In Aberdeen, there are plenty of brilliant locally owned businesses right on your doorstep. Whilst Aberdeen city centre is home to some of our favourite big-name stores, the surrounding towns and villages are filled with small independent businesses that are well loved by customers from near and far.

After all, when choosing a new place to call home, what’s on offer in the area is something you need to take into account. In fact, at Cala, we proudly showcase local retailers in our many of our showhomes as part of our Showhome of Support initiative.

We’ve created a list of some of the best independent businesses found near our new homes in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, full of treats and must-have goods which would be perfect to fill your Cala new build home and add those all-important personal touches.

Boutiques

Aberdeen is home to a fantastic mix of independent clothing shops to help you discover the latest style trends. Tigerlily Boutique on Chapel Street and Sirene Boutique on Union Street are both popular hotspots located near the heart of the city centre that offer clothing, footwear and accessories with something to suit everyone. Lolo + Co is another clothing store owned by a mother/daughter duo, located in Netherkirkgate - Aberdeen’s bustling Merchant Quarter.

Esslemont’s Menswear on Thistle Street has been trading since 1858, a well-known retailer offering a modern twist on a variety of traditional items available in store. Signature Menswear is an upscale home to some well-known clothing brands and is also located on the easily accessible Union Street.

Over the past few years, ‘streetwear’ has found its way on to the fashion runways, and a handful of Aberdeen businesses are ensuring it’s available on, well, the streets for everyone! Overhype is a unique location to buy, sell and trade streetwear at The Green, a trendy pocket surrounded by eye catching murals.

Attic Clothing has recently moved to its brand-new premises on Union Street and is considered Scotland's premier independent streetwear clothing store.

Gifting

Homegrown Scottish brands are proudly displayed in gift shop fronts around Aberdeen. CloudyBlue on Rosemount Place and Copper & Gray, located near Tigerlily Boutique on Chapel Street, are the perfect places to find bespoke gifts, as well as colourful art, cards and stationery.

Joli Gifts on Queens Road and Juniper on Belmont Street both offer beautiful homeware that can be personally gift wrapped, whilst Rooted in Scotland on Rosemount Place is a botanic paradise of house plants. Sonya Angus: The Unique Boutique at The Courtyard in Cults has expertly curated gifts, including pre-loved furniture, homeware and upcycled fashion, handpicked by the founder. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find, thanks to the wonderful independent stores across the city, just waiting to help you kit out your new build home in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire.

Tasty treats

If you’re visiting Aberdeen or planning on visiting family and friends elsewhere and want to treat them to a taste of Scotland, Humbug, another Rosemount Place resident, has a mouthwatering collection of traditional sweet treats, such as scrumptious coconut macaroons and delicious butter tablet. If you’d rather gift a tasty experience, Cocoa Ooze hosts chocolate making workshops throughout Aberdeen with their own master chocolatiers, which guests can take home and share with their loved ones – or not...

The Aberdeen Whisky Shop is a Union Street staple that offers hundreds of different whiskies and other spirits, and even hosts a free tasting in the shop every Saturday from 11am to 5pm, which is not to be missed. Gourmet Cheese Co on Rosemount Place is Aberdeen's leading artisan cheesemonger that specialises in custom made hampers for the ultimate gift for foodies. Another store that has been creating a buzz around the city is Sugarbird Wines, soon to be moving to Union Terrace Gardens into a two-storey pavilion, creating a wine bar, dedicated events space and outdoor terrace. 

These are just a selection of the fantastic independent retailers Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have to offer, and Cala has a stunning selection of new build homes and apartments available, including the highly anticipated 22 King’s Gate in the West End and Burnland Meadows in Westhill. To find out more about new build homes in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, visit our Aberdeen development page.

If you’re a local business interested in being considered for our community initiative, please visit our Showhome of Support page for more information.    

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