Florentine Centre

murpho999

I think this deserves its own thread as it's a major project for Bray.

Planning application has now been lodged.

See Here

Hopefully this gets through quickly and building starts soon.

I wonder what shops will be there.

Creamy Goodness

In before the mention of a Penney's.

murpho999

Well it could be Penneys or TK Maxx.

What about M&S?

Or maybe Dunnes would move there as their two Bray stores are very cramped and dated.

An Argos would be good too.

Creamy Goodness

Oh I was just jesting :pac:. Penney's would be good for the town in terms of footfall. I wouldn't personally need one though.

I'd like to see an M&S and Argos , save a trip to Dundrum/Dun Laoghaire for cheaper than GameStop video games. I'd also like to see a good outdoor cafe that stays open past 6pm and serves good bite size food.

WeleaseWoderick

I'd agree that M&S and Argos would both be great additions to the town. I find myself buying a lot in Argos in the Stephen's Green so would definitely get great use out of one being local.

An M&S with both food and clothes offerings would be ideal but don't know whether that is feasible.

The town also needs some sort of shop for kids' toys/presents to fill the void left by Smyths.

Exciting news nonetheless. I wonder what is the best case scenario for completion of the project?

murpho999

WeleaseWoderick wrote: »

I'd agree that M&S and Argos would both be great additions to the town. I find myself buying a lot in Argos in the Stephen's Green so would definitely get great use out of one being local.

An M&S with both food and clothes offerings would be ideal but don't know whether that is feasible.

The town also needs some sort of shop for kids' toys/presents to fill the void left by Smyths.

Exciting news nonetheless. I wonder what is the best case scenario for completion of the project?

I read somewhere in time for Christmas 2018. So let's see.

I don't see why an M&S would not be feasible. Big population and would attract people from Greystones/Shankill too.

contrary_mary

Argos would be great - it would somewhat fill the void left by smyths too as it can be good value for toys when they have offers on. I'd like a H&M or other similar reasonably priced clothes shop but I'd imagine a penneys is more likely.

It's hard to imagine how the town will cope with the extra traffic...

murpho999

contrary_mary wrote: »

Argos would be great - it would somewhat fill the void left by smyths too as it can be good value for toys when they have offers on. I'd like a H&M or other similar reasonably priced clothes shop but I'd imagine a penneys is more likely.

It's hard to imagine how the town will cope with the extra traffic...

Regarding trafiic, it will be an issue.

I am conviniced they could sort most of it by doing something with the traffic lights particularly at Corke Abbey and Upper Dargle Road, all out of sequence and they should have sensors to see what traffic is there.

I often wonder if some sort of roundabout could be put in at Corke Abbey junction.

keano_afc

As I said when I first read this, I fully expect the 2 anchor tenants to be Finbees and Dealz.

murpho999

keano_afc wrote: »

As I said when I first read this, I fully expect the 2 anchor tenants to be Finbees and Dealz.

Ha funny, but I hope you're just joking.

Everyone knows it won't be that.

keano_afc

murpho999 wrote: »

Ha funny, but I hope you're just joking.

Everyone knows it won't be that.

Joking yes, but lets be honest it wouldn't be a surprise.

fjon

contrary_mary wrote: »

Argos would be great - it would somewhat fill the void left by smyths too as it can be good value for toys when they have offers on. .

I don't know if there's any truth in it, but I heard the Argos in Dun Laoghaire might not be there for much longer. With that gone there would be a stronger argument for Bray I'd imagine.

murpho999

keano_afc wrote: »

Joking yes, but lets be honest it wouldn't be a surprise.

Of course it would be a surprise. I really hate that sort of cynicsm before a project gets off the ground.

The anchor stores themselves are big. 3000sq m an 1137 sq m. So I definitely caan't see a Dealz or Finbees taking the larger store.

Annasopra

I heard the anchor will be heatons

murpho999

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

I heard the anchor will be heatons

I hope not. Could do with something better than that.

