Douglas Court Shopping Center

MMayweather

Very odd centre.

A vape shop has opened up near to where the bakery (that is closed) once was.

Deals has also opened up.

Very Very odd centre and a very odd atmosphere inside the store

TheChizler

What's odd about it?

Dbu

MMayweather wrote: »

Very odd centre.

A vape shop has opened up near to where the bakery (that is closed) once was.

Deals has also opened up.

Very Very odd centre and a very odd atmosphere inside the store

Very odd post

snotboogie

I would say that it is more dated than odd, it still looks almost exactly like it did in 1995. Dunnes keep the people coming in and the shops with a separate entrance; Costa, the offie, Cummins and Sam McCawley all seem to do ok too. It's the cafe in the centre, the euro shop, Easons and a few other stores around that area look like they belong to a separate era.

ongarboy

Would it be fair to say that Douglas Village SC is now the more superior centre now that they have international chains such as M&S, TK Maxx, Starbucks etc?

Maggiemay13

I have to go against the grain here and say I throughly enjoy wandering around Douglas court shopping centre. Ok so besides Dunnes, Sam McCauleys and a few others, the selection of shops may not be "out of this world", but there's a real sense of calm in the place. It's nowhere near as hustley bustley or manic as Douglas village shopping centre or nearby Mahon. I find it very relaxing. And you'll usually find most of what you need. Thumbs up from me

razorblunt

Is the bakery gone? Sad days.

Corkblowin

Maggiemay13 wrote: »

there's a real sense of calm in the place. It's nowhere near as hustley bustley or manic as Douglas village shopping centre or nearby Mahon.

None of that is a good thing for the shops in the place.

GavRedKing

razorblunt wrote: »

Is the bakery gone? Sad days.

Bakery is gone about 2 or 3 months at this stage I'd reckon.

rob316

GavRedKing wrote: »

Bakery is gone about 2 or 3 months at this stage I'd reckon.

Crustys? They closed up shop in Blackpool too all of sudden a few months back. Both center's are under the same management company so I reckon there was a dispute over rent and they just said **** it. They were always up the walls in both centres.

Maggiemay13

Corkblowin wrote: »

None of that is a good thing for the shops in the place.

Never said it was good for the place, I was simply responding the the OP who says there's a very very "odd atmosphere". I disagree. Now calm the body.

goochy

going by what the main street in Douglas is like these days - Douglas is not the retail or food mecca is should / could be - its a middle class area but both shopping centres are a bit tacky - assume its Mahonpoints fault.

snotboogie

goochy wrote: »

going by what the main street in Douglas is like these days - Douglas is not the retail or food mecca is should / could be - its a middle class area but both shopping centres are a bit tacky - assume its Mahonpoints fault.

If anything there is too much food in Douglas; 3 Indian, 1 Thai, 2 Asian Street food, 2 Chinese, 1 McDonalds, 1 KFC, 2 Piri Piri, 5 pub foods, 4 Italian, 2 chippers, 1 Burrito bar, 4 Pizza places....

zilog_jones

When I first moved to Cork about 7 years ago, Douglas Village was pretty desolate - very few shops between Tesco and M&S. It seems to be doing a lot better these days, so not surprising that Douglas Court isn't doing as well. It barely makes sense for two shopping centres to exist in such close proximity.

Ludo

Much prefer Douglas Court myself also. Better selection and quality of shops and cafes IMHO.

4 Italians in Douglas? Marcellos and Palmento (pizza only so not what I would usually think of as an Italian restaurant..and yes I know pizza is Italian) are all I can think of. What am I forgetting?

mean gene

Was down there recently for the first time in years -kip of a place

Ludo

Define kip? Tis clean and well maintained so I am not sure how it can be considered a kip.

razorblunt

GavRedKing wrote: »

Bakery is gone about 2 or 3 months at this stage I'd reckon.

Ah I see, haven't been back home since Xmas.
Shame, they always seemed busy.

mean gene

Ludo wrote: »

Define kip? Tis clean and well maintained so I am not sure how it can be considered a kip.

Ya Im sure the lads do a good job cleaning the bogs and floors but its outdated and should be bulldozed

Ludo

mean gene wrote: »

Ya Im sure the lads do a good job cleaning the bogs and floors but its outdated and should be bulldozed

Outdated how though? In what sense? What is it missing? It looks the same as all the other shopping centres to me to be honest.

