The Aberdeen City Council scheme has meant about 750 sq metres of vacant ground floor space on Union Street has been renovated and about £1.1 million of private investment has been leveraged.

The new uses for these spaces have created increased employment opportunities on the street and will continue to do so as the businesses expand – almost 30 full-time positions and more than 40 part-time positions are due to be created.

Finance and Resources Committee convener councillor Alex McLellan said: “It is fantastic the Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme has helped to create these new stores.

“When beginning the Union St Empty Shops Action Plan work, there were 47 vacant ground floor units, we are now down to 38, with a further six of these under offer, in planning or undergoing renovations.”

Co-Leader councillor Ian Yuill said: “We wish these new shops and businesses well and look forward to seeing what they achieve in the future.

“The council is investing in Union Street and the surrounding area through this scheme along with the city centre and Beach Masterplan projects to ensure that it remains an attractive place to live, work, and visit.”

All applicants to the Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme have to demonstrate improvements being made to the accessibility and energy performance of the units through the project works.

There has been more than 85 inquiries received to the grant scheme to date and awards given in the past year include:

• Lolo + Co, ladies fashion boutique – 226 Union Street
  • Expanding business, moving from a smaller store on Netherkirkgate to a larger Union Street premise.
  • Independent fashion boutique, bringing growing number of ladies’ brands to their bigger store, keen to be nearer West end of Aberdeen an the independent stores there.
  • Offers private parties and viewings, host event nights to showcase brands and local designers.
• 474 by Cup, takeaway coffee shop – 474 Union Street
  
  • Expanding local business, growing from Cup on Belmont Street to ‘474 by Cup,’ a coffee takeaway at the top end of Union St – capitalising on footfall from nearby office buildings including Shell at Silver Fin, and cruise ship visitors heading to the Whisky Shop next door.
  • High-end coffee and produce, with a Spanish touch, including locally-sourced products and unique sandwich and home bakes options.
• German Doner Kebab (GDK), restaurant and takeaway – 118 Union Street
  
  • Bringing GDK brand, loved for its food, atmosphere and modern, stylish restaurant to Aberdeen (other franchises are in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling).
  • Significant investment bringing the old Molton Brown unit back to use.
  • Open 11am-11pm, seven days per week, supporting footfall in the area.
  • Created a large number of flexible part-time and full-time jobs.
• Tag Heuer, watch retailer – 132 Union St
  
  • Local jeweller Jamieson & Carry has made significant investment on Union Street, purchasing two units next to its existing store.
  • Attracted high-end watch retailer Tag Heuer and renovated the unit to a very high standard, attracting footfall and customers for a quality retail experience.
  • Tag Heuer and Jamieson & Carry have enjoyed a partnership dating back to the 1980s and the brand has always proved popular with Aberdeen customers – reason for expanding into a standalone boutique.
• Thistle Tavern, gaming shop and space – 395 Union St
  
  • Reoccupying an old Virgin Money unit after four years of being empty.
  • Space for tabletop roleplay, board games, trading space, rooms for hire, and retail sales of associated products.
  • Expansion from an online-only presence which they set up in 2023 to a physical store to serve the community.
  • Strategy and diverse range of board games for adults and role play experiences.
  • Open 2pm-10pm weekdays and 12pm-10pm at weekends – supporting nighttime economy and footfall.
• Chaiiwala, Indian street food restaurant – 229 Union St
  • Successful existing chain of street food restaurants with stores in Edinburgh and Dundee – the availability of the Union St Empty Shops Grant Scheme attracted the Scottish franchiser to set up its third store in Aberdeen.
  • Unique food and drink offering for Union St – famed for authentic freshly brewed chai Just opened.

A further four grant awards are currently being made to support a cocktail bar, a crazy golf experience, a coffee shop, and a hairdressing salon.

The launch of Our Union Street’s website marketing vacant units on Union Street has supported the grant scheme, enabling potential tenants to view available units on one website and access tenant-friendly information including rent and rate values, incentives available, and images of potential uses for the spaces.

Bob Keillor, leader of Our Union Street, said: “The Empty Shop Grant has been a key factor in attracting businesses onto Union Street. Aberdeen City Council should be applauded for this investment and the impact it can have on our city centre.”

Lauren Reid, of Lolo + Co, said: “We had planned our move to Union Street prior to knowing about the Empty Shop Grant Scheme however the award of the grant meant we could accelerate our plans for the store.

“It has allowed us to upgrade the whole store and staff facilities, hopefully giving our customers the shopping experience they deserve. The support from the council’s business team has been first class.”

Stuart Robb, co-founder of the Thistle Tavern Games Hub, said: “The funding and valuable support we have received from partners including the Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme allowed us to move from a successful online business to a physical premises.

“We knew there was a very active gaming community and demand for a central hub and our new immersive space and retail offering for tabletop roleplay gamers and trading card enthusiasts has already proved to be very popular.”