Limerick Businesses Closed V 2.0 [Mod note post 1]

Jofspring

Cruises Street is still a morgue Monday to Friday and not a whole pile better on a Saturday. Not surprised they have closed. So after it looking like cruises Street was going to be at full capacity a few years ago it's now, Thornton's empty, Art and Hobby empty, eir mobile empty, anything else?

Avatar MIA

Jofspring wrote: »

So after it looking like cruises Street was going to be at full capacity a few years ago it's now, Thornton's empty, Art and Hobby empty, eir mobile empty, anything else?

A far cry from when it first opened up. It's an extension of William Street now.

It may be unrealistic rent demands or the confusion of what's going into the proposed development, but it's looking now like it's not going to revert back to a serious shopping focal point.

I still think parking is the biggest problem facing the city centre. Apart from BT and to a lesser extent Debenhams there's noting in the city centre to make you pay for parking.

stefanovich

Mr E wrote: »

The sign says that they look forward to seeing everyone in their shop in the Crescent Shopping Centre. Shame, I was in there before Christmas and it was quite busy.

Yes, but we are going from 2 shops in Limerick to 1. It's not like they moved.

dominatinMC

Jofspring wrote: »

Cruises Street is still a morgue Monday to Friday and not a whole pile better on a Saturday. Not surprised they have closed. So after it looking like cruises Street was going to be at full capacity a few years ago it's now, Thornton's empty, Art and Hobby empty, eir mobile empty, anything else?

I realise that Cruises St. isn't the most desirable of shopping streets, and is badly in need of a revamp, but there is a larer issue than parking at play here imo. Probably stating the obvious, but online shopping is killing traditional brick-and-mortar stores. When you think of it, how can they possibly compete? Unless someone wants something immediately, they can order the item they want from the convenience of their couch, and get it for more-or-less the same price (often cheaper). And in most cases, that money being spent online isn't going to support the local economy, apart from couriers/delivery services. Surely, we are approaching a point at which some sort of online tax will have to be introduced to curb online shopping and entice people back onto our streets.

Avatar MIA

dominatinMC wrote: »

I realise that Cruises St. isn't the most desirable of shopping streets, and is badly in need of a revamp, but there is a larer issue than parking at play here imo. Probably stating the obvious, but online shopping is killing traditional brick-and-mortar stores. When you think of it, how can they possibly compete? Unless someone wants something immediately, they can order the item they want from the convenience of their couch, and get it for more-or-less the same price (often cheaper). And in most cases, that money being spent online isn't going to support the local economy, apart from couriers/delivery services. Surely, we are approaching a point at which some sort of online tax will have to be introduced to curb online shopping and entice people back onto our streets.

The above is a factor for sure, but go the Crescent any day and in particular on a weekend and you'll see plenty of money spent still in B&M (or, in this case, more like metal) stores.

Poxyshamrock

Cruises Street should have formed part of Limerick 2030. It was past its sell by date by about 2004. 15 years later and we’re still trying to flog a dead horse. The quality of tenants has significantly decreased.

Vanquished

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

Cruises Street should have formed part of Limerick 2030. It was past its sell by date by about 2004. 15 years later and we’re still trying to flog a dead horse. The quality of tenants has significantly decreased.

It was a disaster from conception. Horrendously designed and woefully inadequate. The site was never big enough to accommodate a large retail project. To think an historic 200 year old hotel was sacrificed in favour of this ****e! We're great at destroying fine buildings for cheap rubbish in Limerick!

They should've conserved and modernised the hotel and focused on rejuvenating the laneways and side streets in that area. We might have got some kind of a useful legacy then.

BoardAtWork

Vanquished wrote: »

It was a disaster from conception. Horrendously designed and woefully inadequate. The site was never big enough to accommodate a large retail project. To think an historic 200 year old hotel was sacrificed in favour of this ****e! We're great at destroying fine buildings for cheap rubbish in Limerick!

They should've conserved and modernised the hotel and focused on rejuvenating the laneways and side streets in that area. We might have got some kind of a useful legacy then.

Seeing old pictures of Limerick is depressing. Cruises Hotel, Cannocks, and Todds were all great looking buildings. All replaced with ****e.

Avatar MIA

BoardAtWork wrote: »

Seeing old pictures of Limerick is depressing. Cruises Hotel, Cannocks, and Todds were all great looking buildings. All replaced with ****e.

You mean you don't like what they've done to the BT building ?

How they got away with that architectural terrorism I don't know.

Poxyshamrock

Avatar MIA wrote: »

You mean you don't like what they've done to the BT building ?

How they got away with that architectural terrorism I don't know.

One wonders if the store didn’t burn to the ground would they have knocked it anyway?

Treepole

BoardAtWork wrote: »

Seeing old pictures of Limerick is depressing. Cruises Hotel, Cannocks, and Todds were all great looking buildings. All replaced with ****e.

Avatar MIA

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

One wonders if the store didn’t burn to the ground would they have knocked it anyway?

It was quite elegant before the fire, but while the façade was never pretty (post fire) it's an eyesore in its current incarnation.

JamesBond2010

Havent been in crusies street in ages when did thortons the chocolate place close ?? as for online shopping thing (fault of some of the stores as well customer service is crap you ask do they have a certain item in stock - i dont know??,when is it coming back in stock ??? probally not never again. could you order it??... Less hassle to buy it online & u can see if it is in stock or not & if they are getting it again.

The Specialist

dominatinMC wrote: »

Surely, we are approaching a point at which some sort of online tax will have to be introduced to curb online shopping and entice people back onto our streets.

