Most depressing Dunnes in Ireland?

SpaceTime

Their stores vary a lot.
Some are quite snazzy looking, some look unchanged since 1985.

The range also seems quite tailored to different demographics in different stores.

They're difficult to generalise about really.

coolemon

jill_valentine wrote: »

Why take on Tesco in the first place then I wonder? Did they only buy the whole centre out late in the day?

A shop called Crazy Prices was there before Tesco. Tesco bought them I believe. So presumably Crazy Prices had a long lease and Tesco still maintain that contract.

I am not sure whether Dunnes owned the shopping centre initially, but I am certain they own it now, and have done for quite a while.

DLMA23

Nenagh

Galwayguy35

When it comes time to pay for the shopping the staff look like they have been told they are about to be shot dead, maybe the working conditions aren't great but they always look a very unhappy lot.

OldNotWIse

North Great Earl Street. The freezer section is hidden away down the back like it should be ashamed of itself. You'd think they were selling hard core porn instead of fish fingers. It's full of militant OAP's that'll take the heels of ya with their trollies as quick as they'd look at you. And let's not forget there is usually a bible bashing freak standing outside shouting the odds about burning in hell. Plus, they have noooooooo alcohol there. That's right. Up the street boys and girls for your dipso needs. The OAP's are alright here with the almond fingers and rum essence. Fúcking lunatic shop it is.

FloatingVoter

Back on Crumlin - whoever owns it, Dunnes is doing nobody any favours as it stands (and crumbles now). Tesco's is a perfectly presentable modern supermarket that's known only to locals. Any passing trade will walk in the front entrance, see the tumbleweed and turn tail.
It wouldn't be beyond the pale if the two retail giants co-operated in a refurb of the entire centre allowing smaller non-competing businesses to open up again. Failing that they should both quit messing about and sell up to Aldi or Lidl who actually do live in the 21st century.
Nobody shops guaranteed Irish anymore, anybody doing a heavy shop will go into both Dunnes and Tescos (using their loyalty cards in both).

Asdfghjkl987

The old Dunnes in Ilac has to be the worst. No idea what the need is for 2 dunnes in the same place when the newer one is huge

KungPao

Why must they insist on very often having the supermarkets in what feels like a recently uncovered WWII era bomb shelter?

Feels so grim down there.

syklops

14 years ago I worked in Dunnes Terryland in Galway in the deli. In a poll for hygiene we came last in all of Ireland. Not sure what its like nowadays as I have not been in there in about 13.5 years. I always thought it was pretty grim looking, and that was before I worked there.

Stroke Politics

syklops wrote: »

14 years ago I worked in Dunnes Terryland in Galway in the deli. In a poll for hygiene we came last in all of Ireland. Not sure what its like nowadays as I have not been in there in about 13.5 years. I always thought it was pretty grim looking, and that was before I worked there.

I worked there 24 years ago, and I remember the deli and the practices that went on then. Put me off buying loose mince from a Supermarket for about 20 years. That, the stinking stream on the roundabout side of the store and the food compactor at the back. Horrific....

Ihatecuddles

I really like the one in Nutgrove, maybe because it was my local one growing up.

The one on Bray main street is just horrific. I walked into it once and walked straight back out. It's an odd feeling, like being a guest in someone's house as you walk around, and then just rooting through their clothes!!

syklops

Stroke Politics wrote: »

I worked there 24 years ago, and I remember the deli and the practices that went on then. Put me off buying loose mince from a Supermarket for about 20 years. That, the stinking stream on the roundabout side of the store and the food compactor at the back. Horrific....

I still remember the stink of the mop and bucket. I'd say it was the same mop that was in use as when you worked there.

And the Moo-zac. About 20 years before I worked there, someone had made a cassette tape with some pop music on it for the customers to listen to, and they had started to record in that weeks specials. Over time more and more parts of the songs were recorded over and come the year 2000 there was only about 20 seconds of some of the songs left and the entire tape finished its loop in 6 minutes. What does that mean? I hear you ask. It means in a 10 hour shift I had heard the screechy part of "Do you want to hurt me" by culture club about 100 times. I'm certain that actually counts as torture.

