Was he was last seen shuffling away from the shop with a noticeable limp that quickly turned into a confident stride ?Police unable to trace vape shop owner after devastating Glasgow city centre fire
Police investigating the massive fire that tore through buildings in Glasgow city centre have so far been unable to trace the owner of the vape shop believed to be at the centre of the blaze.
The businessman, known locally only as Arslan, has not yet been located by detectives assisting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with enquiries into the devastating incident on Union Street.
Officers are keen to speak with him as part of their investigation, but attempts to trace him have so far been unsuccessful.
One local business owner said: “Police want to speak to him to find out more information but have been unable to find him so far.”
It is understood Arslan had only taken over ownership of the vape shop around two weeks before the fire broke out.
He was not present when the blaze began and is said to be deeply distressed by the destruction caused.
Sources say the businessman was reportedly “too upset to talk about it” following the inferno.
Anyone hazard a guess at how much money a typical vape shop turns over each month?
I'd imagine a shop like that once stood above costs over £1k pcm in rent, then add business rates, staff costs, business insurance (cough) and other bits; is vaping really that lucrative? Or as many suspect, was it just a launderette in disguise?
Anyone hazard a guess at how much money a typical vape shop turns over each month?
I'd imagine a shop like that once stood above costs over £1k pcm in rent, then add business rates, staff costs, business insurance (cough) and other bits; is vaping really that lucrative? Or as many suspect, was it just a launderette in disguise?
Whilst I am no fan of vape shops I imagine some people would have a melt down if they found out that there used to be tobbaccanists in high street shops, literally stuffed full of flammable produce![]()
It could have also been a phone shop, either a phone repair type shop or a network shop e.g. Three, Vodafone or O2. Whichever way, still full of flammable products (lithium batteries). Similarly, CEX, again full of tech products. Hell, it could have even been a book shop, and you know what books are made of.
The issue here was not only lacking a fire extinguisher, but also lacking other measures such as a sprinkler system that should be a standard in retail.
Tech products in the places you've listed generally come from reputable manufacturers with safety and quality controls.
Vapes...naaaaaah.
Fire suppression would have done next to nothing vs a lithium fire.

We have two in Nantwich, both in historic street settings, one directly opposite a 16th century black and white hotel called the Crown.
The latter shop has been painted bright acid yellow and sticks out like a sore thumb. Luckily most days i pass, it seems to be empty of customers. I may take a recce and maybe mention whether they saw the destruction caused in Glasgow by the vape shop explosion.
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I really don't think people realise just how extreme lithium fires can be in a very, very short period of time.
Here's a clip worth watching for some examples:
Good grief! We all have phones, tablets, laptops and power banks.
Good grief! We all have phones, tablets, laptops and power banks.
The e-scooter one was amusing though as I don't have much sympathy for them as I got ran over by one in 2024, on a pavement may I hasten to add.
A dozen or more businesses forced to close, loss of commercial rates, taxes and hefty insurance claims made. All to facilitate illegality and a backhander or two to the local council.
You'd be surprised how heavily regulated the vape industry is.Vapes do not have that level of QC for the most part, and a lot of these shops stack them to the ceiling in poorly conditioned rooms while operating illegally.