Liverpool FC have launched a brand new pop-up store in the Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre, making it the second official club store in Dublin.
International homeware retailer JYSK will open a new store in Sligo Retail Park on Thursday, 27th August. The store will have a floor area of 10,000 sq. ft and it will be JYSK’s eighth store in Ireland. It will also be the fifth store in Sigma Retail Partners’ portfolio, the other JYSK stores in its portfolio are Naas Retail Park, Drogheda Retail Park, Navan Retail Park and Parkway Retail Park (Limerick).
JYSK is an international retail chain from Denmark that sells household goods such as mattresses, bedding, sofas, furniture, curtains, dining sets and soft furnishings. JYSK is the largest Danish retailer operating internationally with close to 2,800 stores in 52 different countries, and many more stores will follow with its worldwide expansion plans. It was the founder and Chairman of the board Lars Larsen’s goal from the beginning to open and grow more and more stores and the aim to expand is a central part of JYSK’s plans. JYSK’s first entry into Ireland was in April 2019 with a store in Naas Retail Park.
Roni Tuominen, Country Manager at JYSK UK & Ireland, said: “The appetite for JYSK’s offering is there amongst Irish consumers. As a result we want to find new JYSK locations in towns and cities all over Ireland so we can contribute to the local economy, especially in smaller communities where our job creation will be extremely valuable.”
“We’re very excited to open the first JYSK store in Sligo which will be the centre of our operations in the West of Ireland going forward. We look forward to delivering exceptional quality products at great prices to our Sligo based consumers”, he added.
Patrick O’Connor, Asset Manager from Sigma Retail Partners, said “New retailers always bring a fresh new feeling and a sense of excitement into a retail park. The fact that JYSK is relatively new to Ireland adds even more to this excitement. We are delighted to have JYSK on board in Sligo Retail Park and we wish them the best of luck with their upcoming store openings.”
In addition to JYSK, Harvey Norman is also due to open a 40,000 sq. ft store in October. Sligo Retail Park is the primary retail park destination in the North West catchment area with stores catering to a wide variety of customers and accommodates diverse retail use. It has a total of twelve retailers that include Currys PC World, Smyths Toys, Homebase, Castle Davitt, Right Price Tiles, Homestore & More, EZ Living, McDonalds, Costa and KFC, with 1,000 free car parking spaces.
Yours Clothing, a plus-size retailer, is now open in the Ilac Shopping Centre.
The Phase 2 development provided over 150 jobs during the construction phase and is expected to create over 300 jobs in Knocknacarra and Galway when fully occupied. It is also the first provision of new retail space outside of Dublin since 2008.
After the absence of any retail construction activity in Galway for more than 10 years, the brand new Gateway Shopping Park Phase 2 expansion has just been completed, with the first two retailers, Harvey Norman and Boots opening their stores this month. Boots opened their store early July with Harvey Norman opening their new flagship store of 60,000 sq. ft on 22nd July.
The newly completed Phase 2 extension will have open-use retail units, food and beverage units, a creche and also a gym. It will include over 320,000 sq. ft of retail and leisure space and will make it one of Ireland’s largest shopping destinations. Aside from Harvey Norman and Boots, Carraig Donn, Spraoi Early Learning and Evergreen, Esquires are also included in the line-up of new retailers in the expansion.
Gateway Shopping Park already has an impressive list of current retailers, including Dunnes Stores, B&Q, New Look, Next and McSharry Pharmacy. The asset management company Sigma Retail Partners, on behalf of the owners Targeted Investment Opportunities ICAV, worked extensively on the project and the newly expanded retail asset will reinforce the shopping park as a primary shopping destination.
Gateway Shopping Park is located in Knocknacarra on Western Distributor Road, just across from the new gaelscoil that was built last year, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh. Gateway Shopping Park is also just a 10-minute drive from Galway city centre.
Harvey Norman are set to open their premium store in the new Phase 2 development at Gateway Shopping Park, Knocknacarra, Galway on Wednesday the 22nd July. Harvey Norman will anchor the recently completed Phase 2 extension with the existing Phase 1 anchored by Dunnes Stores and B&Q.
The largest retailer of appliances, technology and interiors in Ireland, Harvey Norman, will open a new premium 60,000 sq. ft. store which will trade over 2 levels and will include furniture, bedding, homewares, technology and appliances. There is also a Synge & Byrne café located upstairs. Harvey Norman will be an exciting addition to the already impressive line-up which includes Dunnes Stores, B&Q, Boots, New Look and Next.
Commenting on the store opening, Harvey Norman CEO Peter Hearn said, “We are very excited to open the doors to our Galway store. Our team has created THE key shopping destination in Galway for furniture, bedding, appliances and technology. We are proud to showcase our large range of the latest Irish-made furniture and bedding, we’ve installed a huge kitchen display area, a games hub, a Wonder Photo Shop and more. The biggest global brands highlighted by the latest store fit design plus safe shopping measures are all in place for our Galway customers.” There have been 47 jobs created within the store and warehouse.