Stroke Politics

syklops wrote: »

I still remember the stink of the mop and bucket. I'd say it was the same mop that was in use as when you worked there.

And the Moo-zac. About 20 years before I worked there, someone had made a cassette tape with some pop music on it for the customers to listen to, and they had started to record in that weeks specials. Over time more and more parts of the songs were recorded over and come the year 2000 there was only about 20 seconds of some of the songs left and the entire tape finished its loop in 6 minutes. What does that mean? I hear you ask. It means in a 10 hour shift I had heard the screechy part of "Do you want to hurt me" by culture club about 100 times. I'm certain that actually counts as torture.

You were lucky you had muzak that had a decipherable beat and harmony. In 1990, the muzak sounded like someone got one of their 4 year olds to play a Stylophone. I can still recall today the crime against music that was the noise that was played in the background. And there were some customers who used to SMOKE as they did their shopping each week....

burnsey1987

Dunnes in Crumlin SC was pretty grim back in the early 1990's, Kilnamanagh was even worse. Not sure what they are like now, haven't been anywhere near either one in the best part of twenty years.

Dunnes next to Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick (closed about 5/6 years ago now) was pretty grim alright, their cafe downstairs was particularly disgusting, complete with ultra-naff 80's decor and floor which probably had never been swept since the 80's.

The old Dunnes Jetland on the Ennis Road (knocked down 10 years ago to make way for the new one) was falling apart, but a good few friends of mine worked there when we were about 16/17 and I remember the fun we had racing forklifts out the back...

Mars Bar

burnsey1987 wrote: »

Dunnes in Crumlin SC was pretty grim back in the early 1990's, Kilnamanagh was even worse. Not sure what they are like now, haven't been anywhere near either one in the best part of twenty years.

Dunnes next to Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick (closed about 5/6 years ago now) was pretty grim alright, their cafe downstairs was particularly disgusting, complete with ultra-naff 80's decor and floor which probably had never been swept since the 80's.

The old Dunnes Jetland on the Ennis Road (knocked down 10 years ago to make way for the new one) was falling apart, but a good few friends of mine worked there when we were about 16/17 and I remember the fun we had racing forklifts out the back...

The staff in the new Jetland are so depressing. Not a smile between the lot of them. The staff in Henry street aren't much better either. Must be a Limerick thing.

burnsey1987

Mars Bar wrote: »

The staff in the new Jetland are so depressing. Not a smile between the lot of them. The staff in Henry street aren't much better either. Must be a Limerick thing.

The girl who serves at the customer service desk is mint though...

burnsey1987

Dangerous Man wrote: »

I remember one of those scares in Crumlin too; people were running out of Dunnes without paying for their shopping.

Anyway, the Dunnes in Crumlin is just the pits. Seperate offie, seperate frozen section and seperate dry goods. Grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, unprecedented.

What happened there???

c_man

Lighter wrote: »

Has to be westside in galway

Ah, the intimidation of the two or three barking dogs chained up outside the only entrance. Cerberus guarding the gates of hell.
Ah it's not too bad. Though I do feel sorry for the staff whenever they ask what the weather is like outside.

donutheadhomer

the basement in North Earl Street is such a ****hole

c_man

I bloody love this thread. Some gems of Dunnes around. Class.

Donald73

burnsey1987 wrote: »

What happened there???

Bomb scares from what I remember. Crumlin is my local store and it is the worst one (or four!) that I've ever been in. Separate offie and drapery I can sort of understand but why have frozen food separate from the rest of the groceries? It means anyone shopping there will more than likely need two stops. I've been in there once since moving back to the area and once was more than enough, won't be returning.

FloatingVoter

donna35 wrote: »

Bomb scares from what I remember. Crumlin is my local store and it is the worst one (or four!) that I've ever been in. Separate offie and drapery I can sort of understand but why have frozen food separate from the rest of the groceries? It means anyone shopping there will more than likely need two stops. I've been in there once since moving back to the area and once was more than enough, won't be returning.