Think it's too early yet. Need to get planning approved before confirming shops.

Annasopra

murpho999 wrote: »

I hope not. Could do with something better than that.

Think it's too early yet. Need to get planning approved before confirming shops.

Why is it too early? Anchor tenants will often sign up first.

murpho999

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Why is it too early? Anchor tenants will often sign up first.

As it's not certain it will be built yet.

Annasopra

murpho999 wrote: »

As it's not certain it will be built yet.

Amd thats why you get anchor tenants in first!!!

murpho999

Planning permission has now been granted.

Hopefully this gets built without a hitch now.

wistfuleyes

murpho999 wrote: »

Planning permission has now been granted.

Hopefully this gets built without a hitch now.

Great news! Am delighted for the town

murpho999

Update on Florentine Centre

This is still moving very slowly.

Thargor

murpho999 wrote: »

Update on Florentine Centre

This is still moving very slowly.

Yep, sounds like they should be ready to get going just in time to cancel it again when the next crash comes along.

murpho999

Contracts signed for development of Florentine Centre.

Link

Looks like this is really happening. Saw somewhere else that if they start construction in May it could open in Autumn 2019 which would be great.

browne_rob5

murpho999 wrote: »

Contracts signed for development of Florentine Centre.

Link

Looks like this is really happening. Saw somewhere else that if they start construction in May it could open in Autumn 2019 which would be great.

Yes great news and Oakmount have a good track record of delivering high quality projects.

murpho999

Florence Road Car Park closed yesterday.

Looks like construction is finally starting.

Wicklow News Update

Alun

At last.

The success or failure of the whole thing is going to depend on the shops that occupy it once it's built though.

loyatemu

Alun wrote: »

At last.

The success or failure of the whole thing is going to depend on the shops that occupy it once it's built though.

the biggest Euro2 store in Ireland?

Calibos

Someone told me there is definitely going to be a Penneys and a Wetherspoons in it. LOL

murpho999

Calibos wrote: »

Someone told me there is definitely going to be a Penneys and a Wetherspoons in it. LOL

Of course but Wetherspoons will be objected to and blocked.:D

Serioulsly I'd expect it will be anchored by Penney's and Dunnes.

TK Maxx would be good.

As well as an Argos.
Some non big chain shop too.

I'd also expect Burger King and/or Eddie Rocketts.

Calibos

murpho999 wrote: »

Of course but Wetherspoons will be objected to and blocked.:D

Serioulsly I'd expect it will be anchored by Penney's and Dunnes.

TK Maxx would be good.

As well as an Argos.
Some non big chain shop too.

I'd also expect Burger King and/or Eddie Rocketts.

I've always wished there was a Burger King in Bray if I'm honest.

Thargor

Calibos wrote: »

I've always wished there was a Burger King in Bray if I'm honest.

Would way prefer a Supermacs, nearest options are Blackrock or Wicklow...

Creamy Goodness

Burger King? Supermacs? We all know there’ll be a off beat donuts and a chopped salad bar. Maybe a boojum too. Traditional fast food is dead


On a serious note, the beach really missed this car park this weekend. Was down the beach several times and the amount of jams were crazy

Thargor

Supermacs after a few pints will never die

loyatemu

didn't Penneys already say they weren't interested in opening in Bray?

Calibos

loyatemu wrote: »

didn't Penneys already say they weren't interested in opening in Bray?

.....and 15,000 Bray ladies cried out in despair!!

Annasopra

loyatemu wrote: »

didn't Penneys already say they weren't interested in opening in Bray?

Sure dealz has a clothes store

fjon

Looks like some demolition work has started now on Florence road.

murpho999

fjon wrote: »

Looks like some demolition work has started now on Florence road.

Good stuff, I saw that the car park was closed off last week.

Great to see the work starting.

Hope it makes good progress and opens by December 2019.

murpho999

Report about new cinema.


I really hope this does not happen. I feel Bray needs a normal cinema and not one with extras prices for a themed one.

