‘World’s oldest joke shop’ closing after 130 years to be turned into student flats
A joke shop claiming to be the “oldest” in the world is set to close after nearly 140 years in order to be turned into student flats.
After 130 years of magic, Tam Shepherd’s trick shop in Glasgow is closing to make way for student housing.
The owners expressed struggles of “high costs of being a small independent shop in the city centre” as contributing to this closure.
The shop on Queen Street has been a family-run business since 1886 but has been forced to go entirely online.
Owner Jean Walton says: “Tam Shepherds will continue with our online shop tamshepherds.com supplying customers with our range of magic, tricks, jokes and costumes.”
The shop was beloved within the community, being named Glasgow’s favourite business in 2017 at the Glasgow Business Awards.
It sold magic tricks, costumes and jokes and was popular among children and magicians. It was said to be an inspiration for comedian Jerry Sadowitz’s career in magic.
Locals took to social media to share their memories, with one writing: “I took my daughter there, my parents took me there, my dad went there when he was little, so sad to hear this.”
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A second added: “Glasgow shopping is officially gone. Must be the last shop to go from my childhood.”
This comes amid anxieties about Glasgow city centre losing its independent shops to make room for more student housing.
It’s not just the joke shop that has been impacted, the attached buildings and former Archaos nightclub are also being redeveloped into student flats.
Glasgow City Council city planners have approved proposals for a 14-storey block of student accommodation, taking over 21-42 Queen Street.
The developments include plans for a ground floor retail space, which will replace Tam Shepherds, with a block including 195 beds, a gym and a cinema.
Tam Shepherd’s statement left customers with a message: “To all our customers and friends, thank you so much for your continued custom and support.
“We hope to welcome you back in the future. And thank you to Glasgow for making Tam Shepherds the shop it has been.”