A piece of Aberdeen’s historical fabric, the Esslemont and Macintosh department store, is poised to change hands once more as it heads to auction for the second time, marking a significant juncture in the fate of this iconic site.
The grand building, nestled at 26-38 Union Street, holds a storied past as the heart of retail for Aberdonians over its remarkable 134-year tenure. However, since its closure in 2007 amid financial turmoil, the site has stood silent, awaiting a new chapter.
On the precipice of May, the auction, facilitated by Future Property Auctions, will offer prospective buyers the chance to acquire this landmark property, following an unsuccessful attempt to sell last month. Commencing with a modest opening bid of £356,000, the auction hopes to ignite interest in revitalising this architectural gem.
Once a bustling hub of commerce, the site’s potential remains undeniably vast, with auctioneers hinting at prospects for transformation into residential accommodation, projecting an appealing prospect of 64 flats. However, any envisioned redevelopment would necessitate rigorous planning approval.
The impending sale encompasses nearly 40,000 square feet of floor space, spread across the expanse of two former retail units, linked by a corridor traversing St Catherine’s Wynd on the third floor.
Yet, while the sale encapsulates the essence of this historic edifice, certain establishments, such as the bar, restaurant, and pizzeria, will remain outside the purview of the auction.
The closure of Esslemont and Macintosh in May 2007 marked the end of an era for Aberdeen, with over 100 job losses reverberating through the community. However, subsequent years witnessed several attempts to repurpose the site, breathing new life into its venerable halls.
Property developers, based in Aberdeen, embarked on ambitious ventures to transform the premises into a 96-bedroom hotel shortly after its closure, an endeavour that, despite receiving council approval, failed to materialise. Undeterred, the developers revisited the drawing board in 2014 with plans for a 98-bedroom hotel, yet this, too, faltered, casting uncertainty over the building’s future.
In a bid to rejuvenate the site, a group unveiled plans in 2019 to introduce a bar, restaurant, and pizzeria on the ground floor, a venture that persists to this day.
As the auction looms on the horizon, scheduled for Thursday, May 2, potential bidders are invited to engage in the process from 10 am to 3 pm, poised to etch a new narrative into the annals of Aberdeen’s architectural heritage.
With the gavel poised to descend once more, the future of the Esslemont and Macintosh building hangs in the balance, awaiting an astute buyer to script the next chapter in its storied saga. As Aberdeen prepares to witness this pivotal moment, speculation abounds regarding the potential transformation of this revered landmark, underscoring the enduring allure of its historic charm and the promise of new beginnings on the horizon.
