Limerick's Retail Strategy

Stab*City

I see in the paper today that the usual suspects are planning a new and exciting retail plan for limerick.. No extentions/retail parks allowed outside the city for 6 years.. Plans to get the opera centre going.. And attract multinational retailers into the city..

or in plain english

"OMFG what are we going to do to fix the massive vaccum we have created!!"

Not only have they destroyed the city shopping but now you cant even get into the city from the roxboro side!!

Oh but hey i forgot we now have a new river crossing and its only 2010!! What next a luas in 2030?

Nockz

Hater's gonna hate

I'm up to my gills in the amount of places to go shopping really. I can't wait to see the Opera building once it's finished. In between the Locke bar and Arthur's Quay is just boring as is. (Except for the Hunt Museum. I love you, don't go!)

I dunno what you really wanted to discuss though...

Millie

I really do hope the Opera Centre goes ahead as the city is a shambles right now. I was out last night and was walking down to The Lough and it really hit home how run down and knacker(ish) the city is at present.

A major overhaul is required as in comaprison to Cork, Galway etc we are leagues behind.

kenoconnell

Millie wrote: »

I really do hope the Opera Centre goes ahead as the city is a shambles right now. I was out last night and was walking down to The Lough and it really hit home how run down and knacker(ish) the city is at present.

A major overhaul is required as in comaprison to Cork, Galway etc we are leagues behind.

Second that, the opera centre not going ahead has affected numerous small business this end of town, the hoardings are an earsore for graffiti and fly posting which we endevour to keep clean and maintain.

Without getting into the politics its affecting many people and is needed to generate employement for the trade and retail afterwards and hopefully kick start some positiveness for the city centre which lacks it.

Sorry to see that Toni & Guy have closed up.

Good to see that market has re opened and on fri's and extra days too, if people haven't been there in a while its definately worth a visit as the quality and range of products there is extremely high and no reflection on the boxes of Daz or bottle of pop being sold outside on the street.

Enjoy the weekend.

Ken

Aidric

kenoconnell wrote: »

Sorry to see that Toni & Guy have closed up.

Didn't know that. Tony Connolly's will be all that's left on Patrick St soon enough.

dave 27

i think the thing that effected businesses most is that everywhere was closed down in anticipation to these places opening but they never did so were left with a ghost town and almost a stalemate situation..its up the the council to get the ball rolling again

Millie

Toni & Guy are gone....jesus the celtic tiger is well and truely dead!

Raiser

Millie wrote: »

Toni & Guy are gone....jesus the celtic tiger is well and truely dead!

Yeah and the Limerick Planning Office are standing over the Corpse, kicking it and contemplating giving it a good, dirty f.......

- They should be called forward onto some suitable platform someday and asked to explain thge miserable, mess of poor planning decisons across the board.

Whats the point in even having them and paying their huge wages if People are simply allowed pull up in Trucks and pour Concrete at will wherever they please?

RonMexico

The Opera Centre will never happen as long as The Council and Corporation are riddled by inept, brain dead, close minded, petty gob****es.

I'd sack every last one of them in the morning, both places are a catch all for misfits and wasters of the lowest common denominator.

Stab*City

Another feature of this strategy is compulsory purchase orders.. The council claim the reason its so hard to get the big multinational retailers in is there is no place suitable to put them..

in plain english

say goodbye to the few little niche shops that you all love so much!

Stab*City

ya cant wait for the opera house to save limerick as well..:rolleyes:

Stab*City

Nockz wrote: »

I dunno what you really wanted to discuss though...

The new Limerick retail strategy.

Insect Overlord

Did you really need three separate posts for that?

Aidric

Stab*City wrote: »

in plain english

say goodbye to the few little niche shops that you all love so much!

I'd say you haven't a clue.

Stab*City

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Did you really need three separate posts for that?

Why is there some post quota i dont know about?

Stab*City

Aidric wrote: »

I'd say you haven't a clue.

Is say you do. Its not like things like this dont happen round here..

Nockz

Stab*City wrote: »

Is say you do. Its not like things like this dont happen round here..

Step back and read that... What are you trying to say?

And surely someone like yourself would know that double/triple posting on any forum is generally frowned upon.

Stab*City

Nockz wrote: »

Step back and read that... What are you trying to say?

