Limerick Businesses Closed V 2.0 [Mod note post 1]

the drifter · 16-10-2011 5:18pm #1

Ladies and Gents

Unfortunately, we have had to lock the original thread. Over the past few weeks it has turned into a rumour mill. We cannot have this I'm afraid.

So here is Version 2.0. The rule of this thread is simple. If you're going to highlight a business as "closed" or "closing", you must back up the claim with sufficient evidence.

Unsubstantiated rumours will be deleted, and from now on will receive an infraction. I'm afraid we have to do this folks as rumours can be damaging to both employees and employers.

Thanks

D

liammur · 16-10-2011 6:59pm

Do we even need this type of thread?

golden8 · 16-10-2011 7:12pm

I would second that its a very negative thread.

Insect Overlord · 16-10-2011 7:15pm

liammur wrote: »

Do we even need this type of thread?

golden8 wrote: »

I would second that its a very negative thread.

I think it's better to keep all of these stories in one place, instead of having a new thread every few days about whichever business is closing. I'm not a fan of negative threads, but the size of the previous thread proved the demand was there.

RonMexico · 16-10-2011 7:44pm

These closures need to be highlighted and not treated as if they aren't happening. Limerick is an economic blackspot and by far the worst affected city in Ireland. Our local representatives are twiddling their thumbs while this city goes down the toilet. If I recall the previous thread had over 100 different businesses mentioned in an 18 month period. That is absolutely shocking for the size of Limerick.

savagecabbages · 16-10-2011 7:48pm

RonMexico wrote: »

These closures need to be highlighted and not treated as if they aren't happening. Limerick is an economic blackspot and by far the worst affected run city in Ireland. Our local representatives are twiddling their thumbs while this city goes down the toilet. If I recall the previous thread had over 100 different businesses mentioned in an 18 month period. That is absolutely shocking for the size of Limerick.

I cant get over how much air time the city council are giving to the bus lanes. The bus lane debacle has been going on for several years now. There are more pressing issues at stake than where to put a bit of coloured tarmac with a bus painted on it...

RonMexico · 16-10-2011 7:51pm

savagecabbages wrote: »

I cant get over how much air time the city council are giving to the bus lanes. The bus lane debacle has been going on for several years now. There are more pressing issues at stake than where to put a bit of coloured tarmac with a bus painted on it...

What do you expect from a bunch of unqualified morons? The various incarnations of Limerick City Council have utterly failed us for generations now, as have our TD's. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

Insect Overlord · 16-10-2011 7:51pm

savagecabbages wrote: »

I cant get over how much air time the city council are giving to the bus lanes. The bus lane debacle has been going on for several years now. There are more pressing issues at stake than where to put a bit of coloured tarmac with a bus painted on it...

And that discussion is for a different thread. Let's try to keep this one on-topic.

Edit: I've deleted 2 more posts. If you want to bitch and moan about the Council/IDA/local Politicians, don't do so in this thread.

source · 24-10-2011 1:23pm

Not sure of its been mentioned yet, but just passes jack jones on bedford row and it's closed up with 2 lads inside taking all the rails apart.

Insect Overlord · 24-10-2011 1:29pm

source wrote: »

Not sure of its been mentioned yet, but just passes jack jones on bedford row and it's closed up with 2 lads inside taking all the rails apart.

They had a closing-down sale going for a few weeks.

Mr E · 24-10-2011 1:30pm

Yep, still going strong in the Crescent though.

source · 24-10-2011 3:06pm

Insect Overlord wrote: »

source wrote: »

Not sure of its been mentioned yet, but just passes jack jones on bedford row and it's closed up with 2 lads inside taking all the rails apart.

They had a closing-down sale going for a few weeks.

I've not been in town much, for the last while. One less place for men to shop in this city.

Limerick Sovereigns · 25-10-2011 12:39pm

Can someone put up a full list of closed businesses from the original thread to avoid duplication and add any that are missing.

lasno · 25-10-2011 3:40pm

I heard that Jack and Jones will be opening in Seduzca in William Street, owned by the same guy.

