of their daily routine, and now, with no other similar shop nearby, many feel they’re losing a cherished part of their lives. The nearest alternative is a Sainsbury’s on Bath Street, but it’s simply not the same.
“We will miss our customers so much. We want to say thank you to them for all the support over the years,” the staff member said, their voice thick with emotion.
“This shop has been a little gold mine for us. It’s where workmen from Queen Street Station would come in for their daily essentials. Now, there’s nowhere left for them to go.”
There’s speculation that the site may be taken over and transformed into a Mor Bakery, a chain with another location on Argyle Street.
“Last summer, someone came in measuring up, and we thought it was for the revamp,” the employee recalled. “One of the staff noticed a book with Mor Bakery letterhead, and we all started to wonder. But when we asked, we were told not to worry. We were never kept in the loop. It’s been frustrating, especially when we’ve been wearing McColl’s overalls and Morrisons badges the whole time.”
A Morrisons spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we have made the difficult decision to close the store at the end of this week.
“As our lease is now ending, we will be vacating the property.”
As the final day of McColl’s in Dundas Street comes to a close, the sense of loss is palpable. For employees and customers alike, it’s not just the closure of a shop—it’s the end of a familiar, trusted part of Glasgow’s city centre.