Shoppers unite. That’s the call to The Forge Shopping Centre. It stands in Glasgow’s East End in Parkhead. This shopping centre has a unique story. Its name comes from the former William Beardmore and Company steel works. The steelworks closed in 1983.
Let’s step back in time. The GEAR scheme aimed to renew Glasgow’s East End. It was Europe’s largest urban regeneration project. The plan included a new shopping centre. This would replace the closed Parkhead Forge plant.
Construction began in 1986. The Forge Shopping Centre opened on October 10, 1988. It was going to feature a supermarket and cinema. It would also feature at least 40 units. Gateway supermarket was the main tenant. It was Scotland’s largest at the time. In the early 1990s, Asda took its place.
Look up as you approach. The entrances on Duke Street and Gallowgate have glass pyramids. They are quite distinctive.
The Forge Shopping Centre expanded in the mid-1990s. A new indoor market and bingo hall were added. These were to the east of the original site. A retail park was built to the west. It was built over part of Camlachie. The retail park expanded further in the early 2000s. B&Q and Tesco added large branches.
Currently, The Forge has over 70 high street shops. It also has over 1600 parking spaces. The Forge Shopping Centre is open seven days a week.
The Forge has two anchor stores. These are Primark and Asda. There is also a Cineworld cinema. A McDonald’s drive-thru sits near the car park.
The Forge Shopping Centre has evolved. It meets the needs of the community. Seasonal entertainment is available. Refreshments are on offer from Costa, Subway and McDonalds. The Forge Shopping Centre provides a terrific shopping and leisure experience.