Insect Overlord · 25-10-2011 3:43pm

Limerick Sovereigns wrote: »

Can someone put up a full list of closed businesses from the original thread to avoid duplication and add any that are missing.

From what I can remember, someone put up a list of over 100 businesses that left the city centre, and they were only pulling from the first quarter of that thread. If someone has the time to compile the whole list I'll be very impressed!

phog · 25-10-2011 6:18pm

Limerick Sovereigns wrote: »

Can someone put up a full list of closed businesses from the original thread to avoid duplication and add any that are missing.

Would you volunteer to be that "someone"?

RonMexico · 25-10-2011 7:28pm

I compiled the original list so here it is again:

01 Dunnes Sarsfield St
02 Fergusons Pharmacy Thomas St
03 Sasha William St
04 Benneton Sarsfield St
05 Falks Lighting Henry St
06 Topshop Sarsfield St
07 Dunnes O Connell St
08 Empire Music O Connell St (soon to close)
09 Budget Travel Sarsfield St
10 Fuschia Queen Thomas St
11 Early Learning Centre - Crusies St
12 Next - Crusies St
13 Barratts Shoes, Cruises St.
14 Chartbusters Crescent SC
15 Brulee
16 Dorothy Perkins - Cruises St
17 Evans - Cruises St
18 Kielys
19 Clancy electrical
20 Sony store
21 TRIL recruitment
22 Heirlooms in the Crescent SC
23 Spar Ballycummin Village
24 Japan Cruises St
25 Mr E Arthurs Quay
26 Davern & Bell art gallery/shop Thomas Street
27 Bakers Kitchen William Street
28 Kranks Corner Thomas Street
29 O' Brien's sandwich bar on William Street
30 Fries With That - Chipper Cornmarket
31 Dr Acupuncture and Herbs O' Connell Street
32 Fergusons Chemist O' Connell Street
33 Executive Travel Roches Street
34 Internet cafe above Xtravision Thomas Street
35 Baileys - Parnell Street
36 Prémaman - Jetland SC
37 Car Zone - Jetland SC
38 Golden Disc - Jetland SC
39 Dr.China - Jetland SC
40 Sasha - Jetland SC
41 O Briens Sandwiches - Parkway SC
42 Pat Keoghs
43 The Bank Bar - O'Connell St
44 Harris Pub - Riverpoint
45 Fifteen Restaurant - Riverpoint
46 Cocoon - Thomas Street
47 Nuvo - Parkway SC
48 Limerick Independent
49 Hallmark - Jetland
50 Motorzone - Dock road
51 Wheelers Grill - Groody Roundabout
52 Lipstick - Crescent SC
53 Newsagents - Crescent SC
54 Gerry Haugh's Furniture
55 Clancys - Parkway Roundabout
56 Remix - Williamscourt Mall
57 Cafe Aroma at junction of Roches/Catherine street
58 O' Connell Grill - O' Connell Street
59 Two Mile Inn Hotel
60 Loaf - Roches St
61 Roxy Music - Crescent SC
62 Yellow Road Take Away - Edward Street
63 The Centerpiece Restaurant - Crescent SC
64 Food Outlet - Thomas street (beside health food shop)
65 Yankee Candle Co.
66 Nasirs - Mayorstone
67 Topaz across from Woodies
68 McGovern's Menswear - William. St.
69 Quilty's Pub and Off-Licence - Thomondgate
70 PJ's Plaice Chipper - Thomondgate
71 Luigi Malones - O'Connell St.
72 Bakers Underground
73 Ryan's Menswear - Thomas Street
74 Ballyneety Golf Club
75 The Lobster Pot/New York Pizza
76 Sequoia Lane - O'Connell St
77 Du pareil au meme - Crescent SC
78 Heiton Buckleys - Dock Road
79 Foodfair - O'Connell Street
80 The Vineyard off license - Mount Kenneth
81 Eamon Grimes Off Licence - Upper William St.
82 The Lodge Nightclub
83 Birthdays - O'Connell Street
84 JR Fashions - Thomas Street
85 Suds launderette - Henry Street
86 Heirlooms - Cruises Street
87 Xtravision - Thomas Street
88 Click - Crescent SC
89 Irwin Bros Jewelers - Patrick Street
90 Xtravision - Grove Island
91 Little Feet - Grove Island
92 The Golfexperiencestore - Henry Street
93 Tony and Guy hairdressers
94 Choice ladieswear - William Street
95 Spurs - Crescent SC
96 Goosers bar - Corbally
97 Trinity Rooms
98 Clohessys - Raheen
99 Bitterend - Bedford Road
100 O'Donnells Bar - Wickham Street
101 M Sign - Mallow Street
102 Golden Vale - Lansdowne
103 EcoWarm
104 Nevaeh - William Street
105 Fine Food Fair Kiosk - O'Connell St
106 Babyworld
107 Eve's - Roches St.
108 Golf shop - raheen
109 City Diesel
110 O'Connor Murphy Gubbins Auctioneers
111 Siam Corner - Mallow Street
112 Tilemarket - Tipp Rd.
113 Arramount Furniture
114 HSS Hire - Wickham Street
115 Euro 2 - William Street
116 United Drug - Clare Street
117 Shades of Beauty - Foxes Bow
118 P.W. McMahon O'Brien auctioneers
119 HSI Business School
120 Star Elm
121 Slattery's - Ballycummin
122 Jack and Jones - Bedford Row
123 Knights Barbershop
124 Blades Barbershops
125 Slattery's - Father Russell Rd

