Glaswegians mourn loss of Union Street corner

As hoses still douse the smouldering rubble, police stand guard and engineers assess the damage on Union Street, where people gather quietly to take in the sight of the ruined building.

On Sunday, 8 March, a fire that began in a vape shop on Union Street tore through the structure, causing irreparable damage to the iconic Union Corner building, which had stood for more than 175 years. Its dome and billboard had long been well‑known, permanent features, landmarks people instinctively associated with the heart of the city centre.

Among those mourning the loss was Anne Murray, who has lived in Glasgow for over 50 years and remembers growing up with the building. 

“I’m 68 now, and I saw that building for 50‑odd years,” she said. “When I was a teen that was the meeting place. That’s where you went.” 

Neil Maclean, from Renfrew and a frequent visitor to the city, is also still trying to process the scale of the destruction. 

“It was always a beautiful and imposing building, it was just fantastic,” he said.

“People would look up and immediately know where they are in the city. I still can’t get my head around the fact that a vape shop has brought it down.” 

Amid the sadness, Anne believes something hopeful may emerge from the loss of the B‑listed building, perhaps a renewed appreciation for Glasgow’s remarkable architecture. 

“We have a book called ‘You Look Up’ which encourages people to look up at the buildings in the city centre,” she said.

“You see the history of the buildings and the detail. When you think of what has been lost here, it makes you appreciate the rest.” 

There was a sense that those who gathered had come not just to observe, but to mourn.

Some stood silently, others spoke quietly among themselves, and on the kerb an artist was painting the scene, an attempt to preserve the atmosphere. Union Corner may be gone, but the people of Glasgow’s memories will remain.