An Aberdeen shopping centre will soon fill up with tenants again as it enjoys a new lease of life as a food and drink destination.
The Academy has been best known in the past for its fashion and homeware outlets.
But the non-food retailers have gone, with the last of them – independent fashion store Attic – relocating to premises on Union Street this week.
Restaurants are taking their place and Revolucion de Cuba is greatly expanding its footprint at the site.
When did The Academy open?
The Academy, on Belmont Street, opened in August 1998.
The £15 million development on the site of the former Aberdeen Academy introduced a string of leading retailers to the north-east.
It was hailed at the time as the Granite City’s answer to London’s Covent Garden and Glasgow’s Princes Square.
Who owns it?
The shopping centre is owned by Glasgow-based investors – the Rasul family, led by wealthy businessman Maqbool Hussain Rasul.
Mr Rasul was once one of Scotland’s richest men, having made his fortune renting out videos.
His business, Global Video, was one of the UK’s largest film hire chains. But the market waned and in 2006 Global collapsed into administration.
What’s in store?
Nightspot Revolucion de Cuba took over the ground floor after the closure of Wagamama in 2015.
Described as a “rum-lover’s paradise”, the Latin-inspired tapas and cocktail venue has become a favourite among many Aberdonians, with images from nights out showing it packed to the rafters.
It is expanding into two upper floors, giving revellers more space to dance the night away.
Meanwhile, it is believed restaurant chain Six by Nico wants to open one of its Chateau-X steak eateries in the former Jack Wills men’s clothing shop.
And property agent Shepherd Commercial has agreed heads of terms with a “leisure occupier” looking to take on around 12,000sq ft of the centre.
This potential new tenant is already working on layout proposals, with the aim of submitting a planning application in the coming months.
Unit 10A is currently being fitted out for a new Turkish restaurant.
In May, Ozin Yildz was given permission to open an eatery in a space that had lain empty for five years.
There is now a sign there saying Laila Turkish Cuisine is “opening soon”.
The Academy is already home to a Nando’s, as well as the Old School House pub.
James Morrison, associate at Shepherd Commercial in Aberdeen said recent shop closures at The Academy may give passers by the wrong impression.
Two second floor units of the centre are “the only space we don’t have ongoing discussions with or are under offer”, he said, adding: “From the outside looking in, it would appear the centre is dying.
“However, if anything in the coming months it should be a phoenix rising from the ashes.”
Changes at the Academy coincide with Aberdeen City Council’s efforts to instill a new cafe culture in the Belmont Street area.
Conversation