THE rise of out of town shopping centres has been blamed for the closure of a branch of one of Glasgow's shopping institutions.

Greaves Sports is to close its Sauchiehall Street branch after decades in the heart of the area. The branch will close imminently, according to its managing director Sandy Greaves.

Mr Greaves said the combination of shopping malls and the demise of Sauchiehall Street has put a strain on the store.

The sports retailer, which first opened up in Glasgow in 1930, made the announcement following the departure of High Street chain BHS from Sauchiehall Street last August.

The business now has a fifth generation of the Greaves family on the board and employs around 100 people across its stores.

Mr Greaves did not confirm how many jobs will be lost but he said redundancies will be kept to “bare minimum”.

He, however, offered his assurances that the Gordon Street branch will continue to trade.

He said: “The store sadly is going to have to close because of trading.

“Sauchiehall Street isn’t what it used to be. Gordon Street will still continue to trade.

“It’s been a sports shop since 1900s and its been part of our family business since 1960. It’s a bit of a sore one.”

He added: “It is a sign of the times. Sadly, the city fathers have surrounded Glasgow city centre with shopping centres.

“Trying to bring people into the city is a bit of a challenge.

“When you go back to when I was a kid, Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street were the places to go shopping.

“Sadly it is not anymore.”

The focus for the firm is the flagship store which remains at Gordon Street.

Mr Greaves said that the Gordon Street store continued to trade well and was in fact propping up the Sauchiehall Street branch.

He said: “Sauchiehall Street wasn’t viable anymore.

“It was a strain on the Gordon Street store which was really propping up Sauchiehall Street. Gordon Street is trading well and is up on last year.”

He added: “It’s sad day and we appreciate the custom we have had over the years.

“We are still here in Gordon Street and we will continue flourish down here.

“We plan to reinvest the money in Gordon Street.”

Another famous Glasgow retailer Crocket the Ironmonger shut up shop after 50 years in the city centre.

The family firm, which was founded in 1870 and based in nearby West Nile Street, said its closure was part of plans to restructure the business on the back of changes in the UK retailing environment.

The Evening Times previously reported that the former BHS site opposite Greaves, which remains empty with two other units next door, has been earmarked for a £75million redevelopment.

Initial plans have already been submitted to the Glasgow City Council for a 12-storey scheme in the city centre, with the team managing the development claiming it will transform the area around Sauchiehall Street.

The development by Formal Investments will extend onto Renfield Street and Bath Street and into neighbouring properties recently acquired by the company behind the scheme.