EXCLUSIVE: Family owners of burnt out Tradeston building say Glasgow has lost part of its history

Businesses are still closed after the fire on Kingston Street on Sunday morning.

Author: Callum McQuadePublished 18th Oct 2022

The devastated owners of a Tradeston building are telling us they don't know if any of it will ever be recovered after it went on fire at the weekend.

Businesses are still shut on Kingston Street and homes had to be evacuated because of the blaze on Sunday morning.

"Three generations worked in that building"

Zamard Zahid's father-in-law, Mohammed, bought the building 33 years ago and ran a clothes store for decades.

Speaking exclusively to Clyde 1 she said: "This was his final entrepreneurial endeavour; it was like a legacy.

"His four sons, including my husband, started it off with him and it held a story for our family.

"Three generations worked in that building and they put blood, sweat and tears into it."

Zamard's husband, also called Mohammed, watched the fire on Kingston Street for 6 hours.

In recent years, they had rented it out to other businesses including a furniture store which is still closed.

She added: "Each family member has their own personal story relating to this place.

"When I was a young bride 33 years ago, I sold babywear upstairs and the aftermath of this tragedy is the fact that we still cannot get anywhere near the building because it is structurally unsound.

"I have no idea how much damage has been done other than the fact that one whole side of it is just rubble now."

"It was huge for the economic landscape"

The former English teacher turned anti-racism campaigner wants people in Glasgow to know just how much this building represents the South Asian community's contribution to the city.

She added: "These buildings hold a lot of value on a personal and historic level.

"Huge cash and carries had a significance in Tradeston in the sense that they were owned by people in the community and it was huge for the economic landscape.

"Today you could not imagine a Glasgow without cash and carries and this building symbolised that."











Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.