£2.5m STACK Sunderland vendors unveiled with 150 jobs coming to the region

The construction of a second shipping container village in Sunderland is underway.

Located on Seaburn’s coastline in Sunderland, STACK Seaburn’s landlord Danieli Holdings has released the first names of some of the businesses involved in the new £2.5m project.

Plans were unveiled earlier this year for Sunderland’s very first experiential leisure destination using 87 shipping containers; as part of the wider Sunderland regeneration project.

It is anticipated to bring 150 jobs to the region. Now, Danieli Holdings’ chief executive Neill Winch has revealed the first businesses to come on board.

Acropolis Street Food was said to be one of the first to apply for a container at the venue. It serves Greek street food and has been trading for over three and a half years, working Jesmond, Tynemouth and Newcastle markets as well as events throughout the region.

The vendor’s owner, Filip Tachan, explained why he wanted to be involved in Sunderland’s STACK: “This sounds like a very exciting project and we are delighted to be one of the first traders to come on board.

“This is a new challenge for us, but one we embrace with open-arms. This is a great start to our growth strategy and we hope that there will be many more opportunities in 2020.”

Sunderland-based Woofs n Scruffs doggy day-care centre was also supposedly keen to be involved after they saw an opportunity to expand the growing business, which has had success in Sunderland, Durham and Washington with its four franchises.

Glen Downey, owner of Downey’s Fish and Chips, is also playing a role in the Seaburn regeneration project. The STACK Seaburn restaurant will be Downey’s sixth venue in the region.

He commented: “Our family has deep Sunderland roots and we would love to be part of helping build and shape our beloved Seafront.

“We are very excited about being a big part of such an amazing development, not just for our home city, but for the whole of the North East and we can’t wait to get started at the STACK Seaburn site.” 

Further names are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as only a few remaining containers are available for lease.

Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “STACK represents a fantastic opportunity for Sunderland businesses to open exciting new concept shops on the seafront…

“The fact that two local businesses have already signed up to take space demonstrates not only the benefit this will bring to the local economy, but the additionality this will bring to the retail and leisure offer in Seaburn.”

STACK Seaburn is set to open in spring 2020 on Whitburn Road, on the old Seaburn Leisure Centre site.