Esslemont & Macintosh – the one that got away
Union Street frontage of former Esslemont & Macintosh store, Aberdeen
When I wrote about Vergo Retail’s recent acquisitions a few days ago, it brought to mind the photographs that I took back in February this year of the former Esslemont & Macintosh (E&M) department store in Aberdeen’s Union Street.
When Owen Owen fell into administration in March 2007, E&M was the only one of its four stores not to be saved. Indeed, by the time Vergo Retail stepped in to buy the others – Robbs in Hexham, Joplings in Sunderland and Lewis’s in Liverpool – in May 2007, the administrators had already closed E&M’s doors for good, with no buyer able to be found in time.
It was a sad and sudden end for a store that had enjoyed a long history, established in 1873 when Peter Esslemont and William Macintosh merged their businesses into one. For over 130 years, the store had remained in the ownership of the Esslemont family, the connection only ending when E&M was sold to Owen Owen in 2005. At the time, company chairman Pauline Esslemont suggested that “being within the Owen Owen group will strengthen E&M’s position as the pre-eminent department store in Aberdeen”, highlighting the challenges that it already faced as as independent store within a competitive city centre.
When I visited Aberdeen in February, I was naturally curious to see what had become of the E&M building. The answer – not very much, or at least not yet.
Former Esslemont & Macintosh store, Aberdeen
Even though the store was boarded up, it was nice to still be able to see some of the architectural detail, notably the mosaic fascia spelling out the business’s name.
Former Esslemont & Macintosh store, Aberdeen
Detail of mosaic fascia, Esslemont & Macintosh, Aberdeen
Pleasingly, there are plans to bring the property back into use as a hotel, with the architects’ visualisations suggesting that the mosaics may be retained as a reminder of the building’s past life. Though E&M may be no more, that would seem a neat way of recognising and celebrating the store’s significance to Aberdeen’s retail history.
Jamie’s Italian is now closed and that building remains empty however the building on the right is now occupied by Miller & Carter Steakhouse. The “Esslemont and Macintosh” writing as pictured above is still there which is nice to see. Never had the opportunity to enter the building when it was E&M as it was before my time but its nice to see some of the original features of the building maintained.
The store façade has remained unchanged today. The left of the two buildings (which are joined by an aerial covered walkway) houses Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant on the ground and first floors. The right-hand building is still vacant. Pleased to see that the mosaic name still remains intact on both buildins
Just looked this up on itnernet as i have just purchased a second hand faux fur coat with the label of this store and was intersted in if store still existed. what a shame as the coat i bought is of excellent quality which prompted me to look it up . hope they dont spoil the look of the old store its lovely. I really hate it when a beautiful store becomes a thing of the past. L Campbell
Jamie Oliver is opening a restaurant called Jamie’s Italian there.