It has lain vacant for more than two years, but now one family-run diner is looking to breathe new life into Albert Drive’s ‘cursed corner’.

Adam’s Diner has launched in the South Side of the city, with business booming since the eatery opened a mere six weeks ago. 

The company, which started in 2014, is building on the success of its Airdrie branch with a new Glasgow location.

The brainchild of founder Raza Razaq and owner Ibby Azram, the team at Adams battled through the Covid-19 pandemic to transform a long-vacated, dilapidated location on Albert Drive into a buzzing, modern, diner.

While the owners always dreamed of opening a Glasgow-based store, the diner faced an uphill challenge with the rundown location needing extensive work before being able to serve customers. 

Glasgow Times: Manager, Samir Haider (L) with founder Raza Razaq (R)Manager, Samir Haider (L) with founder Raza Razaq (R)

With lockdown and a temporary shortage of supplies due to Brexit, finally opening the store on the derelict Pollokshields site was no easy matter.

Manager Samir Haider said: “It was a hard slog for about 10 months or so. 

“We came in with a fresh mindset. We got everything that we needed from the council and we got architects to draw up the plans.

“The place was an absolute shambles. It needed a power of work. There were a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of effort from my brothers Raza and Ibby and everyone. 

“We spent about a month or two gutting the place out, taking everything back to brick, floors, walls, upstairs and downstairs.

“We just ripped everything back to brick, we must have emptied about 30 to 40 skips.

Glasgow Times: Adams was an empty shell when it was purchased. Adams was an empty shell when it was purchased.

“When a building sits derelict, the damp and the Scottish weather and elements don't help.”

The 27-year-old added that the challenge of opening during a pandemic had made life difficult for those behind the project.

He said: “At the start of the year because of Brexit in January we had a lot of issues getting materials on site, overall because of covid there were some delays as well but that was earlier on in the project.

“It was definitely the Brexit thing, it certainly didn't help. The first two weeks in January were crazy.

“The last five or six months were really stressful because we were just trying to open. It was tough in terms of Covid and all the planning. 

“In terms of the council coming out to give us a pass certificate that was a nightmare.

“That was the main reason why we didn't open and we were planning to open in April. 

Glasgow Times:

“We had so many delays because the council couldn't send anybody out.

“So in the end, they told us they weren't going to send anybody out but If there was enough photographic evidence sent that we had done all the work required according to the plans they could sign us off.

“In June we got the completion certificate and we opened a few days later.

“We opened six weeks ago, and it’s been really good. The first few weeks were crazy.  

“There was a queue out the door and stuff. Overall it's been very steady.”

The early success for the diner comes despite warnings from some that the location is bound to fail due to the diner being on Pollokshields’s ‘cursed corner’.

Haider said: “In the past, this location had been a restaurant and a clothes shop, but they never really lasted a long time. Everyone said this was a cursed corner, it's got ghosts in it.

“There were so many stories.

“Even when we were doing work we had people stopping in the street telling us we were mad, it's never going to work.

Glasgow Times: Extensive work was carried out Extensive work was carried out

“But we're men of faith and believe that if we put in the work God will reward us.”

Despite the challenges, Haider insists that the dream of Adams on Albert Drive was “going to happen regardless”

He said: “The credit goes to my two older brothers Ibby and Raza. They just have this mindset that whether it was Covid or not it was going to open. 

“Come rain or sunshine we are going to get it done. That was their mindset from the start. That's the reason we're here today.

“We kept that mindset that no matter what happens or what people say we're not going to get put off by it and will stick to our target.

“We wanted to make this place a hotspot and bring back a wee bit more to Pollokshields.”