End of an Eyesore

My Dear Fellow,

The top of Leith Walk is clogged with roadworks right now. Well THAT'S unusual. Please read that last phrase with an eye-roll and the sarcastic tone of a 15 year old girl.

However, the reason for the cloggage is that the St. James Centre (pictured particularly badly by me as I passed it on the bus) is about to be demolished. Got rid of. Removed from public view. Apparently it is going to be replaced by some swanky hotel which looks to me like a beehive or an NCP car park wrapped in golden ribbon. 

John Lewis will remain in situ, but the rest of it - Boots, Costa, Superdrug, Rymans and the LOVELY (sarcastic 15 year old) food court are all to be blootered.

Actually, I had lunch once or twice in that food court. It had the advantage of being permanently empty. You could really spread out with your soup and buttered roll, if you wanted to read in peace.

It has been a long time coming. I remember the ugly old bus station next to the St. James - it was removed in the late 90's to make way for the genteel Multrees Walk shops. Ever since the early 2000's, we've had Harvey Nichols, Michael Kors and Louis Vuitton sitting alongside the bargain bookshop and "American Candy". It was never going to last.

I'm not sure if I will be here for the grand opening of the Beehive, but I will be here to endure the traffic. I'm not sad to see this structure go, but have to admit it was a big part of my workday for about 15 years - either walking through it to short-cut to Thistle Street or popping in there for sundries. 

Horrible soup in that food court though.

El Parsones