The end of magic on the high street
By Jack Cranmer, Mya McPhee and Erin Grieve
A stalwart of the Glasgow high street announced they have officially closed their doors for good, ending almost 140 years of magic.
Tam Shepherds Trick Shop, known as ‘the oldest magic shop in the world’, announced that Saturday 9 November was their last day open, at least as a physical store.
In a statement, owner Jean Watson said: "We are sad to announce that Saturday 9 November 2024 was the last day of trading from our long-established bricks-and-mortar shop in Queen Street.”
The magic and jokes store, which opened all the way back in 1886, has been a long-running Glasgow institution, delighting mischievous shoppers young and old. Sadly, it is another victim of the slow decline of high street shopping in place of the new preferred method of shoppers purchasing their goods online.
However, Watson did announce that the store would continue trading as an online entity at present. In the statement, she added: “We will continue with our online shop tamshepherds.com supplying.”
The team working at the shop (Tam Shepherds)
Understandably, the public is sad to see an iconic store go.
Susan McGhee, 65, from Pollokshields, said: “It’s very sad that it is closing. I remember taking my kids there when they were just young. I never do online shopping as I like to be able to see the things I’m buying first. I much prefer to shop in person.
“It’s sad that it is closing down because it has been there for so long, but students do need more accommodation so it’s good for that reason. But, it’s part of Glasgow’s history, so it’s sad to see it go.”
Jim Williams, 68, from Glasgow, said: “It’s very sad. I remember going there with my siblings when I was younger, so I have lots of great memories there. [It’s] disappointing to see it go. It won’t be the same now that the store is entirely online. It’s missing all the charm and history of the physical shop.
“If I ever need anything bought online, I have to ask my grandson to buy it for me. I have absolutely no idea [about] that kind of thing. So, I much prefer going to shops.
“I think that online shopping is taking over. Going into real shops isn’t as popular anymore, so I suppose that small businesses might die out in the future, which is very upsetting.”
A photo from inside of the iconic store (Tam Shepherds)
All hope is not lost for a return to the high street though.
Tam Shepherds has been closed due to the building that housed the classic shop being redeveloped. The new redevelopment has retail space in it, which the store will have the opportunity to reopen. Watson said: “It will be a revitalised, small-business friendly, city centre.”
Despite this, there is no guarantee of a reopening, as Watson continues in the store’s statement to say that, due to the high costs involved in being a small independent shop in the city centre in the current climate, it may not be sustainable for the store to return straight away.
The statement went on to thank those involved in the store in a touching tribute: “To all our customers and friends, thank you so much for your continued custom and support.
“We hope to welcome you all back in the future.
“Thank you to Glasgow for making Tam Shepherds the shop it has been.”
Hopefully, the magic is not lost, and Tam Shepherds can perform a miracle and appear back on our streets in the physical form, and that its vanishing act will cease.