Supervalu in kennedy street to close

screamer

What a pity. Was in the shopping centre there about 2 months ago and it's so sad to see a place that was once buzzing with people and shops absolutely empty with empty shops. Fairgreen really finished it and when superquinn left there was no way a supervalu could save it. Over 50 jobs to go too not good at all.

road_high

Dissaponting but not entirely surprising. If say it's been struggling a long time. There's so many supermarkets in the town now and it was the only one charging for car parking despite the one hour free.

Snaffles2014

When will it close? I have to say it was really handy being in the centre of town but it was dearer than a lot of places.

hadepsx

Hold on, is this not the store near the pres college? Or is it the old superquinn in the carlow shopping centre in the middle of town?

racso1975

It's the one where superquinn used to be. Due to close late Jan the 20 something.

contrary_devil

Is it really surprising that it isn't doing a good trade? I think it is hidden away, a poor location tbh, I had forgotten that there was a supermarket there. The parking is another issue that wouldn't help.
Sad to see jobs being lost and another nail in the coffin of the town centre.

BattleCorp

I'd say that the other tenants in the Shopping Centre will be very worried now.

This will make trading conditions for them very tough.

road_high

Who could they get in there? M&S would be good but Carlow has been really struggling so unlikely top of their list.
TK Maxx?

So is the one in Market Place, Clonmel.

road_high

[Deleted User] wrote: »

So is the one in Market Place, Clonmel.

They opened exact same time, same as the one in Kilkenny. I'd say they've been struggling for sometime. I much preferred when it was SQ.

Nokia6230i

road_high wrote: »

Who could they get in there? M&S would be good but Carlow has been really struggling so unlikely top of their list.
TK Maxx?

Isn't TK Maxx "supposed" be going into where Darrers Stores was?

As a temporary anchor tenant *when* the Penneys redevelopment goes ahead it'd be an ideal fit for them surely?

It'd mean for the 18 Months to 2 Years the site is being redeveloped they'd still have a town centre presence and one that's only spitting distance from where they are; it's a perfect fit/no brainer surely?

They charge for parking as is so it wouldn't be a massive leap for their existing customer base?

The ownership of the Carlow S.C. car-park & the S.C. itself are separate.....

road_high

BattleCorp wrote: »

I'd say that the other tenants in the Shopping Centre will be very worried now.

This will make trading conditions for them very tough.

They've been already struggling majorly. It's actually a lovely building. Carlow is over supplied with retail and so much of it in the wrong places. The retail park in Graiguecullen should have been built on a far smaller scale, Dunnes should have been encouraged into the town centre.

screamer

I find the town centre is very inaccessible choked with traffic TBH. I prefer to shop on the outskirts as it's easier. There are plans to demolish those derelict houses on barrck street in order to open up a walkway between fairgreen and the caelow shopping centre but I've heard there is one objection. The old shopping centre unfortunately is a victim of its protected building status. It's outside is stern stone walls not open inviting. You'd hardly know what was in there unless you knew. A store like guineys would be great in there. You only need to see the guineys in kilkenny it's busy busy and in an out of the way location. TBH I don't see penneys ever doing the rebuild there. It's been slated for like 8 years and even the car park is falling to bits and they've done nothing with it.

strelok

screamer wrote: »

I find the town centre is very inaccessible choked with traffic TBH. I prefer to shop on the outskirts as it's easier. There are plans to demolish those derelict houses on barrck street in order to open up a walkway between fairgreen and the caelow shopping centre but I've heard there is one objection. The old shopping centre unfortunately is a victim of its protected building status. It's outside is stern stone walls not open inviting. You'd hardly know what was in there unless you knew. A store like guineys would be great in there. You only need to see the guineys in kilkenny it's busy busy and in an out of the way location. TBH I don't see penneys ever doing the rebuild there. It's been slated for like 8 years and even the car park is falling to bits and they've done nothing with it.

people need to get over the obsession with town centres in the same way supermarkets got people over their obsession with corner newsagents and main street.

it's a new time, town centres should be more for entertainment, food/drink and living with shopping a little further out where the traffic won't be as much of a nuisance.

Agent Coulson

The old CKR building beside what was the L&N is now also for sale as well.

road_high

road_high wrote: »

They've been already struggling majorly. It's actually a lovely building. Carlow is over supplied with retail and so much of it in the wrong places. The retail park in Graiguecullen should have been built on a far smaller scale, Dunnes should have been encouraged into the town centre.