And surely someone like yourself would know that double/triple posting on any forum is generally frowned upon.

Seems like everything around here is frowned upon!!:eek: Ok sorry for the double post.. i just find it funny that the council is doing its best to put shops out of business yet seems to be championed for a "plan" to fix the problem they created in the first place..

Nockz

Stab*City wrote: »

Seems like everything around here is frowned upon!!:eek: Ok sorry for the double post.. i just find it funny that the council is doing its best to put shops out of business yet seems to be championed for a "plan" to fix the problem they created in the first place..

Emerald Alpine and the likes have moved further into the city allowing for a greater city center for retail purposes. This new Opera house will do loads to get people back into the city as opposed to just having to go out to UL on occasion.

How have the council been doing it's best to put shops out of business?

To be fair a lot of the small niche shops are doing no worse than any time really. Not really all that much losing out... Patrick Street has been dying it's death for the last decade to be fair.

Stab*City

Nockz wrote: »

Emerald Alpine and the likes have moved further into the city allowing for a greater city center for retail purposes. This new Opera house will do loads to get people back into the city as opposed to just having to go out to UL on occasion.

How have the council been doing it's best to put shops out of business?

To be fair a lot of the small niche shops are doing no worse than any time really. Not really all that much losing out... Patrick Street has been dying it's death for the last decade to be fair.

Oh so all the retailers on the front of the paper a few weeks ago saying rates are killing them was a joke was it?

How does Emerald Alpine moving to the city centre make for a greater city centre for retail purposes?

And to answer your last comment:

Fergusons
Falks
Empire Music
Fuschia
Clancys
Pet shop cecil st

and thats just a few from this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055843281&page=1

some of the above mentioned that it was more or less totally down to rent & rates that they packed up shop..

thats why i find it funny about the new strategy.. looks like their strategy all along was to milk the retailers for everything until they eventually got outta dodge..

And as for the opera centre there hasnt even been a brick knocked or laid.. So the saviour is goona be a while coming yet..

Diairist

has opera gone / will opera go to NAMA ?

Kess73

Diairist wrote: »

has opera gone / will opera go to NAMA ?

Seems a big chunk of the project is/was Anglo Irish linked.

Villa Limerick

Folks, I really cant see the Opera centre getting going at all.
And Limerick Citys biggest problem is the boundary extension the council is broke has no money and needs the extension to raise money to enhance the city.
You would have seen the city centre plan in the papers when the bedford row and thomas st style pedestrianisation is extended to patrick and william st the city centre is amazing.
The problem in the city is the units are too small for the "big" retailers ! Maybe knocking out the walls in some cruises street units is the answer and making the units bigger. Or knock cruises st ? Crusies Hotel should never have been knocked that was a DISGRACE. Or maybe the back of Debenhams the old Roches Stores food shop should be flattened with the small units and build a big store there.
The old Dunnes on the bridge is a perfect spot for a cinema complex.
Most important folks, the glass is always half full. I hate the knockers who say Limerick is a kip, if you dont like Limerick and dont want to be here move to Clare ! Be productive make your suggestions not crying !

hightower1

Nockz wrote: »

I can't wait to see the Opera building once it's finished.

Shouldnt that be "I can't wait to see the Opera building once it's STARTED." ?????

Personally as a fan of I am Legend / mad max etc , I quite like the whole abandoned / apocolyptic look they have achieved in the area. :rolleyes:

hightower1

Villa Limerick wrote: »

Folks, I really cant see the Opera centre getting going at all.
And Limerick Citys biggest problem is the boundary extension the council is broke has no money and needs the extension to raise money to enhance the city.
You would have seen the city centre plan in the papers when the bedford row and thomas st style pedestrianisation is extended to patrick and william st the city centre is amazing.
The problem in the city is the units are too small for the "big" retailers ! Maybe knocking out the walls in some cruises street units is the answer and making the units bigger. Or knock cruises st ? Crusies Hotel should never have been knocked that was a DISGRACE. Or maybe the back of Debenhams the old Roches Stores food shop should be flattened with the small units and build a big store there.
The old Dunnes on the bridge is a perfect spot for a cinema complex.
Most important folks, the glass is always half full. I hate the knockers who say Limerick is a kip, if you dont like Limerick and dont want to be here move to Clare ! Be productive make your suggestions not crying !

