Greaves Sports, the family-run sportswear retailer on Glasgow's Gordon Street, is set to cease trading on January 4, 2027, according to STV News. The six-storey shop, which dates back to the 1930s, is said to be the "oldest" independent sports retailer in Scotland and the UK.
The business was bought by the Frasers Group in July 2026. The retail conglomerate, owned by billionaire Mike Ashley, also owns major brands including House of Fraser, Sports Direct and Flannels. The firm has continued to trade as Greaves both online and in store since the acquisition.
Closing down sale underway
A closing down sale is now reportedly underway following the announcement. As of writing, it is unclear what Frasers' plans for Greaves will be, although the Daily Record has approached both companies for a comment.
Greaves Sports traces its history back to the 1930s, beginning its journey as Clydesdale Rubber Company. It initially sold wellington boots and sheepskin coats alongside many other items. It then underwent a change in direction overseen by brothers Jim and Bill, the then third-generation of the family business. After taking over rival Lumley's in 1959, their presence in Glasgow was doubled.
Famous visitors and history
This led to the firm diversifying into the sports trade after the brothers rebranded to Greaves Sports. To date, it remains a family operated business, with the fifth generation of the Greaves family at the helm. It has counted a few famous faces as visitors over the years, with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra visiting for golf clubs in the 1950s. Samuel L Jackson has also made an appearance, while American rapper Eminem visited while touring the UK.
The flagship store on 23 Gordon Street, part of Glasgow's Style Mile, is a 30,000 sq. ft space that offers 15,000 sq. ft of retail space. As rival sports retailers switched to leisurewear, Greaves claims to be "one of the country's last true multi-sports department stores standing."
Future unclear
As of writing, no official statement has been provided by either Greaves or the Frasers Group on what the sporting retailer's future looks like. It is also unclear if the Frasers Group will continue to operate with the Greaves family name.
It's not the only retailer on the Scottish high street to announce it will be closing down. It comes after a 169 year-old jeweller, also found in Glasgow, confirmed the closure of one town centre branch. Chisholm Hunter in Falkirk's The Howgate is currently running a massive sale, with up to 20 percent off nearly everything ahead of its closure. No official date has been provided by the shopping centre.
Established 1857, the brand has become known for its "eclectic array of rare treasures". It first opened its doors in Victorian Glasgow and was initially known as the "Store of 10,000 wonders." Said to have enjoyed "great success in its early years", the 169 year-old firm navigated challenges in the first half of the 20th century following the effects of the Great Depression and the First and Second World Wars.
As of today, Chisholm Hunter operates around 27 branches across the UK, with around 15 in Scotland. It is now run by the second-generation of the Brown family after gemmologist Harry Brown bought it over in 1993.
