pokethebear wrote: » Anyone know if any new of the Aldi stores announced today are Limerick bound - Newcastle West possibly?
Aldi is to create 300 new jobs in Ireland within the next three years. It's part of an expansion programme of its Irish store network, which will see the company open 20 new stores, with each employing 15 people. The new stores will include East Wall Road in Dublin, Greystones in Co. Wicklow, Tralee in Co. Kerry, Ballybofey in Co. Donegal and Charleville in Co. Cork. Aldi opens it's 100th Irish store today in Callan, Co. Kilkenny.
Kess73 wrote: » They had tried to get permission to build one on the outskirts of the Dooradoyle/Raheen area, but there were objections from various councillors and as a result planning permission for the size store Aldi wanted to build was refused. There was some talk after that that Aldi would just by pass Limerick as part of their 20 new store plan and build elsewhere instead, but I do know that they have not fully given up on the idea of another Limerick store yet (or at least they had not the last time I spoke with someone with Aldi)
pigtown wrote: » God they'd have to be very childish to do that. Surely if they thought a big store would make sense there, a smaller store would also make sense.
Kess73 wrote: » Was in the local papers not too long ago, complete with comments that a large Aldi on the outskirts would be damaging to shops in the county and would be damaging to the city and county as an Aldi would, in the opinion of business savvy councillors, go towards creating a doughnut effect. Was lots of waffle also about how it would not comply with the mid western business strategy that is in place. If memory serves right there have now been a number of businesses refused planning permission over the past 12 -24 months that would have brought new jobs to the city and count. Guess having headlines in the Leader of Post about massive job boosts that never happen is more important than actual jobs being created. Funny how large centras or Spars can be built or expanded on the outskirts though, with no such uproar about them creating doughnut effects or damaging shops in the county....http://www.limerickpost.ie/index.php/navigation-mainmenu-30/local-news/5238-council-shoots-down-aldi-plans-.html
pigtown wrote: » Ya I remember having an argument about it on here somewhere. The councillors were quite right to oppose it. Aldi want(ed) to build a store that was bigger than is allowed in the retail strategy. They are quite welcome to build a store of that size within the city bounds, or alternatively build a store that doesn't breach the guidelines. If they thought there was demand for the large store they want to build then I'm sure they wouldn't be too quick to throw a tantrum and abandon the city altogether if they don't get their way.
Kess73 wrote: » They have tried a number of times afaik over a period of a couple of years to get permission for a store that size, so it is not a case of them having a tantrum. It is a case of them imo not having the time to waste on councillors who are trying to play parish pump politics. Don't imagine they will be too worried though as they will still open 20 new stores in the coming three years,
Kess73 wrote: » One of the problems with building one within the city limits is the lack of available sites and also objections from certain parties to Aldi getting a large store within the city limits just as Tesco had objections to them bringing one of their small express stores to the city centre.
Kess73 wrote: » The retail strategy is nothing more than a joke, and will cost Limerick (city and county) to miss out on more employment bringers than it will bring in. People will still be whinging in one, two, five and ten years that Limerick is being overlooked by companies when a lot of the blame for that lies at the door of decision makers with no background at all in business be it retail, commercial or otherwise.
Kess73 wrote: » Then again when Limerick has a councillor who publicly states to a local paper that in his opinion the city has twice as many retail/commercial businesses than it needs and he would be happy to see half of what is currently in the city shut, it gives a good indication as to why Limerick is much closer to being a town rather than a true city in business terms.
Kess73 wrote: » I guess we will have to put up with the usual run of paper articles regarding massive job boosts for the city and county. Story after story about how companies are falling over themselves to come to Limerick and the usual tales about the Opera Centre being on the cusp of becoming the heartbeat of the city. The same Opera centre that has now being acknowledged as not being fit for purpose to be a major retail centre in the city despite all the rubbish spouted before about the major retailers wanting to go there.
pnpweirdo wrote: » I have heard that the aldi in rebogue is the busiest in Ireland, Anyone conform this. Any time i'm there the shop is packed. I cant see why they wouldnt put another one in limerick.
JAMES VTI S wrote: » Is it this week or next that Aldi is opening it's doors.
Snotaul Goodman wrote: » This week I think but can't find an exact date. I think I heard the 10th somewhere