EDIT: If you see any mistakes let me know and I'll edit the post. Also while some of these businesses have moved or reopened under different names etc the fact is that over 100+ businesses have closed in the past 18 months and this is totally unacceptable.

Beany12 · 25-10-2011 7:56pm

RonMexico wrote: »

I compiled the original list so here it is again:

104 Nevaeh - William Street

EDIT: If you see any mistakes let me know and I'll edit the post. Also while some of these businesses have moved or reopened under different names etc the fact is that over 100+ businesses have closed in the past 18 months and this is totally unacceptable.

Number 104 on your list 'Nevaeh' are still open ,they have moved to Little Ellen street next to the Old Quarter pub.

xxlauraxxox · 25-10-2011 8:19pm

champion sports gone from superquinn shopping centre

also josef jeans from the jetland

Poxyshamrock · 25-10-2011 8:34pm

God only knows what possessed Champion to even go near Castletroy in the first place!

Mc Love · 25-10-2011 9:13pm

I really wondered how they stayed open. And how that golf pro shop stays open is beyond me!

Busi_Girl08 · 25-10-2011 9:20pm

Mc Love wrote: »

I really wondered how they stayed open. And how that golf pro shop stays open is beyond me!

I'm astonished that the aquarium place is still open. Seriously, Castletroy SC is a retail graveyard.

CiaranMT · 25-10-2011 11:04pm

D'mother used to work in Dargan's there for years and she's told me of how the owners of the place really didn't give a fiddlers during the good times about developing the place once it opened, twas just a tax relief thing for them.

Kess73 · 25-10-2011 11:06pm

Busi_Girl08 wrote: »

I'm astonished that the aquarium place is still open. Seriously, Castletroy SC is a retail graveyard.

That is run by Kevin who used to be on Cecil Street in the city centre. Basically the cost of trying to run a much smaller and far less modern unit in the city centre is more than that of a larger better unit in a shopping centre outside the town.

He is a very decent bloke and I hope he and his business survives and thrives, otherwise he would just become another name on the long list of retailers who had to leave the city centre thanks to overly high rates and costs.

highlydebased · 25-10-2011 11:19pm

95 Spurs - Crescent SC - Now some italian
99 Bitterend - Bedford Road Now foxy's
71 Luigi Malones - O'Connell St. reopening as Marco Polo
56 Remix - Williamscourt Mall Open in Arthurs Quay instead
46 Cocoon - Thomas Street Open as 31 thomas street
23 Spar Ballycummin Village Open

SarahBeep! · 25-10-2011 11:38pm

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

God only knows what possessed Champion to even go near Castletroy in the first place!