I agree completely, the retail space is the main issue. The UK chain stores maximise profit by being able to buy in bulk and stock in bulk. In a smaller shop you simply cant do that effectivly. Thats not to say getting larger stores into the city is impossible.... its just going to take some balls to get it sorted......

Outlaying area's of the city need to be converted to car parking space, places like the old revenue building.

Next they need to radically pedestrianise the city center... the city center is used in no small part by people who dont drive simply cause the public transprt links all hub here so why not take full advantage of that by pedestrianising. It also gives a brand new atmosphere to the city center which is much needed to announce a change.

Lastly the larger chain stores need space to be able set up shop, in all fairness what big retailer does NOT want a store in the city center if the space is there to be cost effective? Places like william street need to be converted to brand new shop fronts approx the size of three existing units together.

Think in terms of Bedford roe, this is an excellent area for both socialising and shopping, its both airy and open while still providing commanding shopping footfall for retailers. I live a penthouse overlooking the area so I can honestly say this is an excellent example of how new Limercik should be. Yes, its not perfect what with the kiddy club / pub the bitter end and one vacant retail space BUT even with this taken into account it is quite simply a nice place to be in the city.

The downside is to get the space we will loose a lot of the city personality like the georgain buildings BUT as it stands the majority of these are now rotting corpses of the memory of thriving limerick, its time to let go and let Limerick evolve.

Stab*City

hightower1 wrote: »

I agree completely, the retail space is the main issue. The UK chain stores maximise profit by being able to buy in bulk and stock in bulk. In a smaller shop you simply cant do that effectivly. Thats not to say getting larger stores into the city is impossible.... its just going to take some balls to get it sorted......

Outlaying area's of the city need to be converted to car parking space, places like the old revenue building.

Next they need to radically pedestrianise the city center... the city center is used in no small part by people who dont drive simply cause the public transprt links all hub here so why not take full advantage of that by pedestrianising. It also gives a brand new atmosphere to the city center which is much needed to announce a change.

Lastly the larger chain stores need space to be able set up shop, in all fairness what big retailer does NOT want a store in the city center if the space is there to be cost effective? Places like william street need to be converted to brand new shop fronts approx the size of three existing units together.

Think in terms of Bedford roe, this is an excellent area for both socialising and shopping, its both airy and open while still providing commanding shopping footfall for retailers. I live a penthouse overlooking the area so I can honestly say this is an excellent example of how new Limercik should be. Yes, its not perfect what with the kiddy club / pub the bitter end and one vacant retail space BUT even with this taken into account it is quite simply a nice place to be in the city.

The downside is to get the space we will loose a lot of the city personality like the georgain buildings BUT as it stands the majority of these are now rotting corpses of the memory of thriving limerick, its time to let go and let Limerick evolve.

This beautiful metropolis you speak of is a great idea but in fairness they cant even get the opera centre started..

Limerick Dude

Stab*City wrote: »

This beautiful metropolis you speak of is a great idea but in fairness they cant even get the opera centre started..

Its pretty much out of the councils hands now, the money for that project was being funded by Anglo Irish, its up to NAMA now to see if it goes ahead.

kenoconnell

Stab*City wrote: »

Oh so all the retailers on the front of the paper a few weeks ago saying rates are killing them was a joke was it?

How does Emerald Alpine moving to the city centre make for a greater city centre for retail purposes?

And to answer your last comment:

Fergusons
Falks
Empire Music
Fuschia
Clancys
Pet shop cecil st

and thats just a few from this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055843281&page=1

some of the above mentioned that it was more or less totally down to rent & rates that they packed up shop..

thats why i find it funny about the new strategy.. looks like their strategy all along was to milk the retailers for everything until they eventually got outta dodge..

And as for the opera centre there hasnt even been a brick knocked or laid.. So the saviour is goona be a while coming yet..

For my two cents and from personal experience, its easy blame the council and their rates, if kept on top of the rates aren't the critical issue in business's closing, I think the council are always last to be paid as they put no pressure on for payment at the start and then when things are going bad, and they start looking for money the pressure is really on.. I know from one place that closed that they hadn't paid any rates at all and then are complaining about them.

Some of the rents people were paying were far too much for business to sustain, that's a general comment and not a specific one as fergusons who have been previuosly mentioned had been there for years so one would imagine that they wouldn't have got into a high rent recent celtic tiger lease...

