Evening Times

Glasgow’s city centre shopping scene had a boom 2010 – and moves are under way to ensure it continues to beat the recession in 2011.
The city’s status as officially the top place to shop in the UK outside London was again confirmed as a host of top companies opened large city centre stores.
They ranged from the All Saints shop in Buchanan Street – which is reported to have a rental tag of £1.5million – to TK Maxx’s three-floor fashion emporium in Argyle Street.
All Saints described its place in the former Borders store as “the best location on any high street in Britain” while TK Maxx’s shop is the firm’s biggest in Scotland and its second biggest in the UK
The many city centre store openings are great news for the city’s economy – and Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, spelled out the figures.
He said: “In the face of current economic conditions Glasgow has continued to demonstrate its resilience as the largest retail centre outside of London’s West End.
“With more than 1500 stores in the ‘Style Mile’ and an annual retail sales turnover of £2.4billion it is undoubtedly a key economic driver for the city and its future growth.”
The host of big names attracted in the last 12 months have included COS, sister brand of H&M, which chose the biggest unit in Princes Square for its first Scottish store.
Posh pan company Le Creuset also opened in Princes Square, as did Aussie accessory brand Mimco.
The first phase of the £150m overhaul of the St Enoch Centre was also unveiled and shops introduced to the mall included watch firm Fossil, supermarket Tesco, popular clothes shop Cult, tartan specialist Ness and boutique Eye Candy.
Upmarket store Harvey Nicks also opened a temporary store.
One of the most anticipated shops to open all year hired Baywatch-style lifeguards to announce its arrival.
Hollister Co, sister brand of Abercrombie and Fitch, transported its surf shack-style shops straight from America to the Buchanan Galleries, while Spanish clothing firm Desigual also unveiled its first Scottish shop next door.