App store does not load

When I click on the App Store icon, the menu bar flashes but then nothing happens.

The app is not loaded. I Tab through open apps to see if it opened in another window, but it hasnt.

I have also noticed that when I go to the Apple icon in the top left corner, click on about this Mac, the same thing happens.. in that nothing loads?

I am on a late 2009 17 MacBook Pro upgraded to Yosemite.

Side note: I recently removed the CD drive and installed an SSD and that is what is running the OS now. HD is still there for backups etc

Its says I have 6 updates, and I want to upgrade the OS again, but I cant get into the app store?

Can anyone help with this?

Thanks