Meteor is gone from there too!

Mc Love · 26-10-2011 12:54am

SarahBeep! wrote: »

Meteor is gone from there too!

Its been a while since I was there but cant believe that. It should be a lot better considering the cinema, mcdonalds and superquinn are there already

RonMexico · 26-10-2011 11:30am

I know some of these businesses have moved. Most moved out of the city, which has just the same effect as closing altogether on the city and its reputation as a dying place to do business.

EDIT: Maybe for businesses that have moved I will indicate as such on the list. What do you think?

xsiborg · 26-10-2011 11:38am

Kess73 wrote: »

That is run by Kevin who used to be on Cecil Street in the city centre. Basically the cost of trying to run a much smaller and far less modern unit in the city centre is more than that of a larger better unit in a shopping centre outside the town.

He is a very decent bloke and I hope he and his business survives and thrives, otherwise he would just become another name on the long list of retailers who had to leave the city centre thanks to overly high rates and costs.

i can only second that, top notch guy, really knowledgeable about his fish, and if there's anythinng you're interested in that he doesnt have in stock, he'll go out of his way to accomodate you!

i was sickened when he moved out to castletroy but i have to admit his new place is stunning, and he has some fantastic looking tanks out there too! well worth a gander even if you're not into your fish!

Insect Overlord · 26-10-2011 2:44pm

RonMexico wrote: »

I know some of these businesses have moved. Most moved out of the city, which has just the same effect as closing altogether on the city and its reputation as a dying place to do business.

EDIT: Maybe for businesses that have moved I will indicate as such on the list. What do you think?

Tags like (M) for "moved" or (C) for "closed" could work nicely.

Cookiemunster · 26-10-2011 2:55pm

RonMexico wrote: »

I know some of these businesses have moved. Most moved out of the city, which has just the same effect as closing altogether on the city and its reputation as a dying place to do business.

EDIT: Maybe for businesses that have moved I will indicate as such on the list. What do you think?

While the majority of the businesses in the list were in the city centre, around 40 of the businesses weren't. You have stuff listed from the out of town shopping centres, raheen, castletroy, corbally, etc. I think that this shows that its not just the city centre thats in trouble, its the whole of Limerick.

Also to as to highlydebaseds list
12 Next - Crusies St - Unit taken over by River Island
28 Kranks Corner Thomas Street - burger place (can't remember the name)
42 Pat Keoghs - the petrol station is closed, but the BMW dealership reopened.
44 Harris Pub - Riverpoint - Now Glasshouse restaurant?
51 Wheelers Grill - Groody Roundabout - Now Supermacs
62 Yellow Road Take Away - Edward Street - Reopened with a new name
78 Heiton Buckleys - Dock Road - still open on the Ballysimon rd.
103 Ecowarm - They had a half page ad in the limerick post for the last few weeks. I don't think they're closed.
116 United Drug - Clare Street - they're downsizing not closing.

And you've clancys listed twice.

Cherrycoke · 26-10-2011 2:59pm

Benetton has moved to Crusies St.

Yankee Candle is still in the Crescent where it always was

Mc Love · 26-10-2011 3:17pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

RonMexico wrote: »

I know some of these businesses have moved. Most moved out of the city, which has just the same effect as closing altogether on the city and its reputation as a dying place to do business.

EDIT: Maybe for businesses that have moved I will indicate as such on the list. What do you think?

While the majority of the businesses in the list were in the city centre, around 40 of the businesses weren't. You have stuff listed from the out of town shopping centres, raheen, castletroy, corbally, etc. I think that this shows that its not just the city centre thats in trouble, its the whole of Limerick.