And before anyone says its easy, I owe the council a fortune in city rates, water rates etc and am only keeping on top of my payements, dealing with current is another days work!!!!

Easy blame a broad organisation like the council, I see them waste money every day but there are also good people there who try hard and are dedicated to ehat they do so I think its unfair to tarnish everyone down there with the 1 brush...

Anyways, just my 2 cents and I've no aganda's ...

rains back, hopefully it'll help the council clean the street :-)

K

Stab*City

kenoconnell wrote: »

For my two cents and from personal experience, its easy blame the council and their rates, if kept on top of the rates aren't the critical issue in business's closing, I think the council are always last to be paid as they put no pressure on for payment at the start and then when things are going bad, and they start looking for money the pressure is really on.. I know from one place that closed that they hadn't paid any rates at all and then are complaining about them.

Some of the rents people were paying were far too much for business to sustain, that's a general comment and not a specific one as fergusons who have been previuosly mentioned had been there for years so one would imagine that they wouldn't have got into a high rent recent celtic tiger lease...

And before anyone says its easy, I owe the council a fortune in city rates, water rates etc and am only keeping on top of my payements, dealing with current is another days work!!!!

Easy blame a broad organisation like the council, I see them waste money every day but there are also good people there who try hard and are dedicated to ehat they do so I think its unfair to tarnish everyone down there with the 1 brush...

Anyways, just my 2 cents and I've no aganda's ...

rains back, hopefully it'll help the council clean the street :-)

K

Thats a fair comment, i mean if ya dont pay the bills its enevatable that they will end up in trouble..

Acapella

Trying to get a copy of this updated Mid-West Retail Strategy. I emailed the city council and a few councillors yet still unsure if I can get my hands on it.

One response said to go to Planning Office and pay €5 and its mine. Another said it ain't available til the committee sign off on it....thought it was a done deal? Finally the last response said it will be available in July!

Easier get a parking ticket :P

mgbgt1978

Nockz wrote: »

Emerald Alpine and the likes have moved further into the city allowing for a greater city center for retail purposes. This newOpera house will do loads to get people back into the city as opposed to just having to go out to UL on occasion.

How have the council been doing it's best to put shops out of business?

To be fair a lot of the small niche shops are doing no worse than any time really. Not really all that much losing out... Patrick Street has been dying it's death for the last decade to be fair.

You Do Know that this is a proposed Shopping Centre, NOT A Concert Hall or Theatre.
By the way technically we all own the opera centre now....Anglo-Irish bank are stakeholders and they have been nationalised by the government.

phill106

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

You Do Know that this is a proposed Shopping Centre, NOT A Concert Hall or Theatre.
By the way technically we all own the opera centre now....Anglo-Irish bank are stakeholders and they have been nationalised by the government.

Must pop down and lay claim to a nice section for myself...

zuroph

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

You Do Know that this is a proposed Shopping Centre, NOT A Concert Hall or Theatre.
By the way technically we all own the opera centre now....Anglo-Irish bank are stakeholders and they have been nationalised by the government.

lol. Hadnt spotted that. Argued fairly strongly on a subject he clearly knew very little about :rolleyes:

postdarwin

Anglo had/have a 50% interest in the Opera Centre. It is definitely not going ahead now.

Also I must emphasise the point made by mgbgt1978 (it took 30 replies to get made!), the "Opera" centre is merely another boutique shopping complex--there is no connection with music or the arts. No chance the city would invest in a real multi-disciplinary arts centre?

Waterford (pop. 45,000) has at least three theatre spaces (Theatre Royal, Garter Lane, The Forum) with City Hall and WRTC often used for shows too.

For the last year or two, all we've had is the Belltable-on-Sea in Cecil St. Very few people even know it's there, since there is risible signage. It's great to see The Loft venue opening up above the Locke bar, but that's running on a shoestring and the mere fumes of goodwill.

More shopping? That's the last thing we need.

Nockz

zuroph wrote: »

lol. Hadnt spotted that. Argued fairly strongly on a subject he clearly knew very little about :rolleyes:

I feel it necessary to inform Boards that my hair is indeed blonde and I will more than likely make another idiot of myself in the times to come.

Just as well I opted out of that meet up for now eh? :cool: