ONE small pocket of Dennistoun mirrors the optimism and grassroots entrepreneurship that's changing the face of the East End.

It's where an indie rock hero scribbles in a candlelit restaurant, next to an organic bakery across the street from a fashion boutique, only a stone's throw from where an international film star rehearses with his band.

Shopping centre to increase by 50% SHOPPERS have flocked to Glasgow Fort in numbers far exceeding all expectations, paving the way for massive expansion plans. More than 13million consumers made their way to the Easterhouse retail park last year, as plans for Phase Two of the development were unveiled to increase the retail space by almost 50%. "Visitor numbers are about 20-30% above our initial projection," says centre manager Phil Goodman. "I would say the feedback we've received is that the stores have performed in terms of gross sales volumes and profitability well above what was targeted in 2003-4." The 400,000 sq ft Fort, five miles east of Glasgow city centre, is home to around 70 fashion, music, restaurant and homeware outlets, including Borders, Asda Living, Zara, Boots, TK Maxx and Topshop. It is ranked the sixth busiest retail destination in Scotland, leading the way in extended opening hours with round-the-clock opening in the weekend before Christmas 2007. Plans have now been lodged with Glasgow City Council to extend the park by 175,000 sq ft, which includes a pre-let agreement with Marks and Spencer for the high street giant to bring its luxury food lines to Easterhouse. If the plans are given the green light in late-spring, work on extending the horseshoe-shaped retail park will begin soon to be completed in time for Christmas 2009.

It's a far cry from many people's ideas of the area.

And while no-one is claiming the area's problems are going to go away overnight, there are exciting signs of a new breed of independent business with a strong artistic theme that are leading the way in a renaissance.

Retail, arts, real estate, leisure and entertainment are adding to the area's richly coloured historic tapestry, helping to wake it from its post-industrial slumber.

Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos can be found scribbling notes at Tibo, River City stars Claire Knight and Michelle O'Brien (aka Iona and Carly) pop out to a local shop and Lord Of The Rings star Billy Boyd's band Beecake rehearse at the Urban Studios in the Bridgeton Business Centre.

"The East End has been described as a sleeping giant and there's a lot of potential," says David Cook, boss of the Wasps Artists' Studios on Hanson Street, now the base of 150 local artists.

Wasps Artists' Studios was one of the earliest major investors, spearheading an influx of artists after taking on the lease of a former tobacco factory in 1988 (later buying the building in 1997).

After Wasps' £2.2million facelift in 2001 - making it one of the largest artistic meccas in Scotland - it has become a beacon of what can happen when local businesses, grant-giving agencies and inventive individuals work together.

It neighbours another landmark investment; the B-listed art deco City Park building - home of Dell computers - which was transformed into an office complex by private developers Elphinstone Group in a £20m project.

With £2billion expected to be ploughed into the East End over the next 20 years, buoyed by the 2014 Commonwealth Games and M74 completion, it means massive regeneration for an area still blighted by social problems.

The success of the £12m Bridge development in Easterhouse demonstrates exactly how multi-million-pound urban regeneration can boost a local community.

The Bridge - the leisure, learning and entertainment venue linking John Wheatley College, a swimming pool and library - is an award-winning space that's improving education and community involvement through workshops, learning and the arts.

Its drama classes alone bring 70 kids through the doors every Monday evening.

Opening in August 2006, The Bridge has welcomed more than 500,000 visitors since last April; its library has jumped from the 22nd most-used in Glasgow into the top 10 and around 700 residents have signed up for the Local Links membership scheme.

Jackie Shearer, arts manager at The Bridge, added: "It has already proven its place within the community and we're looking forward to bigger things in the future."

Similarly, home-grown businesses are experiencing boom time, with East Enders enjoying a taste of the burgeoning cafe and deli culture.

Bars such as the West Brewing Company on Glasgow Green, Tibo restaurant on Duke Street and the Tapa Bakehouse deli on Whitehill Street, Dennistoun, which delivers its organic breads all over the city and beyond, are thriving in areas that would be unrecognisable to those who lived there in the 70s or 80s.

Nicky Coia has witnessed this transformation from his family cafe, which celebrates its 80th anniversary on Duke Street this year.

"Duke Street was a victim of the Forge when it opened," says Nicky, 75, whose revamped cafe re-opened last year boasting a licence to sell fine Italian wines.

"It went down the tubes and every second shop was up for sale. But it has come back fighting."

Alison McInnes at Cocoberry in Duke Street	David Cook at the Wasps artists' studios	David Skilling & Malcolm Mackenzie at Tibo	Billy Boyd with his band Beecake at Urban Studios

Eusebi Deli in Shettleston is even taking its formula west, with a new branch opening in the West End in 12-15 weeks.

"People always said why is the shop in Shettleston - it should be in the West End," says Giovanna Eusebi, who runs the business.

"But why shouldn't it be here? Good food should be accessible to everyone, regardless of where you stay.

"Sometimes people think of this as a forgotten wilderness, but we've proved there's a market here for good food."

There is also a market for upmarket goods, as the arrival of Carla Enrici's shoe boutique Shoes In The City or independent fashion boutique Cocoberry proves.

"You see more specialist shops - beauticians and florists and nice little cafes opening up," says Cocoberry's owner Alison McInnes.

"It's tending towards more luxury, specialist boutiques - not just convenience shops."

There are a host of exciting developments on the horizon, including the expansion of the Glasgow Fort shopping park, the new Alba Town at plots on the Gallowgate and London Road and the College Business Park development on the site of the former meat market.

Wasps Artists' Studio, which has four sites in Glasgow and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, also expects to start work on the £7m renovation of A-listed Briggait courtyard on the eastern edge of the Merchant City this summer.

New-build housing has sprung up on much of the available land and, while the madness of 2004-2005 boom has cooled, business continues to be brisk. Pamela McLeman, of Countrywide estate agents on Alexandra Parade, said: "The change is dramatic - you see so many different types of buyers.

"Since the Commonwealth Games was announced, we've had calls coming in from Ireland, Birmingham, Manchester - people who can see that there is going to be growth over the next few years."

Pam recalls when properties took an average of 12 weeks to sell, but it's now down to four.

She adds: "We feel sure that the Commonwealth Games will be a huge boost to the East End because people are excited about being where it's all going to happen.

"Our prices increased by 6% last year, which was a slow year. I would anticipate more than that over the next couple of years. There's still plenty of room for investors."