West-end changes

While out and about on Saturday last I noticed some welcome changes to Byres road and beyond. The downturn has caused significant changes to local retail, with many established businesses going under or moving out. It’s good to see new ventures moving in to the area. And maybe an afternoon of unbroken sun had something to do with it but I definitely had a sense that Byres road was resurging. Waitrose is due to open on the former Somerfield site. Tesco have apparently taken over Woolies old site. The new coffee and ice-cream cafe is booming. Vintage guru is a new retro clothes shop opened near Tennants bar. Further down there is a brand-new vintage lingerie shop and two units given over to a new bar-restaurant from the same people that developed The Left Bank on Gibson St. There’s a new venture on the bottom-felt corner of Byres road,  a new wine merchants round the corner on Dumbarton Road, a new cafe further along by Beanscene. You get the idea I think. For a while it seemed new and quirky ventures were only cropping up over by Woodlands and Gt Western Road after Kelvinbridge. So along with the likes of Specsavers and Vodafone, I’m pleased to see small and independent businesses taking a shot on our doorstep too.

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