Commercial property experts, FG Burnett, is playing its part in maintaining the buzz on one of Aberdeen’s most prestigious shopping areas.

Thistle Street and adjoining Rose Street have long been established as a hot spot for exclusive fashion boutiques, gift shops and galleries and an alternative to the major High Street retail chains.

Local independent operators have stamped their mark on the two thoroughfares and demand for properties remain high with a quick turnaround when any unit become vacant, says FG Burnett surveyor Kevin Jackson.

This was borne out when 30 Thistle Street recently came on the market as ladies fashion specialist Esslemonts 2 relocated a few doors away to number 22 and adjacent to its original menswear shop.

Terroir delicatessen, the previous occupants of 22 Thistle Street, has moved to North Deeside Road in Cults in a deal also managed by FG Burnet

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Mr Jackson, who acted for Esslemonts, said: "The property was on the market for only a short period and attracted so much interest that there was no void between Esslemonts 2 moving out and the new occupier opening for business.

"Both streets offer a superb variety of boutique and specialist outlets and their enduring popularity ensures that the level of demand has remained resilient when other locations have faced more challenging conditions."

Lifestyle boutique specialist, Parade, is the new face on Thistle Street, opening its fourth north-east outlet in taking over the lease at number 30 until 2011. Owner Angela McCardle has two other Parade units in Alford and one in Stonehaven, supplying home furnishings, gifts and women’s and kid’s fashion clothing.

Mr Jackson added: "Esslemonts fly the flag for quality in Thistle Street and has made a significant capital investment in fitting out their new shop. This underlines their confidence in the location and the addition of Parade further bolsters the area's reputation as one of the key retail locations in the city.

"There have been a number of relocations lately but that’s an indicator that Aberdeen’s quality retailers remains positive about future trade and so demand for the right locations remains high. We are also experiencing a good level of demand for shops in the commuter towns of Banchory, Inverurie and Stonehaven and we expect to conclude further deals in the weeks ahead."

(GK/BMcC)