New outlet for Thurles Shopping Centre

whatcartoget

I just read this on the tipp fm website> Any one know what it is?

tippspur

I heard Iceland mentioned on the news today,I could have picked it up wrong though.

whatcartoget

tippspur wrote: »

I heard Iceland mentioned on the news today,I could have picked it up wrong though.

I think that is Clonmel!

Cat Melodeon

Iceland is opening in Clonmel. I heard a rumour that the Thurles shop is going to be an A|wear or River Island. Fits with the 'national fashion retailer' alluded to in the Tipp FM story.

hinault

I see planning permission has been obtained by the new owner of the Thurles
Erin Foods factory to convert that building in to a retail/shopping centre

Cat Melodeon

hinault wrote: »

I see planning permission has been obtained by the new owner of the Thurles
Erin Foods factory to convert that building in to a retail/shopping centre

Is the new owner not Mr Quirke of TMB casino fame? Many fingers, many pies...

hinault

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

Is the new owner not Mr Quirke of TMB casino fame? Many fingers, many pies...

That's him!

I was told that the initial idea was to develop a hotel on that site.
But he looked at it and decided that retail was the way the go.

I would have thought that Thurles needed a good hotel tbh.

Sciency

Yes it's seeking planning permission for a supermarket plus fast food outlet with drive-through facility (could it be McD's ?!!)

Thurles has more than enough supermarkets, it doesn't need any more, unless Tesco is relocating from the square ??

lisasimpson

well tesco were looking for a new site yrs ago. they got turned down out at the old driving range

jonnybravo

Sciency wrote: »

Yes it's seeking planning permission for a supermarket plus fast food outlet with drive-through facility (could it be McD's ?!!)

Thurles has more than enough supermarkets, it doesn't need any more, unless Tesco is relocating from the square ??

I'd say the plan is for Tesco to move there all right. The only other major retailer without a presence in Thurles would be Superquinn but I'd be surprised if they moved to a town of the size of Thurles.

Not really a need for more fast food restaurants either - lots of new ones opened in the last few years.

Would be surprised if this got planning permission as I'd say the retailers in the town centre will have massive opposition to this.

tippguy

Can't see tesco renting a site that is virtually going to be purpose built for them with mcdonalds/ burger king on the side...tesco always buy their own sites unless they're going into a massive shopping centre which this isn't. My guess is quirke hasnt any supermarket signed up and is depending on someone renting off him. In that case Tesco won't rent it as they'll want a store built to their size and needs..My guess is SuperValu, eurospar or Superquinn if anything but all very doubtful.

SuperValu have been here before with McKevitt's, Eurospar have been and failed 3? 4? or is it 5 times?? and with superquinn as it is can't see them coming.

Anyways does Thurles need another supermarket???
Tesco
Dunnes
Aldi
Lidl
Costcutter x 2

Also 3 x centras
1 x daybreak
and loads of independent shops

Does thurles really need another grocery food store

chris2008x

lisasimpson wrote: »

well tesco were looking for a new site yrs ago. they got turned down out at the old driving range

Sciency wrote: »

Thurles has more than enough supermarkets, it doesn't need any more, unless Tesco is relocating from the square ??

Tesco are still awaiting a decision on the planning permission for the site in Clongour this will be announced in April if it gets the go ahead or not. Delayed because of route selection for the bypass. Tesco is very keen to get out there as this is the third application since 2008. With limited parking and not enough room for its retail it loses alot of business to Dunnes Stores and Lidl and Aldi.

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

I heard a rumour that the Thurles shop is going to be an A|wear or River Island. Fits with the 'national fashion retailer' alluded to in the Tipp FM story.

It's "Born clothing" i heard. Also on Daft.ie you see a picture of retail units available to rent and that space says "born" on it. http://www.daft.ie/searchcommercial.daft?id=54513 check out picture 3.

tippguy wrote: »

.My guess is SuperValu, eurospar or Superquinn if anything but all very doubtful

Could be Marks and Spencers though especially if there is a 2017sqm non-food zone. It sure aint Tesco and wont be Supervalu, Eurospar or Superquinn as they are small franchises with no clothing part.

Sigma Force

Although Thurles needs a new Tesco it doesn't need any more new supermarkets coming in, the small buisnesses are struggling enough. If more clothes shops come in it'll be a pity for smaller buisnesses.

Hope the town doesn't get an Iceland ..bleah.

chris2008x

Actually business in Thurles is doing pretty well at the moment though compared to other towns. More supermarkets will create more competition and employment in the area and are to be welcomed. The new Tesco if it gets the go ahead in April will create in excess of 60 jobs and will pull in more shoppers from the Urlingford and Horse and Jockey areas instead of them heading to Cashel. And if it is Marks and Spencers moving into the Erin foods site it won't really affect small business as M&S is more luxury high priced items towards the likes of discount retailers like Aldi/Lidl/Tesco. Anything that creates job in the town is welcome. Thurles hasn't boomed at this rate in over 30 years. Most jobs were lost during the 1980s-2000s Irish sugar Gmx Jobes etc and nothing was done. Fianna Fáil who held power through most of these years did nothing and the town had very small growth if any at all. It's striking though now since 2007 how many major retailers are opening in the town creating employment. And no thanks to anyone in government only people like clancy who built a fab shopping centre and attracted high street stores to set up.

Sigma Force

There's a number of shops on Liberty square and baker st. who have closed down in the last year or 2. The shopping centers do provide employment but the smaller independant buisnesses that are closing.

It's an ok shopping center that's there at the moment, but it's the same as anywhere else. Nothing unique about it just the same you get anywhere.

What I'd like to see is the shopping center split up some of it's units into small little units with reasonable rents so that local independant buisnesses could afford to set up a little shop for themselves.

Saying all that I'd love to see a Maxi Zoo.

chris2008x

Alot them shops on Baker street failed though as it's not exactly the best place to have a business. That part of the town and Friar street is mostly full of Pubs (Bowes is the best) Doctors and Dentists and it's layout isn't ideal for any sort of retail shop with very limited space and parking out on Friar street. Mckevitt has a big supermarket there and yet he gets more customers in the other store in Liberty Square. Best thing for any small independent store is to be unique and sell locally produced/sourced goods instead of the Homestead and Family value as their main selling products, people will pay a reasonable enough price for bread baked in the town or butter, sausages etc, otherwise they will have to reduce their prices.

Sigma Force

Baker street is no distance from the square but people don't seem to like to walk around the town, although parking can be an issue. It's a pleasant little street Baker St. It's a pity it's not doing better.

Some shops are stocking locally produced stuff but I'd love to see a 'Tipperary Shop' (no not GAA stuff) that stocks only Thurles and Co Tipperary goods. There's so much being produced it would be nice for small even home buisnesses to be able to sell to one stop local shops for strictly Tipperary goods.

Cat Melodeon

I'd also like to see any new retail centre provide non-shopping facilities like a free soft play area for kids - McDonagh Junction in Kilkenny does this and it's a brilliant way to bring people in.