It’s been around for more than two centuries, and riddled with so many financial disasters and shenanigans that it bankrupted the city in the early days.
Aberdeen’s Union Street had a controversial start, and in the 21st century, it poses other kinds of well-documented headaches for the city.
But the street has seen good times, so let’s go back forty years and revisit Union Street at its most bustling.
Were things really better in the 1980s?
The scene that says it all in 1980
Welcome to the start of a new decade!
Our first image finds Aberdeen FC manager Alex Ferguson smiling!
Little wonder as he holds the Premier League trophy aloft from atop the special bus at the city’s Castlegate to the delighted cheers and waves of the crowds.
The Red Army came out in their thousands and thronged the streets for the special parade which became a sunshine all the way reception.
The much-loved Frasers
Frasers was a popular department store on Union Street.
It moved to new premises in 1985.
Here Margaret Rae, wife of Lord Provost Henry Rae, is served by Chanel consultant Lorna Taylor after the Lord Provost officially opened the new store in October 1985.
Do you remember this much-loved store?
Carnival buzz
Union Street would be buzzing during the traditional carnival.
Here huge crowds cheer on the floats on a warm day back in June 1987.
Were you among those in attendance?
Glorious Woolies
The late, much-lamented Woolworth- what did you buy there?
The answer to that is probably “Everything!”
Whether you needed household stuff, kitchenware, school uniforms, toys, luggage, sweet treats, records or videos —Woolies’ was the first port of call.
We still miss it!
Munro’s travel agents
Some stores became institutions, including Munro’s Tourist Agency at 130 Union Street.
Champagne was the order of the day when Munro’s was named Thomson Holidays Top Agent of the Month.
Nesta Christie (right), Thomson Holidays Scottish sales manager, presented the award to Lily Stephen senior partner in Munro’s while John Collington.
Thomson sales rep for East Scotland, poured the bubbly for Munro’s partners Jack Burnett (second right) and Allan Watson.
The sales award for April, 1986, was partly due to the Evening Express readers’ trip to Sorrento.
Christmas was a fun time on the street
It’s 1983 and Aberdeen’s new £14,250 Christmas lights display was fired up for the first time on November 24.
More of the city centre than ever before was bathed in festive light, which illuminated features in Chapel Street and Rose Street for the first time that year.
Not sure these decorations would raise much of a cheer now!
Mistletoe and wine
And not forgetting the Christmas tree and Aberdeen Northern Light Queen.
It was all about strengthening links between Aberdeen and the Swedish city of Gothenburg – famous of course, as the setting of Aberdeen FC‘s famous Cup Winners’ Cup victory in 1983.
In 1988, for the seventh consecutive year Gothenburg presented Aberdeen with a Christmas tree, which was lit by Lord Provost R A Robertson and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Gothenburg at a ceremony in the Castlegate.
Standing beside the tree is Santa Lucia Festival Queen of Light Tracie Littlejohn (17) who took part in a procession in Union Street before being crowned in the Kirk of St Nicholas.
Some things never change
1988 saw the binmen go on strike, leaving uncollected rubbish partially blocking the pavement at Union Street.
The strike saw around 60 workers, including drivers and balers, walking out of Aberdeen City District Council’s Kittybrewster depot in a dispute over job evaluation.
The binmen claimed that they were due backdated pay because of a nationwide job evaluation scheme carried out in 1986/8, and rejected by the Aberdeen depot.
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A short History: How building Union Street left Aberdeen bankrupt
Celebrate Aberdeen brings colour and cheer back to Union Street
Conversation