Penneys Patrick Street Revamp

flo8s967qjh0nd

Forgive me if there is already a thread on this but I couldn't find one.

Does anybody know what the latest is with Penney's plans for their St. Patrick's Street block is? I had heard a planning application was due to be submitted in early 2016 but that has clearly not happened.

Any particular reason for the delay? I wonder (pure speculation on my part) whether they would temporarily move to The Capitol while their own store was being renovated?

More details:
http://www.eveningecho.ie/cork-news/penneys-big-plans-for-patricks-street/563603/

ongarboy

I doubt the backers behind the Capitol would allow their trophy development be occupied by a temporary tenant. I'd say they'll be pitching to the likes of Zara, Forever 21 or other big name international retailers that do not yet have a presence in the city centre.

ofcork

I'll say it will be done in stages without closing or moving.

flo8s967qjh0nd

Walked through Cook Street today. It's looking a bit run-down and vacant as a result of Penneys buying up all their side of that street in advance of this development. It's a shame it hasn't moved more quickly.
I still wouldn't be surprised if we saw them move to The Capitol temporarily. It wouldn't look great for JCD but they may make them an offer they can't refuse!

mire

I have a feeling that Penney's might make a planning application soon-ish. It went very quiet for a while; perhaps they were doing some site assembly, addressing title issues, and/or were busy expanding elsewhere - in Europe and USA. Cook street does look quiet as does that section on OP Street between Penney's and Cook.

BullBlackNova

Brysen Steep Shag wrote: »

Walked through Cook Street today. It's looking a bit run-down and vacant as a result of Penneys buying up all their side of that street in advance of this development. It's a shame it hasn't moved more quickly.
I still wouldn't be surprised if we saw them move to The Capitol temporarily. It wouldn't look great for JCD but they may make them an offer they can't refuse!

JCD are expected to unveil their anchor tenants in just a few weeks according to d'Echo and the Examiner.
Sports and fashion outlets to take the bottom floor, office space above.
Penneys moving in there is a non-runner I'd say.
There was talk that they'd go into Mothercare, but with that Danish crowd opening in November, that's out of the way too.
What's that one down next to Three and Easons? A-Wear? That's usually empty save for a seasonal shop so that might be an option for them, and there's the soon-to-be-developed trio of buildings next to Golden Discs that used to have Gloria Jeans in it too. Might be a bit narrow even with all three units involved, though. Plus, some major work would need to be done to make it ready for even temporary use.

flo8s967qjh0nd

That's interesting.
Permission has just been granted this week to merge the former A Wear store with the Champion Sports shop behind in the Savoy Centre. This is all for a new JD sports outlet.
Either way, I think it would take a far bigger space to house Penney's, even on a temporary basis.

BullBlackNova

Brysen Steep Shag wrote: »

That's interesting.
Permission has just been granted this week to merge the former A Wear store with the Champion Sports shop behind in the Savoy Centre. This is all for a new JD sports outlet.
Either way, I think it would take a far bigger space to house Penney's, even on a temporary basis.

I hadn't heard that. Guess that's another one off the list, then.

Realistically, there aren't many big sites left in the city centre so - certainly few that Penney's would be happy to take, even temporarily.

The Echo's 2015 report on the development (http://www.eveningecho.ie/cork-news/penneys-big-plans-for-patricks-street/563603/) said the store will close for up to two years to accommodate development...

Where else can they go?

Savoy night club?

All jokes aside they have factored in closure for two years so a temp location mightn't be on the agenda for them at all.

flo8s967qjh0nd

BullBlackNova wrote: »

I hadn't heard that. Guess that's another one off the list, then.

It will be good to see the A Wear store coming back into use. They were refused permission for a frankly awful new shopfront but the merger of the two spaces is following an ongoing trend on the street.

BullBlackNova wrote: »

Where else can they go?

