As the shops at Larkfield continued to be built in August 1977, the boss of A.A Brothers who were building the premises was coming under criticism that the development would likely fail.
The ‘firing shots’ came from other Blantyre traders who suggested that Mr Yaqub Ali would not find anybody to take up the lease of the new 3,000 square foot supermarket, given the rally cry in Blantyre from all was ‘that Asda was coming’.
Those criticising the development said that the prospect of Asda coming to Blantyre would frighten off anybody considering renting within the new AA Brothers plans.
Mr Ali defiantly fought back accepting that though it was a possibility, he was more than sure healthy competition would come too, attracting big names to his development. He told press in September 1977, “Unlike the Blantyre traders, I am not frightened of the competition. I’m not going to moan at Asda coming. I welcome ASDA coming and it gives me further incentive to work hard, keep prices and rents down.”
Mr Ali by then already had several enquiries about the new shops which were nearly completed. There was a legal issue still to be sorted with the sale of land on Stonefield Road owned by Hamilton District Council, so moving in had to be delayed a little.
Mr Ali had showed remarkable foresight and business acumen at this time. In other interviews with press he told them, “I’ve done my homework. There are over 4,000 houses in this area and hardly a shop around. The average family spends £20 a week on food shopping. Who says the supermarket can’t have a share of that!?”
“People in that area are simply NOT going to walk three quarters of a mile to ASDA for bread, milk and day to day needs when there is convenience on their doorstep. We will not be relying on outside trade, the passing motorist, but instead on all those houses surrounding the premises and if the worst came to be with no companies intending to rent it, then I’ll run a shop there myself.”
Pictured in 2009, is the block of shops featured in this article, the largest shop, Spar now Scotmid….or Landmark as many still refer!