You arrive at Crumlin SC. Into Dunnes clothes to use the ATM. Then up to the back section to buy the newspaper. Now you want a frozen pizza. Out again. Up into the other Dunnes for that. Damn. I forgot the drink. Will I go down to the Dunnes offie (shop 3) or down to Tescos 'cos they usually have deals on booze and I can pick up the cheap catfood there too.
I would recommend anybody doing retail management / urban planning / anything along those lines to visit Crumlin SC just to see how bad things can become. Its cheaper than a trip to the zoo.

c_man

Jeez, that one in Tullamore is ghastly alright - http://www.fallonformwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/034.jpg

Butterface

The Dunnes in Navan is tiny and pretty grim. The security guy is always standing right beside the alcohol aisle watching everybody. It still does great business because it's in the town centre and all the old biddies shop there.

For a nice Dunnes I'd say the one out in Knocknacarra in Galway.

Immy

Crumlin SC would have to be up there in a top 3 alright. I'm old enough (just about) to remember when it was all broken up into the different sections. The manager told my parents that the lease for Crazy Prices (now Tesco) stated there wouldn't be another grocery shop in the SC above a certain sq footage. So Dunnes had to break up into small sections. My parents would walk between the various Dunnes with the trolley full of messages and only pay at the end point.

Apparently the SC is owned by Dunnes so this clause in the Crazy Prices lease seemed very bizarre. Dunnes decided then to built Ashleaf and move out of Crumlin SC and built house and apartments on it. But some of the tenants refused to leave the SC so Dunnes just let it go to rack and ruin. Hoping everyone would leave eventually. Only ones in it now and Dunnes, Tesco and the chemist.

Sure the gym up there was very popular but Dunnes wouldn't renew the lease when it was up.

As soon as Tesco leaves there will be planning permission for houses.

coolemon

Immy wrote: »

Crumlin SC would have to be up there in a top 3 alright. I'm old enough (just about) to remember when it was all broken up into the different sections. The manager told my parents that the lease for Crazy Prices (now Tesco) stated there wouldn't be another grocery shop in the SC above a certain sq footage. So Dunnes had to break up into small sections. My parents would walk between the various Dunnes with the trolley full of messages and only pay at the end point.

Apparently the SC is owned by Dunnes so this clause in the Crazy Prices lease seemed very bizarre. Dunnes decided then to built Ashleaf and move out of Crumlin SC and built house and apartments on it. But some of the tenants refused to leave the SC so Dunnes just let it go to rack and ruin. Hoping everyone would leave eventually. Only ones in it now and Dunnes, Tesco and the chemist.

Sure the gym up there was very popular but Dunnes wouldn't renew the lease when it was up.

As soon as Tesco leaves there will be planning permission for houses.

The site would be perfect for a Clare Hall type centre given the population density of the area. Maybe Dunnes could go into the 24 hour game. But that would require vision.

I would hate to see low density housing and just residential on that site. Apartments and a shopping complex at least should be built.

KeithM89

amdublin wrote: »

And a facebook page. Depressing Dunnes of Ireland.

Do this. Now.
EDIT: Beaten to it, I see.
-

Another one is Dundalk's Park street, now shut down thankfully, was the most depressing place on earth. Got firebombed back in the 90's and when it reopened, it looked worse than before. Sh1t brown carpets, zombie staff and some hunched, miserable teenager pushing around a big brown plastic bin of hangers. The pits.

Joe Doe

coolemon wrote: »

Maybe Dunnes could go into the 24 hour game. But that would require vision.

Too true, and typical of any large privately owned biz throughout the land not just these good folks, buy kinda understandable in some ways.

As no one wants to rock the boat, 'yes' men/ladies, head nodding and so on. Keep the 'aul head down kinda outlook. As long as the top dogs can look forward to the early golden pension, maybe few games golf in Algarve in later years why take any risk.

Imagine the only SWOT analysis ongoing in companies like this is how to approach the flies upon the whiteboard.

Anyway, off the local 24hr Tesco where can get the car filled, visit the cafe and who knows maybe even get an eye test and some dry cleaning done...

efb

Biased: I think both Tullamore Dunnes are decent, used to Work in Bridge Centre and we won store of the year!
Church rd is ok except the shopping centre is a bit jaded

Sir Gallagher

Dunnes could do with taking a few tips from Penny's, have you seen the one on Mary Street, it's like a scene outta fcking Tron.

