I couldn't agree more with what Katie said in her review. You could film a post apocalyptic film in here these days.
I remember I used to come in here when I was younger - for window shopping, of course! But I remember thinking you could practically smell the good life in the Italian Centre - when Glasgow wasn't quite as rich in clothing diversity as it is now, it was pretty much as close as you could get to cosmopolitan culture. When I revisited today, I was met with a tumbleweed and the echoes of two guys talking (quietly) about architecture a good few metres away from me. They were situated in the middle of the empty square but I'm sure they would've gladly taken a seat and a latte had The Italian Centre had any restaurants or bistros open. Alas, the majority of the outlets were closed.
You know the recession has slammed your city hard when what was once a beautiful shopping pilgrimage for the Gucci fan club has become an empty space gathering dust. Don't get me wrong, if you happen to visit in the forseeable future there are still a couple of shops still open, but the only ones I could see were Armani and the almost insultingly named Big Ideas which seemed to specialise in bigger (and frumpier) designs for the curvier socialite. The courtayrd, with its metalic sculptures, is still gorgeous, but the place has become a bit downtrodden which I didn't expect at all.
I used to come here to make believe I had money and rub shoulders for a fleeting moment with high society. Now, the only thing that will breeze past you is the whistle of the wind. Hopefully, for the sake of the fashion conscious, it will heal itself in time and will become the lively centre it once was. read more