Annasopra

murpho999 wrote: »

Report about new cinema.


I really hope this does not happen. I feel Bray needs a normal cinema and not one with extras prices for a themed one.

I think it will be 4 or 5 screens with 1 of them more upmarket. Best of both worlds :pac:

fjon

Anyone have any updated news on this?
Heard an unconfirmed rumour that one of the anchor stores would be a Dunnes. If that was the case, the other 1 or 2 Dunnes would close, so I really hope this isn't the case.

loyatemu

fjon wrote: »

Anyone have any updated news on this?
Heard an confirmed rumour that one of the anchor stores would be a Dunnes. If that was the case, the other 1 or 2 Dunnes would close, so I really hope this isn't the case.

why - the existing Dunnes Stores in Bray are small and cluttered, going into them is like going back in time to the 80s.

Calibos

loyatemu wrote: »

why - the existing Dunnes Stores in Bray are small and cluttered, going into them is like going back in time to the 80s.

Exactly. Much prefer a Cornelscourt'esque Dunnes than what we have now.

The big problem for Bray mainstreet is the Chicken/Egg problem. No one will invest in parking if the town is dying and the town is dying because no one will invest in parking.....and if by some miracle someone did want to invest in some serious parking infrastructure......someone would object to the planning applications.

Annasopra

loyatemu wrote: »

why - the existing Dunnes Stores in Bray are small and cluttered, going into them is like going back in time to the 80s.

They are not that bad and its nice to have local stores.

loyatemu

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

They are not that bad and its nice to have local stores.

the Florentine is bang in the centre of Bray - in fact it's more or less in between the 2 existing Dunnes.

fjon

The two Dunnes moving to the new centre would mean those two stores will be empty - I doubt they will be let again, especially the one on the Quinsborough Road. Also, it would be nice to have an anchor store that doesn't already exist in Bray.
I agree though that they could both do with modernising, especially the food one.

browne_rob5

Calibos wrote: »

Exactly. Much prefer a Cornelscourt'esque Dunnes than what we have now.

The big problem for Bray mainstreet is the Chicken/Egg problem. No one will invest in parking if the town is dying and the town is dying because no one will invest in parking.....and if by some miracle someone did want to invest in some serious parking infrastructure......someone would object to the planning applications.

Yes the new Dunnes such as Cornelscourt are great and have a very good food offering. The current store on Quinsborough road is not fit for purpose.

Hopefully once the Florentine Centre is completed it will breathe some life back into the main street. There will be 256 parking spaces in the new centre so that might help. I would imagine the traffic on the main street puts a lot of people off.

Annasopra

browne_rob5 wrote: »

Yes the new Dunnes such as Cornelscourt are great and have a very good food offering. The current store on Quinsborough road is not fit for purpose.

Its a small local store with no pretensions!

Thargor

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Its a small local store with no pretensions!

Its hideous, straight out of the 80s like people say. Tesco up the road isnt any better. Bray must have some of the only 80s style dark/dirty supermarkets left in the country tbh, I cant think of any other ones like that still standing, they've all been given the Cornellscourt style refurbishment.

loyatemu

Thargor wrote: »

Its hideous, straight out of the 80s like people say. Tesco up the road isnt any better. Bray must have some of the only 80s style dark/dirty supermarkets left in the country tbh, I cant think of any other ones like that still standing, they've all been given the Cornellscourt style refurbishment.

the Tesco is no worse than the stores in Greystones and Wicklow, except for the annoying way one set of aisles is at right-angles to the other set.

I go into the Dunnes clothes shop and instantly I'm 10 years old again, waiting for my mum to buy me some socks.

Peckham

loyatemu wrote:

I go into the Dunnes clothes shop and instantly I'm 10 years old again, waiting for my mum to buy me some socks.

I get flashbacks to a similar age when walking in there. Except it's back to being mortified by my mother making me taking off my trousers in the middle of the shop to try on a new pair.

Might pop in tomorrow and relive the moment. Wonder what would happen.