Glasgow shoppers have identified several former high street retailers they would like to see return. This highlights the city’s changing shopping landscape and the lasting memories associated with its once-popular stores. In a reader survey published by the Glasgow Times on October 18, 2026, iconic brands like Lewis’s, Goldbergs, and What Every Woman Wants emerged among the businesses people miss the most.
The city’s famous Style Mile has experienced significant transformation over the decades. This shift saw the closure of many grand department stores and budget fashion pioneers. Although these shopping destinations are gone, they continue to hold a special place in the memories of generations of Glaswegians.
The Legendary Department Stores of Glasgow’s Past
Among the most frequently mentioned losses is Lewis’s, a massive seven-story department store located on Argyle Street. Opening its doors in 1929, Lewis’s was a retail behemoth that employed around 1,400 staff members. It became a festive fixture for its elaborate Christmas window displays. It also featured a popular food hall alongside the city’s very first escalator.
The landmark store even drew international attention. In December 1982, Hollywood icon Sophia Loren visited the branch while promoting her signature perfume, Sophia, by Coty. Lewis’s ultimately closed in the 1990s, marking the end of an era for Glasgow’s grand retail history.
Another titan of Glasgow commerce was Goldbergs. Founded in 1908 by A. Goldberg and Sons plc, the business grew from a single shop into a retail empire with over 100 outlets across the UK. Local shoppers fondly recall visiting the Candleriggs store, especially during the Christmas season. The company also pioneered its own in-house credit system called the Style card in 1982. Following financial difficulties and losses totaling £10 million, Goldbergs went into receivership and ceased trading in 1990.
Affordable Fashion Pioneers and Everyday Favorites
Before the rise of modern fast-fashion giants like Primark and TK Maxx, Glasgow-founded What Every Woman Wants was the go-to destination for budget-friendly clothing. Launched in 1971 by founders Gerald and Vera Weisfield, the brand expanded into a national chain of 130 stores.
The Argyle Street shop brought accessible fashion to the masses at prices everyday people could afford. At its peak, the enterprise boasted an annual turnover exceeding £100 million before the founders sold the business in 1990 for £50 million.
Survey respondents also reminisced about several other high street staples that vanished from Glasgow’s shopping districts, including:
- Debenhams: A staple department store presence on Buchanan Street.
- Woolworths: The ultimate destination for pick ‘n’ mix, toys, and household goods.
- BHS (British Home Stores): A high street fixture known for clothing and homeware.
- Arnotts: A grand department store that defined traditional Glasgow shopping.
- Littlewoods: Famous for its catalogue collection points and high street presence.
- C&A: A family-favourite fashion retailer spanning multiple generations.
- Borders Books: Scotland’s biggest bookshop on Buchanan Street, which traded from 1998 to 2009.
- Pettigrew and Stephens: Once the largest department store in Scotland, operating on Bath Street from 1888 until 1974.
The Evolution of the Glasgow Style Mile
The disappearance of these historical retailers reflects broader shifts in consumer habits, the rise of online shopping, and major urban redevelopment projects, such as the creation of the St. Enoch Centre. While the physical storefronts have been demolished or repurposed, the nostalgia surrounding Glasgow’s retail heritage remains strong among residents who grew up navigating the bustling Style Mile.
As the high street continues to evolve, the enduring fondness for brands like Lewis’s, Goldbergs, and What Every Woman Wants demonstrates how central these stores were to the social and cultural fabric of Glasgow life.