I had heard that Dunnes had experienced alot of hassle with Carlow local authorities in terms of opening a store within the town boundaries. Where they are is technically speaking in Co Laois so its the closest to town they could get.

road_high

Agent Coulson wrote: »

The old CKR building beside what was the L&N is now also for sale as well.

Sure the old L&N itself is another large empty unit itself too.

Agent Coulson

road_high wrote: »

Sure the old L&N itself is another large empty unit itself too.

There are so many big empty buildings around Carlow town.

Work your way from the Court House down Dublin Street and up Tullow Street just to see how many big spaces are empty and boarded up.

road_high

Agent Coulson wrote: »

There are so many big empty buildings around Carlow town.

Work your way from the Court House down Dublin Street and up Tullow Street just to see how many big spaces are empty and boarded up.

Dublin st is a write off, charity shops and auctioneers is all I can think of.

road_high

strelok wrote: »

people need to get over the obsession with town centres in the same way supermarkets got people over their obsession with corner newsagents and main street.

it's a new time, town centres should be more for entertainment, food/drink and living with shopping a little further out where the traffic won't be as much of a nuisance.

I think you need a healthy mix. Carlow has very few tourists so needs local business in the town for vibrancy.
The design of the town centre is problematic, as two busy areas around Fairgreen and Penneys are not linked or focused towards the Main streets.

road_high

Agent Coulson wrote: »

There are so many big empty buildings around Carlow town.

Work your way from the Court House down Dublin Street and up Tullow Street just to see how many big spaces are empty and boarded up.

The Living Cities initiative should be extended to Carlow town, it would really benefit.

Laois_Man

strelok wrote: »

people need to get over the obsession with town centres in the same way supermarkets got people over their obsession with corner newsagents and main street.

it's a new time, town centre's should be more for entertainment, food/drink and living with shopping a little further out where the traffic won't be as much of a nuisance.

I don't think there's much wrong with having retail in the outskirts, but all the empty units in the three retail parks near the town(Dunne's, PC World, Ken Black's). There has to be something in the town center too because Carlow is not big enough to have a town center focused on entertainment and food/drink. Even for entertainment, you have to go out of the town for most things like a half decent children's park, The Dome, The Big Blue Barn etc

It's atrocious planning!

screamer

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I had heard that Dunnes had experienced alot of hassle with Carlow local authorities in terms of opening a store within the town boundaries. Where they are is technically speaking in Co Laois so its the closest to town they could get.

Yep heard that too also heard it was something to do with not being able to locate in a town where a certain other store was already trading hence laois got dunnes in graigue.

racso1975

screamer wrote: »

Yep heard that too also heard it was something to do with not being able to locate in a town where a certain other store was already trading hence laois got dunnes in graigue.

I think that's more fable and gentleman's agreement.

They had wanted to get in the estate where woodies is but the requirements and cost for them was just farcical. Any level of forethought from council would see they'd be there for years. So get good rates over many years instead of killing the golden goose

Snaffles2014

screamer wrote: »

I find the town centre is very inaccessible choked with traffic TBH. I prefer to shop on the outskirts as it's easier.

This is true, need to be more free flowing to be honest.

There are plans to demolish those derelict houses on barrck street in order to open up a walkway between fairgreen and the caelow shopping centre but I've heard there is one objection.

This is something that should be made a priority, not just for the centre but the whole town, really really needs to have this connection to open it all up.

The old shopping centre unfortunately is a victim of its protected building status. It's outside is stern stone walls not open inviting. You'd hardly know what was in there unless you knew.

But even that, I just think they don't make the most of what they have in there either. There is a lot more you could do, they only have to look at McDonagh Junction to see what the possibilities are. There is little or no innovation in there and there is huge potential.

A store like guineys would be great in there. You only need to see the guineys in kilkenny it's busy busy and in an out of the way location.

I wouldn't put a Guineys anywhere to be honest. Debenhams is what should be going in there.

TBH I don't see penneys ever doing the rebuild there. It's been slated for like 8 years and even the car park is falling to bits and they've done nothing with it.

Agreed, and they don't make use of the back entrance at all.

road_high wrote: »

The Living Cities initiative should be extended to Carlow town, it would really benefit.

What's that? Never heard of it

Laois_Man wrote: »

I don't think there's much wrong with having retail in the outskirts, but all the empty units in the three retail parks near the town(Dunne's, PC World, Ken Black's).

And they are so far out, and if they were consolidated you could see them adding value but the half empty sites are brutal.

There has to be something in the town center too because Carlow is not big enough to have a town center focused on entertainment and food/drink. Even for entertainment, you have to go out of the town for most things like a half decent children's park, The Dome, The Big Blue Barn etc

It's atrocious planning!

The planning is really poor, and with all the development that took place in the last while there is no particular town centre with a bustling atmosphere etc. Traffic management is poor.

racso1975 wrote: »

They had wanted to get in the estate where woodies is but the requirements and cost for them was just farcical. Any level of forethought from council would see they'd be there for years. So get good rates over many years instead of killing the golden goose

Is this true? The council prevented Dunnes from going in there? That is absolutely mental if true.

Laois_Man

Yes it's true that Dunnes were originally after a unit in the Woodies retail park. But it gets worse, they're now going in there. in a new building in the field that's at the end of that car park. The field between that retail park and Feltham Hall.

Bizzare but true.

I'm not sure when, but it's happening. And I don't know if they will close the one on Sleaty Road or run the 2 of them. I'd imagine they'll close the one out there...making it a completely deserted retail park. Even Lifestyle Sports won't stay there when Dunnes are gone.

Snaffles2014

Laois_Man wrote: »

Yes it's true that Dunnes were originally after a unit in the Woodies retail park. But it gets worse, they're now going in there. in a new building in the field that's at the end of that car park. The field between that retail park and Feltham Hall.

Bizzare but true.

I'm not sure when, but it's happening. And I don't know if they will close the one on Sleaty Road or run the 2 of them. I'd imagine they'll close the one out there...making it a completely deserted retail park. Even Lifestyle Sports won't stay there when Dunnes are gone.

That is brilliant, good news there. Its going into this field so right? Hopefully the other sites around that car park get developed as well. It would be brilliant if there was access via the junction of Green road, Hanover road, Granby road and Blackbog road.

BattleCorp

Snaffles2014 wrote: »

That is brilliant, good news there. Its going into this field so right? Hopefully the other sites around that car park get developed as well. It would be brilliant if there was access via the junction of Green road, Hanover road, Granby road and Blackbog road.

Probably not great news for the retail park where they are now.

Laois_Man

Snaffles2014 wrote: »

That is brilliant, good news there. Its going into this field so right? Hopefully the other sites around that car park get developed as well. It would be brilliant if there was access via the junction of Green road, Hanover road, Granby road and Blackbog road.

Yes that's the field. There's a whole new road being considered which does involve connecting Blackbog Road to the retail park and onwards to the Eire Og roundabout over a new bridge (not certain about that). That twin roundabout at the Hanover Road/Green Road/Blackbog Road junction is horrible as it is - so if they're adding a new 4th exit to it, something better is going to have to be figured out. Another access route through Feltham Hall also, but the residents there aren't best pleased.

byhookorbycrook

Laois Man, do you have a source for that?

road_high

Laois_Man wrote: »

Yes it's true that Dunnes were originally after a unit in the Woodies retail park. But it gets worse, they're now going in there. in a new building in the field that's at the end of that car park. The field between that retail park and Feltham Hall.

Bizzare but true.

I'm not sure when, but it's happening. And I don't know if they will close the one on Sleaty Road or run the 2 of them. I'd imagine they'll close the one out there...making it a completely deserted retail park. Even Lifestyle Sports won't stay there when Dunnes are gone.

Can't ever see that happening. Dunnes haven't opened a new store anywhere since the beginning of the recession. Especially when you see SV closing a very modern and attractive store closely, there's not a hope in hell of them building another white elephant in Carlow, especially when they have a a very large store already in Carlow. Why would they close that one? It's a very modern flagship store, no way they'll be closing that to move. It makes zero sense.

Snaffles2014

road_high wrote: »

Can't ever see that happening. Dunnes haven't opened a new store anywhere since the beginning of the recession. Especially when you see SV closing a very modern and attractive store closely, there's not a hope in hell of them building another white elephant in Carlow, especially when they have a a very large store already in Carlow. Why would they close that one? It's a very modern flagship store, no way they'll be closing that to move. It makes zero sense.

I suppose it depends on the trade they are doing compared to what they could be doing. I wouldn't think its a fair comparison when comparing the new site to the SV site. Being honest the shops there all ready are great, I'd regularly shop in most of them. If Dunnes was there and Aldi around the corner I wouldn't have to go far at all each week.

foggy_lad

strelok wrote: »

people need to get over the obsession with town centres in the same way supermarkets got people over their obsession with corner newsagents and main street.

it's a new time, town centres should be more for entertainment, food/drink and living with shopping a little further out where the traffic won't be as much of a nuisance.

