Maryhill traders prepare for Tesco tidal wave

Words Erik Geddes

 

Pics Stuart Maxwell

Tesco are promising a wave of wealth and opportunity in Maryhill on the back of their new megastore opening scheduled for November.

But business owners on the stretch of Maryhill Road nearest Tesco – between Avenue Park Street and Shakespeare Street – don’t share the corporate giant’s optimism.

Tesco say the megastore will create 200 new jobs with half of them earmarked for long-term unemployed people from the local area.

Tony McElroy, the Tesco Corporate Affairs Manager, told the LOCAL NEWS that the store opening can only be a good thing for the whole community.

He said: ‘The new store will keep people shopping locally on Maryhill Road. It’s a great opportunity for nearby traders. There will be a substantial boost to the local economy. Not just in terms of new jobs but in terms of new customers and opportunities coming to the area.’

But for existing local traders, worrying times lie ahead. Frank O’Hare, owner of M & C a grocer and greengrocer, is expecting Tesco to have ‘a huge impact’ on his business.

He said: ‘I’ve no doubt that my business will suffer, but we can deal with it. I have to adapt. I can compete with Tesco with my fruit and veg. I have a better quality and we charge less; but we’ll maybe struggle with groceries. However, I’ve started doing deals myself and have been distributing leaflets. My worry is the public perception. People wander in and ask if I’m closing down when Tesco opens.’

Other local business owners and workers are even gloomier about what the future might hold.

Liz Sweeney from Sweeney’s Sandwich Bar is fuming at the thought of Tesco cleaning up after she had invested £5,000 in a hot food licence.

She said: ‘This is a family business but there are several staff livelihoods on the line. There is a community feeling here you won’t get in any Tesco cafe – but they will be able to be cheaper.’

Qasin Rafiq, who runs a newsagents, can’t see his shop surviving. He said: ‘My shop will go down. I don’t know how we can compete with them.’

However, not everyone is that concerned. Jim Gaynor, manager of Jim Campbell Butchers on Maryhill Road, is confident that his customers will remain loyal.

He said: ‘I don’t think it will have a huge impact on my shop in the long run.

‘We might be quiet for the first week or two, but my customers will come back as they will recognise my meat is of far superior quality.’

*** Send your comments on what you think of the Tesco/local traders tussle to: newsdesk@localnewsglasgow.co.uk