Also to as to highlydebaseds list
12 Next - Crusies St - Unit taken over by River Island
28 Kranks Corner Thomas Street - burger place (can't remember the name)
42 Pat Keoghs - the petrol station is closed, but the BMW dealership reopened.
44 Harris Pub - Riverpoint - Now Glasshouse restaurant?
51 Wheelers Grill - Groody Roundabout - Now Supermacs
62 Yellow Road Take Away - Edward Street - Reopened with a new name
78 Heiton Buckleys - Dock Road - still open on the Ballysimon rd.
103 Ecowarm - They had a half page ad in the limerick post for the last few weeks. I don't think they're closed.
116 United Drug - Clare Street - they're downsizing not closing.

And you've clancys listed twice.

Pat keoghs petrol station has reopened

Insect Overlord · 26-10-2011 3:25pm

Remember though, the original list was started over 18 months ago, and it included places that had been closed for some time before then. It was more like a real-time stream of closures than an regularly updated "Re-opened/Replaced/Re-located" kind of thing.

kilburn · 26-10-2011 3:45pm

Just because a business reopens in a unit does not mean it is the same business regardless of whether it is in the same sector that is just being pedantic

RonMexico · 26-10-2011 5:07pm

I might also point out that I merely compiled the list from entries posted on the closed thread. I don't even know where half these places are. Just had a bit of spare time to do the donkey work necessary to go through the thread.

I also agree with Kilburn on that last comment. A closed business is a closed business.It is great if another place opens in the same spot but that does not mean that it is the same workers or that it somehow negates the previous closure.

Kess73 · 26-10-2011 6:23pm

kilburn wrote: »

Just because a business reopens in a unit does not mean it is the same business regardless of whether it is in the same sector that is just being pedantic

Yep and it does not mean it has rehired the same number of staff or at the same rate of pay. In fact there is one business in Limerick that closed one of their branches that then opened a new branch and now hires the same amount of people as the old branch did, but at least half of the staff are there on work placement schemes. So that business is contributing less than it did to the spending power of it's staff, and those working there on the WPP schemes don't add any extra taxes back to the state or any more spending power than they had on the dole.

So in effect the city/county is worse off as there are now more people with less to spend in Limerick than there was when the original branch was open.

Kess73 · 26-10-2011 6:25pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

While the majority of the businesses in the list were in the city centre, around 40 of the businesses weren't. You have stuff listed from the out of town shopping centres, raheen, castletroy, corbally, etc. I think that this shows that its not just the city centre thats in trouble, its the whole of Limerick.

Also to as to highlydebaseds list
12 Next - Crusies St - Unit taken over by River Island
28 Kranks Corner Thomas Street - burger place (can't remember the name)
42 Pat Keoghs - the petrol station is closed, but the BMW dealership reopened.
44 Harris Pub - Riverpoint - Now Glasshouse restaurant?
51 Wheelers Grill - Groody Roundabout - Now Supermacs
62 Yellow Road Take Away - Edward Street - Reopened with a new name
78 Heiton Buckleys - Dock Road - still open on the Ballysimon rd.
103 Ecowarm - They had a half page ad in the limerick post for the last few weeks. I don't think they're closed.
116 United Drug - Clare Street - they're downsizing not closing.

And you've clancys listed twice.

Maybe he did that because their store in the city closed first, with some of the staff being let go, and then the store out by the Parkway closed with the rest of the staff being let go.

bigpink · 26-10-2011 6:55pm

Kess73 wrote: »

Yep and it does not mean it has rehired the same number of staff or at the same rate of pay. In fact there is one business in Limerick that closed one of their branches that then opened a new branch and now hires the same amount of people as the old branch did, but at least half of the staff are there on work placement schemes. So that business is contributing less than it did to the spending power of it's staff, and those working there on the WPP schemes don't add any extra taxes back to the state or any more spending power than they had on the dole.

So in effect the city/county is worse off as there are now more people with less to spend in Limerick than there was when the original branch was open.

What business is doing this and people can boycott them

Cookiemunster · 26-10-2011 7:13pm

bigpink wrote: »

What business is doing this and people can boycott them

Jaysus guys. The main point of my post was that a third of the businesses were outside the city centre. It not just a city centre problem.