Muahahaha

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Back on Crumlin - whoever owns it, Dunnes is doing nobody any favours as it stands (and crumbles now). Tesco's is a perfectly presentable modern supermarket that's known only to locals. Any passing trade will walk in the front entrance, see the tumbleweed and turn tail.
It wouldn't be beyond the pale if the two retail giants co-operated in a refurb of the entire centre allowing smaller non-competing businesses to open up again. Failing that they should both quit messing about and sell up to Aldi or Lidl who actually do live in the 21st century.
Nobody shops guaranteed Irish anymore, anybody doing a heavy shop will go into both Dunnes and Tescos (using their loyalty cards in both).

It goes even beyond that. Whatever rumpus Tesco and Dunnes are having in Crumlin the main losers are the community who have nowhere to congregate, have a cup of coffee. Crumlin doesn't see to have much of a villiage centre feel to it and that part of it is just a busy throughfare. So to deny the locals the community need to have somewhere they can bump into neighbours, have a chat, all those things that bind a community together are denied to them by Dunnes and Tesco having their little spat. I'd suggest the best thing the residents could do is organise a complete local boycott of both supermarkets till they come to some sort of agreement to sort out the ghetto that they've created. But that would mean local people would lose jobs so the situation really is a catch 22. Its one of those occasions where the state should be able to ride over property rights if some company is acting against the common good.

coolemon wrote: »

The site would be perfect for a Clare Hall type centre given the population density of the area. Maybe Dunnes could go into the 24 hour game. But that would require vision.

I would hate to see low density housing and just residential on that site. Apartments and a shopping complex at least should be built.

Its a massive site, not as big as Dundrum but still pretty sizeable. I'd imagine the chance to get something monstrous built there in terms of retail would be hard now that the councils see the traffic problems Dundrum has resulted in. But the site is on a busy artery into the city with a large popularion surrounding it. If done right it would be a goldmine and would rejuvenate that part of Crumlin.

Joe Doe wrote: »

Anyway, off the local 24hr Tesco where can get the car filled, visit the cafe and who knows maybe even get an eye test and some dry cleaning done...

A lot of Tescos stopped being 24 hours around 3 years back, Clearwater for sure and defintely a few others.

Sir Gallagher wrote: »

Dunnes could do with taking a few tips from Penny's, have you seen the one on Mary Street, it's like a scene outta fcking Tron.

That Pennys is something else now that its done up. It literally stretches all the way from Parnell Street to Mary St with I think 3 if not four floors over ground level. They've gone and taken a huge chuck of an entire block between Parnell and Mary. The footfall in it is absolutely colossal too, I've never see it quiet, weekday or weekend. I think it was really a case of 'built it and they will come' for Pennys and it really has worked out well for them. I'm guessing the store is Ireland's 2nd largest retail space, after IKEA ?

jill_valentine

Sir Gallagher wrote: »

Dunnes could do with taking a few tips from Penny's, have you seen the one on Mary Street, it's like a scene outta fcking Tron.

Good point. That Penneys is amazing. And a great example of how to get it right, remember when Penneys was all strangely misshapen tat in Yellow Pack looking shops?

donkey balls

From what I was told while working for a company who looked after the transport& distribution for them, Was when Dunnes would open up a new store they would eventually close the old store rather than rent it out to a competitor.
As for Dunnes mgmt they are way behind when it comes to transport & distribution,All the major multiples have dedicated distribution centers throughout Ireland.
Which means possibly 1/2 truck delivery a day were as you try to deliver to Dunnes and there is trucks from about 5/10 companies trying to make a delivery.

It is one job that I will never miss doing.

Akrasia

I did a search of this thread and I can't believe nobody has mentioned the Dunnes in Shannon Town centre!

It's the most miserable place. The cheapest greyest possible fluorescent lighting, there aren't any ceiling panels so you are lookin up into all the ventilation ducts and piping and wires. The shop is poorly stocked and never has anything that I'm looking for on the rare occasion that I go in there.

You walk in from the hall of the main shopping centre into the dunnes and it's at least 30% darker and more miserable once you get in.

