A LEADING Aberdeen entrepreneur is today pledging to turn around the fortunes of the city’s Trinity Centre, with some units possibly turned into food and drink premises.
Last week, it emerged that the mall had been sold after nine months on the market.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.
Robert Keane, who runs the Douglas Hotel with partner Mary Martin, has revealed he is the mystery buyer.
He has already transformed the Shiprow lane next to the city hotel into a trendy food and drink destination.
The 67-year-old is also behind a rooftop bar at Edinburgh’s Waverly shopping centre and recently opened a new pub in Leith.
Mr Keane runs the new Festival Village beer garden in Glasgow’s Merchant City too.
He believes he has the credentials to bring the Trinity Centre back to “what it should be”. The Union Street institution has fallen on hard times in recent years, with the closure of Debenhams leaving a major gap in the mall.
But the businessman told the Press & Journal: “We are local and we have a bit of experience at this sort of thing. We have done this in a number of places.
“We have seen what works in Edinburgh and Glasgow. We have done it there, and saw a similar opportunity at the Trinity Centre.
“It needs a bit of care and attention, but it can become a ‘go-to’ destination.”
Mr Keane believes having a local company at the helm could make all the difference, and hopes to soon fill several empty units.
He explained: “Of course we are looking at quality local firms, who might want to look into opening a prime location in the city centre. We want to champion local businesses.”
However, the entrepreneur is clear in his belief that shopping destinations like the Trinity Centre will not survive just on retail.
He added: “It can’t be just retail on its own. That doesn’t work any more. It needs to be a vibrant centre – and that’s where we are going.
“Some of those units could easily be adapted to become food and drink premises.”
Mr Keane added that the relaunched Trinity Centre will be “able to offer affordable units to the right operators”.
The businessman went on: “Everybody talks about doom and gloom in Aberdeen, but if you have the proper product then people still will come. We have proved that.”
Mary Martin added: “I am delighted to be part of this new venture, and with the exciting plans for Union Street within the City Centre Masterplan.
“The Trinity Centre, overlooking the newly-developed Union Terrace Gardens, will play a prominent role with connectivity around the city centre.”
