I want to know what was at 75 Grassmarket Edinburgh in 1960?

Question

I wanted to know what kind of establishment this was, ie was it a hostel? A home for old soldiers? As this was the last known address off my grandfather before he passed away in 1960

Answer 1

Here's a partial answer, but it will explain how to find the rest of the details.

1. Listed Building
The address is a listed building, so it is protected because of its architectural importance. This also implies that there will be a record of its usage over the years.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/wwd_listedbuildings_results.htm?Keywords=grassmarket&Council=0&Parish=0&CallBack=TRUE

2. Edinburgh City Council
The City Council control listings, so that is where your query should be directed. The Environment section of its website does not seem to function well, but if you go to this page (for the Land & Premises division of the Environment Department) you will see a general postal address, phone number and e-mail address.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/environment/Land_and_premises

3. Edinburgh World Heritage Trust
Central Edinburgh is also one of UNESCO's world heritage sites, and there is a local trust which promotes the area. Unfortunately its website isn't functioning either, but the following webpage gives a postal address, phone number and e-mail address (just in case the City Council fails to respond in reasonable time).
http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/unesco_world_heritage_site.htm

4. Internet data
Other than that, there seems to be little online that answers your question.
a) It's not listed as a shop!
http://www.edinburgholdtown.org.uk/shopp7.htm
http://www.edinburgholdtown.org.uk/shopservices.htm
b) It wasn't a nice area ...
"I remember as a youth in the late 1960’s, perhaps going to a dance in the old town late at night, that we would often pass through the Grassmarket. A place that, even after a hundred fifty years since their [Burke and Hare's] deaths, is still pretty seedy (not like the in-place of the new millennium that it is today)."
http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/burke.html