Ferguson's Chemist closing.

Comhrá

Just heard on the local radio that Ferguson's Chemist is closing down.
Another telling loss of a long-established City Centre business.

http://www3.live95fm.ie/news/news-item.aspx?arti_guid=798a8c08-51f5-4ef1-9048-d1cd5ffa8671

munstergirl

I walked into Town last week and noticed there are shops closing everywhere that are not making the news... or you see in Little Boutiques.. Closing down sale. Its quite sad.

Someday I'll walk into Limerick and there will be no shops left!!!!

The only place that is busy is penneys & the dole office & post offices (where people are collecting there Dole.

On Cruises Street, gone in the last few months.
Vodafone
Barretts
Early Learning Centre
Japan

We got 2 empty Dunnes Building.

Empty Units in all the shopping Centres.

And it won't stop until some jobs come from somewhere, I know the whole world is in recession... But I don't know Limerick just seems to be effected worse, Was in Cork a few weeks ago, and the City was busy!!!!! Limerick Shops are quite empty... The crescent might be busy, People walking around with nothing else to do!!!! But the shops them selves are quite empty too...

Until people get jobs & some spending money... Its going to get worse!!!!
And we really don't need an Opera Centre... until we fill all the empty shops 1st!!!

Mc Love

Limerick city shopping has gone down hill - there are too many retail centres outside of the city which has affected this big time. The last thing I bought in the city, i could have bought from the Crescent.

I wanted to keep a limerick shop in business. And I only tend to go to town to have a haircut or when i am going out for the night

Pikasso

The biggest deterrent for me going in to town is parking and traffic, unfortunately.

I like walking around town once I get in as there have been a lot of improvements lately (Bedford Row, Thomas St etc).
However, Arthur's Quay S.C. and Cruises St need to be knocked completely and the succeeding buildings/streets brought into the 21st century.

Also, Limerick restaurants and cafes are far nicer than any you'll find in S.C.'s.

My fear is that I'll get caught in some traffic jam on the way in or out of town, and the incessant driving around the streets, or ever ascending climb in car parks, looking for a space is not pleasant.

One other point. In S.C.'s management take complete control of charities looking for help and confine them to certain areas where you are not approached. There are NO beggars - the amount of beggars on the streets of Limerick is embarrassing. And I can't stand the constant harassment from charity seekers. (BTW I do give to charity on a constant basis but not to people on the streets - I don't like being hassled).

Why not have one overall security management for the city centre like the shopping centres do? If it was 24 hour surely this would solve an incredible amount of fears that people have parking, socialising, etc and would make our city one of the safest places to shop in Ireland

Overall, I think Limerick city centre is losing out because of the hassle of getting there, parking, security, and begging.

topper75

Pikasso wrote: »

The biggest deterrent for me going in to town is parking and traffic, unfortunately.

I like walking around town once I get in as there have been a lot of improvements lately (Bedford Row, Thomas St etc).
However, Arthur's Quay S.C. and Cruises St need to be knocked completely and the succeeding buildings/streets brought into the 21st century.

Also, Limerick restaurants and cafes are far nicer than any you'll find in S.C.'s.

My fear is that I'll get caught in some traffic jam on the way in or out of town, and the incessant driving around the streets, or ever ascending climb in car parks, looking for a space is not pleasant.

One other point. In S.C.'s management take complete control of charities looking for help and confine them to certain areas where you are not approached. There are NO beggars - the amount of beggars on the streets of Limerick is embarrassing. And I can't stand the constant harassment from charity seekers. (BTW I do give to charity on a constant basis but not to people on the streets - I don't like being hassled).

Why not have one overall security management for the city centre like the shopping centres do? If it was 24 hour surely this would solve an incredible amount of fears that people have parking, socialising, etc and would make our city one of the safest places to shop in Ireland

Overall, I think Limerick city centre is losing out because of the hassle of getting there, parking, security, and begging.

Good points there Pikasso. hard to think of a remedy for the begging/charity hassle as streets are public places.

I think the Opera centre should have been designated instead for the block opposite the station on Parnell St. That block is the first thing most visitors see and it is run down, has been for decades. There was no eyesore to fix really in Patrick St. An attractive shopping centre and a gorgeous Victorian public park would compliment the existing train station building nicely. It would be a good start on which to build. We could work on then progressively on other blocks downtown, opening up a channel towards a broad river Shannon vista on the old quays, and turn Limerick city centre around over the remainder of the 21st century. It would take time, but we have a lot of time now in Limerick.

Retail is suffering badly right now and Fergusons is another sad victim. Limerick cannot work as a self-contained economic entity, and until we start to turn our focus on attracting OUTSIDE visitors and shoppers, we may continue our downward trajectory.

Aidric

Pikasso wrote: »

Cruises St need to be knocked completely and the succeeding buildings/streets brought into the 21st century.

I seriously do not get people who make this point. Cruises St is one of the most pleaseant shopping streets in town, albeit with a few empty units now.
It's William St & O Connell St that need to be brought in to this century.

thomond2006

Shame about the Chemist's.

It is a sector that Boots are dominating at the moment. Independent shops just can't compete.

OT but the reason the pharmacy strike a few weeks back was a failure was Boots didn't get involved.

billy the squid

Fergusons were alwayhs good for cameras, better than the crap you would get in currys and less expensive than the stuff in Walshes.

sioda

Used to get all my pics developed there back in the non digital days there is still a pile of hard backed black albums on my book shelves ah the memories

panda100

thomond2006 wrote: »

Shame about the Chemist's.

It is a sector that Boots are dominating at the moment. Independent shops just can't compete.

OT but the reason the pharmacy strike a few weeks back was a failure was Boots didn't get involved.

And theres Superdrug too. For cosmetics,shampoo's etc the smaller chemists just cant compete. Also,its very handy having a prescription in Boots because If you travel away from Limerick and need an emergency supply you'll be on the Boots system and wont be caught short.

Is O'Sullivans pharmacy's still going?

sioda

panda100 wrote: »

Is O'Sullivans pharmacy's still going?

Yup has 4 shops now