More than £150,000 raised for small businesses affected by Glasgow blaze

More than £150,000 has been raised for Glasgow businesses affected by a fire that ripped through a historic building near Central Station.

The blaze has destroyed numerous independent businesses and affected many others in the area after it took hold of a historic building on Union Street on Sunday afternoon.

A large number of shops, including nail salons, hairdressers and tattoo studios, have set up fundraisers following the destruction of their premises.

So far, more than £150,000 has been raised to help those who have “lost everything” in the building inferno.

Over £20,000 has been raised to help replace and rebuild Lucky in Love Tattoos’ studio. The Wig Chapel has raised more than £18,000 after its wig studio was destroyed, and BerLin & Co. raised over £3,000 after the blaze.

Carina McCreery owns one of the many businesses that have lost their livelihoods in a matter of hours.

She started the Bono’s Suite on Union Street in November last year and operated as That Red Haired Nail Tech.

The business owner told STV News: “I’m a bit shocked to be honest.

Carina McCreery owns one of the many businesses that have lost their livelihoods in a matter of hours. STV News

“I saw some things on social media last night. Some smoke was coming out of a shopfront, and I thought that wasn’t great.

“Within a matter of hours, I was getting videos of the building collapsing and everything bursting into flames.

“Even though I’ve seen it now, I thought it would sink in, but it doesn’t feel real.”

Make-up artist Sam Hendry, who lost her studio in the fire, said on social media: “I’m still navigating through this huge loss and the grief of losing everything I had in a matter of hours.

“The traumatic event unfolded live before my eyes, and I can’t even describe the pain of seeing everything I loved and created just so, being ripped away. I took time being so particular about the style, the environment, the aura and even the temperature of my studio to make it what I wanted for my clients. I hope that did always come across.

“I will start again, rebuild and come back better. I need time, but I’m already working hard to make this happen.

“With the help of the people of Glasgow and all over, I have already had such an outpouring of love & compassion. The generosity has been tenfold, I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for everything anyone has offered me.”

Wig Chapel owner Jack shared: “Sadly, I have lost everything. There was a huge fire in the city centre Glasgow, where I work.

“Many other small businesses like mine have also been destroyed. I now face having to start again, having lost ten years’ worth of work/materials/tools.”

Tangible hair salon, based on Union Street, also confirmed that it was one of the businesses affected.

“A fire took our building today”, they wrote on Instagram. “All of our businesses are lost. We stood in the street and held each other as we cried and watched everything we’d built destroyed.

“I’ve no idea where to go from here, but I can’t do anything without tools, and I need to get back to work, so I have set up a GoFundMe to help get me back on my feet. I will put the link in my bio and continue to share.

“Although Tangible as a physical space is gone, I will endeavour to keep the spirit alive.”