I wasn't trying to be patronising, he asked for updates on the places that had moved or were closed / reopened. Thats all I was doing. eg Next didn't close, it moved out to the Parkway and River Island took over the unit and Ecowarm seems to be still trading.

@RonMexico. I didn't realise it wasn't your own list.

RonMexico · 26-10-2011 7:38pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Jaysus guys. The main point of my post was that a third of the businesses were outside the city centre. It not just a city centre problem.

I wasn't trying to be patronising, he asked for updates on the places that had moved or were closed / reopened. Thats all I was doing. eg Next didn't close, it moved out to the Parkway and River Island took over the unit and Ecowarm seems to be still trading.

@RonMexico. I didn't realise it wasn't your own list.

No worries. The bit in bold though I have to address. By moving out to the Parkway it closed the branch on Cruises Street. Did they rehire the same staff? Also by moving to the parkway it has a negative effect on the city.

The reason I am saying this is because some people (maybe yourself/maybe not) seem to think that moving a business doesn't matter. Maybe within the city but when it is from the city to the likes of the Parkway or Crescent it very much matters. It results in a city with little or no attractions for shoppers and this results in a zombie city with little or no footfall which only puts the remaining stores under even more pressure.

Poxyshamrock · 26-10-2011 9:01pm

Cruises Street had some rate incentive for the first 15 years. That's why come the late 2000s a lot of the shops were struggling with the jack up in rent and had to leave.

The units were tiny aswell.
You couldn't swing a cat in Next. They probably would have stayed if they had a decent sized unit.

The units on Bedford Row arent much better. They're grand for the shops that use them but they'll never attract the likes of Topshop or a H&M.

Kess73 · 26-10-2011 10:45pm

bigpink wrote: »

What business is doing this and people can boycott them

They are breaking no law by doing so. So naming a business that is doing something that I personally find to be pretty underhand but that is not illegal to do would only end badly for me.

Kess73 · 26-10-2011 10:53pm

RonMexico wrote: »

No worries. The bit in bold though I have to address. By moving out to the Parkway it closed the branch on Cruises Street. Did they rehire the same staff? Also by moving to the parkway it has a negative effect on the city.

The reason I am saying this is because some people (maybe yourself/maybe not) seem to think that moving a business doesn't matter. Maybe within the city but when it is from the city to the likes of the Parkway or Crescent it very much matters. It results in a city with little or no attractions for shoppers and this results in a zombie city with little or no footfall which only puts the remaining stores under even more pressure.

All true, but what tends to get ignored is what most of the businesses that leave the city for the outskirts say in relation to why they left. Almost all that gave interviews to the local press stated that it was not cost effective for them to stay in Limerick city and that anything they said to the City council fell on deaf ears.

The city council can whinge about the Crescent shopping centre and the other out of town centres all they like, but for as long as the city stays uncompetitive in terms of rates, rents, and services for businesses the city will continue to see unit after unit become empty.

munstergirl · 27-10-2011 12:25pm

2 more shops closed in arthur quay.

Ladies 2nd hand clothes shop as you go in door on left.

Mc sweeney pharmacy, big accross way from tesco/patrick st. Sign in window ceased trading till further notice.

munstergirl · 27-10-2011 12:26pm

2 more shops closed in arthur quay.

Ladies 2nd hand clothes shop as you go in door on left.

Mc sweeney pharmacy, accross way from tesco/patrick st. Sign in window ceased trading till further notice.

Poxyshamrock · 27-10-2011 1:46pm

munstergirl wrote: »

2 more shops closed in arthur quay.

Ladies 2nd hand clothes shop as you go in door on left.

Mc sweeney pharmacy, accross way from tesco/patrick st. Sign in window ceased trading till further notice.

2nd Avenue Style has relocated to Thomas Street.

ABEasy · 27-10-2011 1:55pm

munstergirl wrote: »

2 more shops closed in arthur quay.

Ladies 2nd hand clothes shop as you go in door on left.

Mc sweeney pharmacy, accross way from tesco/patrick st. Sign in window ceased trading till further notice.

McSweeney's was put into interim examinership in the high court today. No link but on rte website.