What about people who don't have a car?

anyone remember when Shaws and Haddens were in full swing as well as Darrers stores for both clothing and food and there was also long Q's out the door of Crottys and there was also several more very busy shops and pubs and all this was done with two way traffic on Tullow street! And then for several months of the year there was added traffic around the town from the beet factory.

iano.p

That's the site they were looking at years ago they never were taking a unit beside woodies. Have you a source for it happening now. They would never get permission to come through Feltham with a road and that twin roundabout couldn't take another road onto it there isn't enough room. I could never see it happen

road_high

Snaffles2014 wrote: »

I suppose it depends on the trade they are doing compared to what they could be doing. I wouldn't think its a fair comparison when comparing the new site to the SV site. Being honest the shops there all ready are great, I'd regularly shop in most of them. If Dunnes was there and Aldi around the corner I wouldn't have to go far at all each week.

No way Dunnes will move. It makes no sense. They are barely holding their ground in the face of Lidl and Aldi, let alone abandon a modern newish store and go build a new one in a town already oversupplied with supermarkets. They're doing fine where they are, it's very accessible in a built up area.

Bog Man 1

Laois_Man wrote: »

Yes that's the field. There's a whole new road being considered which does involve connecting Blackbog Road to the retail park and onwards to the Eire Og roundabout over a new bridge (not certain about that). That twin roundabout at the Hanover Road/Green Road/Blackbog Road junction is horrible as it is - so if they're adding a new 4th exit to it, something better is going to have to be figured out. Another access route through Feltham Hall also, but the residents there aren't best pleased.

I would not like to have you as the town planner . Most of the road connecting Ken Blacks to Eire Og is built and in about a year and a half it will be finished with a new roundabout at Ken Blacks .There will be jackasses grazing in that field for a few years . Dunnes in Graigue is doing quite well with a good few tills open most of the time .

Laois_Man

Bog Man 1 wrote: »

I would not like to have you as the town planner . Most of the road connecting Ken Blacks to Eire Og is built and in about a year and a half it will be finished with a new roundabout at Ken Blacks .There will be jackasses grazing in that field for a few years . Dunnes in Graigue is doing quite well with a good few tills open most of the time .

What are you on about you "would not like to have me as the town planner"
Where did I say what I WOULD do if I was the town planner?

Anyways....to the rest of ye....

A quick Google of "Feltham Hall" and "Dunnes Stores" brings up Feltham Hall property already being advertised as being "adjacent to the new Dunnes Stores shopping centre"

http://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/85-feltham-hall-carlow-town-carlow/2875927

And that was a year ago
This is not new
I thought this was all common knowledge!

contrary_devil

Laois_Man wrote: »

What are you on about you "would not like to have me as the town planner"
Where did I say what I WOULD do if I was the town planner?

Anyways....to the rest of ye....

A quick Google of "Feltham Hall" and "Dunnes Stores" brings up Feltham Hall property already being advertised as being "adjacent to the new Dunnes Stores shopping centre"


And that was a year ago
This is not new
I thought this was all common knowledge!

Is there a planning application lodged or better still approved? I would have thought that if Dunnes were in the process of opening a new store it would have been front page news on The Nationalist which I don't remember seeing.
I'm not a retail guru by any stretch of the imagination but Dunnes have only Aldi as competition where they are whereas if they were to move to where you suggest they would be going head to head with Tesco. Perhaps you are right but I cannot see it happening.

road_high

contrary_devil wrote: »

Is there a planning application lodged or better still approved? I would have thought that if Dunnes were in the process of opening a new store it would have been front page news on The Nationalist which I don't remember seeing.
I'm not a retail guru by any stretch of the imagination but Dunnes have only Aldi as competition where they are whereas if they were to move to where you suggest they would be going head to head with Tesco. Perhaps you are right but I cannot see it happening.

All I can see is vague mention in a property ad, probably based on pre-recession hear say.
Look, there's not a hope of this happening. Carlow is is oversupplied with supermarkets, Super Valu have even taken the drastic step of closing one. Dunnes as a company are just about holding their own, and haven't opened new stores anywhere for years. They're not going to open another white elephant in Carlow where they already have a very modern store.