No, the onus is on physical retail outlets to adapt or die. That's just the way it is now. If you can't compete with online retailer prices then tough ****.

dominatinMC

The Specialist wrote: »

No, the onus is on physical retail outlets to adapt or die. That's just the way it is now. If you can't compete with online retailer prices then tough ****.

Judging by the current state of retail streets in Irish cities, it looks the latter will prevail unless something is done. Having a raft a empty retail units and dead city centres is not something that I want to see. I've no skin in the game but, online shopping is diverting money out of local economies and into the back pocket of the likes of Jeff Bezos. Ultimately, that is not going to help improve Limerick

Cookiemunster

dominatinMC wrote: »

Judging by the current state of retail streets in Irish cities, it looks the latter will prevail unless something is done. Having a raft a empty retail units and dead city centres is not something that I want to see. I've no skin in the game but, online shopping is diverting money out of local economies and into the back pocket of the likes of Jeff Bezos. Ultimately, that is not going to help improve Limerick

Getting more people actually living and working in the city will bring more retail. People are currently disincentivised to shop in the city centre when large shopping centres with free parking are easier to shop in.

But if you're already in the city centre living or working you're more likely to shop there

Vanquished

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

One wonders if the store didn’t burn to the ground would they have knocked it anyway?

We'll never know but the Todd's disaster was the catalyst for huge changes in the city centre. Not for the better either. Within two years the Royal George Hotel tore down it's attractive traditional facade and rebuilt the hotel as a concrete monstrosity reminiscient of the multi storey hotels that popped up in the southern European holiday destinations at the time.

Even worse was to follow. In the most inexplicable act of stupidity, Cannock's thought it was a good idea to demolish their magnificent facade and clock in 1961. It's believed they were paranoid that they would be left at a disadvantage by Todd's new store and so decided to copy them. It was a disastrous move and the business folder less than 20 years later.

Here's an interesting take from Frank McDonald on Cruise's Hotel from 1991.

http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/Cruise019.pdf

Cookiemunster

While I don't disagree with any of the architectural arguments, to say that Cannocks closed a whole two decades later because of the new building is a bit of a stretch.

Avatar MIA

Re Royal George pic. Limerick was fairly advanced back then with the 'self drive cars'

Mc Love

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Re Royal George pic. Limerick was fairly advanced back then with the 'self drive cars'

The Royal George was an incredible building! Much much better than what is there today

CONSI

Cruises street is a mess and not getting any better. Opera Lane is Cork is about the only one that I can think of in the country that might be worth looking at for inspiration. Saying that who would set up there when the street is covered in rubbish, half eaten take aways, vomit, broken glass etc most mornings after the night before..

Vanquished

Cookiemunster wrote: »

While I don't disagree with any of the architectural arguments, to say that Cannocks closed a whole two decades later because of the new building is a bit of a stretch.

You're the one stretching things. The firm was facing challenges and was the subject of a number of takeover bids in the 1960s. The destruction and rebuilding of the store cost them a significant amount of money but didn't increase the profitability of the business. The new appearance and strategy didn't find favour with the public either and the company stagnated and declined from there on in. Did the new building lead directly to the failure of the company? No. But it certainly contributed.

It obviously never dawned on them that by destroying the ornate exterior and clock tower they were destroying their signature feature and the one clear advantage they had over Todd's who had lost their original building to a huge fire.

Cookiemunster

Vanquished wrote: »

You're the one stretching things. The firm was facing challenges and was the subject of a number of takeover bids in the 1960s. The destruction and rebuilding of the store cost them a significant amount of money but didn't increase the profitability of the business. The new appearance and strategy didn't find favour with the public either and the company stagnated and declined from there on in. Did the new building lead directly to the failure of the company? No. But it certainly contributed.

It obviously never dawned on them that by destroying the ornate exterior and clock tower they were destroying their signature feature and the one clear advantage they had over Todd's who had lost their original building to a huge fire.

So I'm stretching, but you admit in the same post that the new building didn't directly lead to them going under. 23 years later. OK........

Vanquished

I never actually said it did. You were the one keen to portray it as such for some weird reason. Although I've a fair idea why.

James Bond Junior

What is the story with Badass Burittos? I thought they were due to close, still open as I passed earlier.

Derbhoy

Kuwaiti Airlines pulled out of Shannon Airport with immediate effect that's 18 bedrooms occupied 365 days of the year in the Absolute Hotel not to mention the transport contracts from Limerick to Shannon.

Shn99

Derbhoy wrote: »

Kuwaiti Airlines pulled out of Shannon Airport with immediate effect that's 18 bedrooms occupied 365 days of the year in the Absolute Hotel not to mention the transport contracts from Limerick to Shannon.

They survived before them, they’ll be able to survive now. Great hotel dount itd go down that easily

Derbhoy

Ah yea in general it's disappointing for the region for Shannon and Limerick. The hotel will be fine I would imagine.

Louche Lad

Shn99 wrote: »

Derbhoy wrote: »

Kuwaiti Airlines pulled out of Shannon Airport with immediate effect that's 18 bedrooms occupied 365 days of the year in the Absolute Hotel not to mention the transport contracts from Limerick to Shannon.

They survived before them, they’ll be able to survive now. Great hotel dount itd go down that easily

I like the bar there, especially in summer when you can sit on their terrace.

Louche Lad

Shn99 wrote: »

Derbhoy wrote: »

Kuwaiti Airlines pulled out of Shannon Airport with immediate effect that's 18 bedrooms occupied 365 days of the year in the Absolute Hotel not to mention the transport contracts from Limerick to Shannon.

They survived before them, they’ll be able to survive now. Great hotel dount itd go down that easily

I like the bar there, especially in summer when you can sit on their terrace.