Mars Bar

Akrasia wrote: »

I did a search of this thread and I can't believe nobody has mentioned the Dunnes in Shannon Town centre!

It's the most miserable place. The cheapest greyest possible fluorescent lighting, there aren't any ceiling panels so you are lookin up into all the ventilation ducts and piping and wires. The shop is poorly stocked and never has anything that I'm looking for on the rare occasion that I go in there.

You walk in from the hall of the main shopping centre into the dunnes and it's at least 30% darker and more miserable once you get in.

Nobody goes to Shannon unless they are flying out of/into it.

Meathlass

ScienceKing wrote: »

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sadie06

Penneys' flagship stores may be all shiny and impressive, but they have some utter kips tucked into corners that are far more grim than any Dunnes. Naas and Rathfarnham shopping centre spring to mind.

Aglomerado

sadie06 wrote: »

Penneys' flagship stores may be all shiny and impressive, but they have some utter kips tucked into corners that are far more grim than any Dunnes. Naas and Rathfarnham shopping centre spring to mind.

Penneys in Ennis still has posters from the late 80s. I know this because I remember getting excited that one of the men looked like Jason Donovan, and having to explain to my aunt who he was. I was there a few months back and he is still there!

I still prefer it to Dunnes though!

KungPao

The one in the Square in Tallaght is actually fairly decent. Two large open floors and not bleak even though there are no windows.

The one in the Ilac is pretty bad.

Donald73

Just saw that someone, a boardsie I assume, has created the Depressing Dunnes FB page. Can't wait to see pics of them all.

ongarboy

I remember the old Dunnes in Tralee on the main street with the red and white check square lino on the floors and was always cramped and dingy. The new one is about 20 years old and has stood the test of time well. I would think most of the network around the country has been upgraded now - it's years since i saw an ugly Dunnes.

Likewise the old Penneys in Tralee and Killarney were awful but have been replaced by excellent, massive, shiny new stores.

ToddyDoody

Dunnes is so depressing, especially when buying cheap alcohol

MarkY91

surely its been mentioned but the one in crumlin shopping centre is like being transfered back to the 1980s. grim as you can get!

Corruptedmorals

There are definitely more kips left than shiny new ones. The ones I worked in are more middle of the road..though one was mentioned a few times..than outright ****eholes thankfully.

I also worked in Penneys Mary Street. The contrast is hilarious. The staff are happy and there are enough of them, things run smoothly, customer service exists and the managers are not petty assholes. Dunnes could learn a lot from Penneys alright.

Muahahaha

donna35 wrote: »

Just saw that someone, a boardsie I assume, has created the Depressing Dunnes FB page. Can't wait to see pics of them all.

haha thats a great idea, funnily enough I'm looking forward to seeing pics of Depressing Dunnes from around Ireland so I can compare them with the depressing Dunnes that I'm familar with and see if they stack up in terms of depression.

MarkY91 wrote: »

surely its been mentioned but the one in crumlin shopping centre is like being transfered back to the 1980s. grim as you can get!

Yeah Crumlin has been mentioned quite a bit, especially in the last few pages. Tis a right kip for sure, defintely top 3 most seem to agree

jill_valentine

MarkY91 wrote: »

surely its been mentioned but the one in crumlin shopping centre is like being transfered back to the 1980s. grim as you can get!

It seems to be the champion so far alright, yes.

Kenjataimu

It's not all bad...

https://vine.co/v/MYeaAvlvM7e

For Forks Sake

c_man wrote: »

Jeez, that one in Tullamore is ghastly alright - http://www.fallonformwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/034.jpg

And that was after it was renovated about 8/9 years ago

Joe Doe

wouldn't take much to jazzitupabit, 10mins artwork and few handy chaps with ladders....

fleet_admiral

Aglomerado wrote: »

Penneys in Ennis still has posters from the late 80s. I know this because I remember getting excited that one of the men looked like Jason Donovan, and having to explain to my aunt who he was. I was there a few months back and he is still there!

I still prefer it to Dunnes though!

I remember being there in July asking one of the staff members where the stairs down to the baby section was and getting a look that cut me in two