You're right about the space issue. Which is why I say it's either the new Capitol OR they stay where they are and tough it out through the building work. I can't see them wanting to leave the city centre completely for two years!

flo8s967qjh0nd

Augeo wrote: »

Savoy night club?

All jokes aside they have factored in closure for two years so a temp location mightn't be on the agenda for them at all.

The downstairs 'Champion Sports' unit is the one that is merging with A-wear. Don't know what's happening the nightclub. Is it even open any more?

Brysen Steep Shag

Brysen Steep Shag wrote: »

........... Is it even open any more?

Nope, that's why I mentioned it ..... not overly suitable though. Could get a womens & kids wear set-up in there though I reckon.

flo8s967qjh0nd

"It's Ireland's largest lingerie section Ted"

Zooouma

Heard awhile back merchants quay is being sold. Looks like it's true seeing as upstairs is dead in there

the beer revolu

Zooouma wrote: »

Heard awhile back merchants quay is being sold. Looks like it's true seeing as upstairs is dead in there

I really wouldn't mind seeing that monstrosity leveled.

leahyl

There's a new restaurant/cafe opening in merchants quay - saw it on their Facebook page today - I think it's called The Pantry. Isn't there a place with the same name elsewhere in the city?

ofcork

The whole merchants quay centre is up for sale was on examiner on Thursday there is a shop in Blackpool was known as the pantry for years.

bigbrotherfan

There is no way Penneys would close down for two years. It's likely that they would try to keep a section of the shop open and work around the builders.

ofcork

I'd say they will work on the Jack and Jones building and the others and trade where they are and move in and then work on the existing building.

bleakforest

God it's quite the eyesore remember all the shops along the quay before it was built.

Poxyshamrock

Penneys have always worked around store refits. As mentioned above, they'll section off parts of the store and work on it bit by bit. I'be seen this happen in O'Connell Street and Crescent SC in Limerick and again in Mary Street and O'Connell Street in Dublin.

ofcork

ofcork wrote: »

The whole merchants quay centre is up for sale was on examiner on Thursday there is a shop in Blackpool was known as the pantry for years.

11.25% yield, impressive.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/merchants-quay-shopping-centre-expected-to-sell-for-12-5m-1.2805982

Seems to be quite a viable centre to be fair.

flo8s967qjh0nd

I presume this project has been completely shelved now? That's an entire city centre block lying half empty.

ofcork

I doubt that will definitely happen I'd say.

KCAccidental

still hapening.

overmantle

KCAccidental wrote: »

still hapening.

Any timescale or likelihood of when it's happening?

flo8s967qjh0nd

overmantle wrote: »

Any timescale or likelihood of when it's happening?

Today's Examiner says that planning will finally be submitted for this redevelopment in the next month.

DylanGLC

I hope it goes ahead but it will be sad to lose Jack & Jones and the store below it, even Tiger. Hopefully the first two will relocate to the new building opposite where Gloria Jeans was.

Anymore on Merchant's Quay? I hope the side redevelopment starts soon, it looks really good. I hope not much else changes in there though (unless they want to maybe open up the Quay side a bit more). I love the upstairs O' Brien's and The Pantry. Hopefully something moves in to that empty lot where I think Golden Discs were

flo8s967qjh0nd

Brysen Steep Shag wrote: »

Today's Examiner says that planning will finally be submitted for this redevelopment in the next month.

Looks like we'll be waiting a little longer for this.

boardsuser1

Brysen Steep Shag wrote: »

Looks like we'll be waiting a little longer for this.

Drove by earlier, all the neighbouring shops are still in place.

Nothing will happen this side of christmas.

mire

Brysen Steep Shag wrote: »

Looks like we'll be waiting a little longer for this.

That's a pity; My understanding was that they had made progress on acquisitions and have been progressed with a planning application.

flo8s967qjh0nd

mire wrote: »

That's a pity; My understanding was that they had made progress on acquisitions and have been progressed with a planning application.