Paddy O’Connor of Sigma Retail Partners, the asset managers for Gateway Shopping Park, said “we are absolutely delighted with the opening of Harvey Norman in our shopping park. We are excited to finally be able to welcome Harvey Norman to Galway and wish the Harvey Norman team all the best in their impressive new store. This is the first large scale retail development in the country for a number of years and the confidence shown in the scheme, Galway and also traditional retail can be seen with the quality of the international and national renowned retailers we are partnering with. Harvey Norman and the new Phase 2 tenants will solidify Gateway Shopping Park as a leading retail destination in the Galway catchment”.
The new Phase 2 extension is the first provision of new retail space outside of Dublin since 2008 and the first in Galway in more than two decades. The development provided over 150 jobs during construction phase and is expected to create over 300 jobs in Knocknacarra and Galway when fully occupied.
The Phase 2 extension will have open-use retail units, food and beverage units, a creche and a gym. Gateway Shopping Park will include over 320,000 sq. ft of retail and leisure space and will make it one of Ireland largest shopping destinations.
Gateway Shopping Park already has an impressive line-up of retailers, including Dunnes Stores, B&Q, Boots, New Look, Next and McSharry Pharmacy.
More exciting retailers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Lucy Connolly – Divisional Director – “The anticipated impact of covid-19 on the Dublin office market translated to a take up figure of 75,000 sq.ft. this quarter. We do expect to see a busier Q3 with over 700,000 sq.ft. of accommodation reserved, with some large transactions close to completing in the coming weeks. We commenced the quarter on a positive note with the recent announcement that Gilead are to create 140 new jobs following their letting of over 30,000 sq.ft. at North Dock”.
David Carroll, Investment Director – “Q2 turnover of €430m reflected the impact of C-19 on the commercial market. 20 deals were completed with 78% of turnover attributable to just four transactions”.
Another exciting addition soon to Manor Mills Shopping Centre in Maynooth, Sasta by the River restaurant, offering healthy food & drinks, including a great selection of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, homemade cakes and pastries.
This new eatery is exactly what Maynooth has been looking for. It is great news to have new local businesses emerging in what has been very difficult times for the retail sector. Keep an eye on Sasta by the River social media pages where they will be documenting their fit-out towards their opening.
Boots is set to be the first store to open in the new Phase 2 development at Gateway Shopping Park, Knocknacarra, Galway on Wednesday 1st July. Boots will come as an excellent addition to the existing park, currently anchored by Dunnes Stores and B&Q.
Boots will occupy a large store of over 7,500 sq.ft and will come as wonderful news to customers of Gateway Shopping Park and the loyal shoppers in Knocknacarra and the wider catchment.
Boots Ireland is a leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer with 89 stores in Ireland and over 2,000 employees. Boots is at the heart of the communities it serves and is a staple health and beauty retailer for many people in Ireland. Customers visiting the new store will have access to a wide range of pharmacy services, including prescription service, blood pressure monitor, vaccinations, healthy heart support and hearing care service.
Commenting on the store opening, Store Manager David Boyce said: “We are delighted to open the doors to our new Boots Ireland store in Knocknacarra. The new store will provide local residents with access to our wide range of pharmacy, health and beauty products and services. Our new store has created 16 new jobs in the locality and both myself and the team are looking forward to welcoming customers over the coming days.”
Paddy O’Connor of Sigma Retail Partners, the asset managers for Gateway Shopping Park, said “we are absolutely delighted with the opening of Boots in our shopping park and feel they are a great addition to the existing line-up of retailers. Boots and the new Phase 2 tenants will solidify Gateway Shopping Park as a leading retail destination in the Knocknacarra and wider Galway catchment”.
The new Phase 2 extension is the first provision of new retail space outside of Dublin since 2008 and the first in Galway in more than two decades. The development provided over 150 jobs during construction phase and is expected to create over 300 jobs in Knocknacarra and Galway when fully occupied.
The Phase 2 extension will have open-use retail units, food and beverage units, a creche and a gym. Harvey Norman is also scheduled to open a new flagship 60,000 sq.ft store in July. Gateway Shopping Park will include over 320,000 sq. ft of retail and leisure space and will make it one of Ireland largest shopping destinations.
Gateway Shopping Park already has an impressive line-up of retailers, including Dunnes Stores, B&Q, New Look, Next and McSharry Pharmacy.
More exciting retailers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Since the introduction of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, Local Authorities have been given autonomy to vary the level of rates relief granted to owners of vacant properties. As a result, the level of refunds on commercial rates available to Landlords of vacant properties varies significantly between Local Authorities. In Dublin City Council for example the owner of a vacant property is responsible for 75% of the annual rates bill (with 25% relief granted by DCC) where a property remains vacant and unlet.
| Local Authority | Vacancy Relief 2020 |
| Dublin City Council | 25% |
| Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council | 35% |
| Fingal County Council | 50% |
| South Dublin County Council | 50% |
These levels of vacancy relief will come under increased scrutiny later in the year as Council’s prepare Budgets for 2021 and beyond. Owners of unoccupied properties should carefully consider options on how to mitigate against increased vacancy voids.