D_BEAR

There was planning permission on that site in 2010 so it could be lapsed by now.

http://www.eplanning.ie/CarlowCC/AppFileRefDetails/106301/0

The proposed development comprises a retail superstore of 8889sq.m Gross Floor Area to include convenience supermarket with a Nett Floor Area 2598.2sq.m and a home stores textiles and comparison goods Nett Floor Area 2662sq.m including alcohol sales area, ancillary administration offices, staff facilities, bulk store cage marshalling area, café, circulation space to include entrance atrium and service yard. The re-alignment and landscaping of existing 598 car parking spaces granted under (PD 5041) to include additional 180 new parking spaces to give a total 778 spaces, new ESB sub-station, all ancillary landscaping, site development works and services to include re-alignment of existing entrance and boundary wall and new boundary wall to the Hermitage a protected structure and construction of new Link Road from Paupish Bridge to Hanover Cross including modifications to existing junction arrangements at Hanover Cross. Access to proposed development will be via the existing Carlow Retail Park entrance and via two car park accesses and a service yard access onto the new link road. An Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared in respect of the planning application.

slimjimmc

Not going to happen. An Bord Pleanala killed off the planning permission in 2011.
http://www.independent.ie/regionals/carlowpeople/news/retail-development-turned-down-27043112.html

The loss of SV will be hard on Carlow Shopping Centre, some imaginative thinking would be needed to pull a new anchor into the complex.

road_high

slimjimmc wrote: »

Not going to happen. An Bord Pleanala killed off the planning permission in 2011.
http://www.independent.ie/regionals/carlowpeople/news/retail-development-turned-down-27043112.html

The loss of SV will be hard on Carlow Shopping Centre, some imaginative thinking would be needed to pull a new anchor into the complex.

Indeed. It's quite a big store as well. Place like that needs a very strong anchor tenant to be relevant. It's not a ringing endorsement of the Carlow economy so it's going to be a huge struggle.

davidoco

The town as a shopping destination is fooked until they do what Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford all did and concentrate your retail in one street.

It's time to make Barrack St the centre of the town (much as we hate it most people won't walk more than 300-400 metres from their car so Barrack St is the point between the three biggest car parks and it's wide enough to make it more plaza like and user friendly. Even oneway traffic with the other flow going around by Tesco by improving the Bridge/Accommodation route.

Incentivise anything within the area in green as retail and cut the rest loose. As previously stated Dublin St is a goner, and upper Tullow St is on its last legs and it's all for lack of parking.

There are loads of sites for development as shown by the smaller green circles.

Shops like Homestore, the pet store, Halfords would all be accommodated easily within this area. Any shop that you can carry away your purchase by hand.

Look up a town called Challans in France is you can see how you can have a mid sized shops all branching off one small wide street in the centre. https://www.google.ie/maps/@46.8458789,-1.8793971,3a,75y,49.76h,72.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sk2dfSRyFOWqMiqKNVSK_vw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

foggy_lad

I love the way the frenchies all park so neatly within the parking bays and dont abandon their car/van/bus/lorry to pop in for the paper/fags/chips/banking etc like we do here in Carlow:D

As for the map of Carlow, Little Barrack street is mostly protected as is a lot of the street frontage on Barrack street and this will be very difficult to get around. Like it or not Tullow street is the way to go and Parking can easily be provided by the Council if they had the inclination.

road_high

I was in the Super Valu today and it's a sorry sight. Empty, bare shelves and refrigerators everywhere.
Not many bargains to be had here, just some odd bits of tat they won't sell I
guess and 25% off all wines (probably easier do that than pack them up again and risk breakages). When it closes, do Musgrave's come in and pack up what's left and off to another store?
Was actually a few people around all the same, it's a pity as it was always a nice shop and location.

BattleCorp

road_high wrote: »

I was in the Super Valu today and it's a sorry sight. Empty, bare shelves and refrigerators everywhere.
Not many bargains to be had here, just some odd bits of tat they won't sell I
guess and 25% off all wines (probably easier do that than pack them up again and risk breakages). When it closes, do Musgrave's come in and pack up what's left and off to another store?
Was actually a few people around all the same, it's a pity as it was always a nice shop and location.

Yes, a lot of leftover stock will be moved to another shop/s. Depends on value and expiry dates. Unfortunately, a lot of it will be dumped too.

road_high

BattleCorp wrote: »

Yes, a lot of leftover stock will be moved to another shop/s. Depends on value and expiry dates. Unfortunately, a lot of it will be dumped too.

That's kinda silly, they should sell it all off to hell I reckon!

Agent Coulson

Not trying to highjack the thread but with Xtra-Vision gone now as well sad times for the loss of jobs in Carlow.

Nokia6230i

road_high wrote: »

That's kinda silly, they should sell it all off to hell I reckon!

Would hope they'll donate anything suitable that's left over to St.Clares Hospitality Kitchen if it's non perishable goods (tins of fruit & veg, soups, ice-creams etc.) and any leftover fruit n' veg & bread to SVDP (given it'll be Friday evening; St.Clares will be closed so won't have any use for it) etc.

road_high

Is it still closing tomorrow?

iano.p

Yeah think so. There isn't much left in there today.