Aberdeen’s million-pound Resident X venue has closed as the latest operators admit it “doesn’t make financial sense to continue”.
Hospitality bosses have handed back the keys to the council, who are the head tenants at the £107 million Marischal Square complex it is part of.
Local authority chiefs will now seek a new operator to take it on.
The neon-themed bar and food hall was hoped to bring scores of selfie-seeking revellers into the heart of the city.
But only cleaning staff could be seen inside today, and the interior seems to be in the process of being stripped out.
Resident X: The story so far…
Occupying 10,000 sq ft at the foot of the modern Broad Street office block, the street food market was opened amid much fanfare in January 2023.
It was first run by Aberdam duo David Griffiths and Michael Robertson
But by the end of that year, they vacated the premises amid a storm of controversy and unanswered questions about a £1m council loan.
New operators pushed the boat out in doomed bid to make it a success
It was then taken over by Ryan Clark and Andy Eager, who ran Croft and Cairns in Stockethill among a slew of other Aberdeen venues.
They vowed to do what they could to turn around the “failed” venue, with the prospect of using it for wedding receptions raised.
But the hospitality veterans struggled to make a go of it, despite popular DJ events featuring big name acts like Judge Jules, and a fan zone during the Euros drawing crowds.
A joint statement on behalf of Aberdeen City Council and Resident X stated: “The lease is to end this month, and operations will cease then.
“Aberdeen City Council will look for a new leaseholder for the Resident X site in Marischal Square.”
Boss speaks out on efforts to make it work
Owners Ryan Clark and Andy Eager had been trying their best to keep the venue afloat.
But despite this, Mr Clark says that underlying issues meant they had to shut up shop.
He told The Press and Journal: “We just came to the end of our year’s lease…
“We took over the lease after Michael and David came out.
“We’ve seen out our lease but there are underlying issues as to why we did that.”
‘Enormous’ business rates the final nail in the coffin
But one of the main reasons that co-owner Mr Clark points to is the prospect of being hammered by huge business rates.
The duo were given a year without having to pay the levy as an enticement to run Resident X.
But with that period now up, they say it “doesn’t make financial sense to continue”.
Mr Clark added: “You get a year free but the payable rates with it being a new build were going to be enormous, something like £70,000.”
Street food vendor ‘could see it coming’
Acropolis was one of the many street food vendors available at Resident X, offering authentic Greek food to the Granite City.
Bosses stepped away from operations at Marischal Square in June, instead operating from their own base on Rose Street, but had hoped to return later this year.
Owner Aghyad ‘Prince’ Kutuf was not surprised to hear of the closure of Resident X.
He said: “It’s clear why it (Resident X) closed down, it was down to a lack of footfall in the business itself.
“We could see it coming.
“We closed around June time, but we were hoping to come back to do weekend stuff.”
With two groups having now given up on the venue, the council do have the option to take it over themselves.
What do people think of the decision to close Resident X?
The P&J spoke to passersby this afternoon, as news of the closure emerged.
One man said: “I haven’t been in a long time, but I liked the food so it is unfortunate that it’s closed down.”
A young mum told is she had “never heard of it”, and another commented: “I have never been and don’t know anything about the place.”
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