1,900 people visit new city centre retail offering over 3 days!
Aberdeen’s new indoor market, Curated Aberdeen, has been hailed a success after more than 1,900 people visited it during the course of the opening weekend. The market, which is located in Bon Accord’s lower mall opened its doors for the first time on Friday 4th June, and was home to a wide range of local producers. Stall holders at the opening weekend included handmade crafters, fine food producers, craft beer companies and more.
Talking about the opening weekend, Curated Aberdeen Market Manager, Darren Lynch, says, "We’re absolutely thrilled with the initial response to the market. To have more than 1,900 people through the doors over the course of the weekend is amazing, especially when the opening coincided with a weekend of blue skies and glorious sunshine for most of the region.”
“We also received a warm welcome from other retailers in Bon Accord with The Body Shop even gifting some goody bags to our team of volunteers in celebration of volunteers’ week,” adds Darren. “Charlie House volunteers played key roles in making the opening weekend such a success.”
Deborah Chang and her daughter Summer volunteered at Curated Aberdeen on Sunday. Deborah explains why they decided to get involved. “We volunteered because we wanted to support Charlie House but also because we wanted to support Bon Accord. A number of shops aren’t reopening in Aberdeen so it’s great to see a new retail offering, especially one that is focused on local businesses.”
She adds, “Volunteering at Curated Aberdeen also gave us a chance to get out and see people. After more than a year of lockdown and restrictions it was great to be part of something and meet new people. It was also a good opportunity for Summer to have her first taste of volunteering.”
Joan Cowie, Charlie House’s Volunteer Co-ordinator continues, “There are 24 volunteer slots to fill every weekend, the roles are varied and range from meeting and greeting visitors to Curated Aberdeen to highlighting our Covid Safe measures. Volunteers also run the Charlie House stall and are on hand to answer general queries too. We are always on the lookout for new volunteers, whether they want to sign up to do a regular slot or opt in on an ad hoc basis. Anyone interested in helping out should get in touch on 01224 313333.”
Darren brings more than 26 years’ retail experience to his new role as Market Manager of Curated Aberdeen. Looking to the future he says, “I’m really looking forward to the coming weeks and months as we focus on establishing Curated Aberdeen as a key element of the retail scene in Aberdeen; providing a much needed opportunity for local producers to have access to a regular, city centre route to market. I am delighted to have joined the Charlie House team and to have the opportunity to use my retail experience to drive the market forwards and develop the Curated Aberdeen offering.”
Speaking of Curated Aberdeen’s opening weekend, Craig Stevenson, Centre Manager of Bon Accord, says, ““It has been fantastic to see the turn out and support for local businesses over opening weekend. We are happy to be able to offer a different experience to our customers and hope the success continues for our charity partner Charlie House.”
Curated Aberdeen is open Friday to Sunday every week. All funds raised from ‘Curated Aberdeen’ stall holder fees will go directly to Charlie House’s Big Build Appeal to build a specialist support centre in Aberdeen. The Charlie House Specialist Support Centre will support babies, children and young people with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions and will be built in the grounds of Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen. It will be an 8-bedroom centre, with additional family accommodation, set in 4 acres of ground. The state-of-the-art building will feature a sensory room, library, spa pool, craft room, teen den, soft play area, therapy room, star room, for end-of-life care & bereavement, outdoor play area and sensory gardens as well as adaptable meeting space and office space for the Charlie House team and medical staff.
Anyone interested in volunteering should email volunteer@charliehouse.org.uk or call Joan Cowie, Charlie House’s Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01224 313333.
Local producers interested in finding out more about stall space, pricing and availability should email curated@charliehouse.org.uk or call the team on 01224 313333.