No planning submitted yet.

boardsuser1

An update in today's echo.

http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Pennys-big-money-plan-due-by-end-of-the-year-fa9fca89-5b3f-4502-b767-c012332de4f6-ds

JP Liz V1

So what buildings near did Penneys buy for to expand?

boardsuser1

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

So what buildings near did Penneys buy for to expand?

From its own store up to cook street.

zetalambda

Penneys have the whole block bounded by Patrick street, Cook street, Oliver P street and Robert street bar 2 or 3 premises.

flo8s967qjh0nd

Still waiting on this. Meanwhile parts of Cook Street turning derelict.
This is slowly becoming another Event Centre (i.e. never gonna happen).

JustLen

Brysen Steep Shag wrote: »

Still waiting on this. Meanwhile parts of Cook Street turning derelict.
This is slowly becoming another Event Centre (i.e. never gonna happen).

It will happen - It's a huge project involving many parts. These things take time.

You would be suprised the amount of work that goes in to make sonething like that happen.

It also costs a bomb!

kub

Brysen Steep Shag wrote:

Still waiting on this. Meanwhile parts of Cook Street turning derelict. This is slowly becoming another Event Centre (i.e. never gonna happen).

There is not as much bull..... attached to this project, Penny's are a private business and are not relying on local authority or central Government funding, it will happen and when it starts will.be done very quickly as with all private ventures.

JustLen

They also have to pay huge planning contributions.

flo8s967qjh0nd

JustLen wrote: »

You would be suprised the amount of work that goes in to make sonething like that happen.

I wouldn't be surprised.

flo8s967qjh0nd

Speaking of which-
http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Cook-Street-taking-a-pounding-from-Penneys-delay-aacb0e84-d7e4-4757-93ac-16b0adcb65df-ds

Cook Street ‘taking a pounding’ from Penneys delay

flo8s967qjh0nd

Cook Street is deserted most days due to the delay in developing the Penneys 'block'. With all this talk of the car ban and encouraging people into the city, it's a major shame to have a whole city block taken up with a re-development that has been put on the long-finger.
Given the terrible fire in Primark's Belfast store and the company's commitment to rebuild there, I wouldn't be surprised if the Cork redevelopment doesn't see the light of day in 2019 either.

ofcork

Could have an impact although galen Weston isn't short of a bob or two!!

Colibri

Cook street looks absolutely shocking. Such a shame.

flo8s967qjh0nd

Colibri wrote: »

Cook street looks absolutely shocking. Such a shame.

It's no wonder the fried chicken guy is so vocal. Could be the car ban isn't affecting his business as much as the vacant street it's on.

snotboogie

Brysen Steep Shag wrote: »

It's no wonder the fried chicken guy is so vocal. Could be the car ban isn't affecting his business as much as the vacant street it's on.

Must be why he appealed the Victoria Hotel development so... it’s not like Zara would have brought foot traffic or anything. It’s been with ABP for 10 months due to his appeal

corknewyork

I hope Penneys can manage to work the facades of all of the buildings into the scheme (only one is protected). Outside of the building occupied by The Denim Store, all of the buildings on that side of the street are quite boring, however all of the Penneys' side ones are all really nice, especially considering most of the buildings on Oliver Plunkett Street and its side streets are quite poor. It would be a shame to see them go. I also do not understand why the old street lamps at either end of Cook Street were removed. They made it a really nice street, now it looks horrific with the graffiti covered board, the mismatched paving and vacant stores.

As for the Patrick Street side, hopefully they don't extend the frontage there. The Jack & Jones/Vero Moda and Tiger buildings don't go back very far, while Penneys stretches the whole way back to Cook Street. I would prefer if they could just build around those, like how Opera Lane built around the EBS/Gentleman's Quarters buildings. It would really be a shame to see the beautiful interior of the former building removed (the mahogany staircase, the columns inside, wooden floors and the great ground floor entrance and windows)

flo8s967qjh0nd

Still nothing happening here?