Customers cheesed off as Granite City shop to close

Commerce: Mellis store in Rosemount shuts but firm launching website

A popular cheesemonger has announced that it will be closing its Aberdeen store.

I J Mellis’s lease for the premises in Rosemount Place ends on Monday and the company has decided not to renew it for “operational reasons”.

Regular customers expressed disappointment when a notice was put in the shop’s window confirming today will be the store’s last of trading.

However, company director Karen Mellis, said they might keep the shop open tomorrow and Saturday.

She said: “We could keep it open if we want on Friday and Saturday, because the lease does not end until Monday, but we haven’t decided on that yet.”

Mrs Mellis revealed her company were working on other ideas to keep supplying their cheeses to customers in Aberdeen and the north-east.

The firm, who have several other shops across Scotland, is launching a website which will allow north-east customers to arrange home deliveries.

The company said the service is expected to be operational by next month.

Another unnamed firm is also believed to be close to taking on I J Mellis’s lease in Rosemount Place and would be happy to continue selling their cheese.

Mrs Mellis added she and her colleagues will do what they can to satisfy their customer base in Aberdeen.

“There is somebody who is looking at taking over”

She said: “There is somebody who is looking at taking over the store and using our cheeses and we would be more than happy to supply them.

“We also hope to have our website up and running soon, so there shouldn’t be much disruption in terms of Aberdeen customers getting the same products.”

Councillor for Rosemount and Midstocket, Bill Cormie, says the closure of I J Mellis is a great loss to Aberdeen but is hopeful another business will move in.

He said: “It’s a very sad day for Rosemount and further afield, Mellis has been a great attraction and will be sorely missed.

“I hope that the unit will be filled, we are very fortunate in Rosemount to have very few empty shops.”

SHUTTING: I J Mellis are closing their Rosemount Place shop as the lease is due to expire next week