JupiterKid

Just how two medium sized shopping centres were built in such close proximity to each other in Douglas and also around the same time smacks of atrocious/corrupt/non-existent planning to me.

There should only have been ONE centre built in Douglas, which could have been expanded to meet growing use. Usually in the case of one shopping centre being beside another, the more successful one will "cannibalise" the trade of the less successful one until the latter one closes down.

Douglas court is tired and dated and I'd say the only thing it has keeping it afloat is Dunnes. If they pull the plug, it's curtains for the centre.

Maggiemay13

JupiterKid wrote: »

Just how two medium sized shopping centres were built in such close proximity to each other in Douglas and also around the same time smacks of atrocious/corrupt/non-existent planning to me.

There should only have been ONE centre built in Douglas, which could have been expanded to meet growing use. Usually in the case of one shopping centre being beside another, the more successful one will "cannibalise" the trade of the less successful one until the latter one closes down.

Douglas court is tired and dated and I'd say the only thing it has keeping it afloat is Dunnes. If they pull the plug, it's curtains for the centre.

I really like Douglas Court but couldn't agree more about Dunnes. If Dunnes was to close shop it would be astalavista baby for sure. That would be very sad.

happyday

I much prefer Douglas Court and Dunnes to Douglas Village and Tesco. I hate the multi storey car park. Much quicker to park at Douglas Court and run in. Nice atmosphere, handy shops. The only thing better in Douglas Village is Quigleys. My favourite coffee shop in Douglas. Dunnes is a very busy shop and the staff are excellent.

DylanGLC

I much prefer the feel of Douglas Court. I am sad to see the bakery go, and the fish shop be replaced with an e cigarette shop. I also don't understand why Vodafone closed. Whenever I passed, all three phone stores seemed busy

happyday

DylanGLC wrote: »

I much prefer the feel of Douglas Court. I am sad to see the bakery go, and the fish shop be replaced with an e cigarette shop. I also don't understand why Vodafone closed. Whenever I passed, all three phone stores seemed busy

Goods Fish Shop is still there. Another nice shop with very fresh fish and helpful staff. The new Vape shop is where the old pet shop was.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

mean gene wrote: »

Ya Im sure the lads do a good job cleaning the bogs and floors but its outdated and should be bulldozed

Ever been to Blackpool shopping centre?.... Douglas SC is far from a kip.. dated, yes.. but certainly not anywhere near a kip.

DylanGLC

happyday wrote: »

Goods Fish Shop is still there. Another nice shop with very fresh fish and helpful staff. The new Vape shop is where the old pet shop was.

Sorry, that is the shop I meant In fish I meant pet fish (that's all I remember being in there bar toys for dogs and cats, and maybe food for them)

jsms88

When we I was a kid, we used to go to Douglas Court every Sunday after mass. Parents would do the weekly 'big shop' and so on. Good times.

It was such a lively place back then. The biggest mistake they ever made there was filling in the Bewleys in the centre. That was such a centrepiece and the place was full of families and people shopping, etc.

I've been in there a few times in recent months but I usually end up leaving soon enough. I would agree that there's a strange atmosphere there. It's kind of like the eerie vibe of a deserted building.... Something that used to be much more than it is today. Even the motoring shop and bits and bobs and musiczone are gone.... and now the bakery. It's a pity really.

TheChizler

Motoring shop is still there. They're down by Sam McCauley's.

jsms88

TheChizler wrote: »

Motoring shop is still there. They're down by Sam McCauley's.

Ah good to hear. Always liked that spot.

TheChizler

jsms88 wrote: »

Ah good to hear. Always liked that spot.

Fantastic service there.

goochy

goochy wrote: »

going by what the main street in Douglas is like these days - Douglas is not the retail or food mecca is should / could be - its a middle class area but both shopping centres are a bit tacky - assume its Mahonpoints fault.

snotboogie wrote: »

If anything there is too much food in Douglas; 3 Indian, 1 Thai, 2 Asian Street food, 2 Chinese, 1 McDonalds, 1 KFC, 2 Piri Piri, 5 pub foods, 4 Italian, 2 chippers, 1 Burrito bar, 4 Pizza places....

The middle class love their cheap junk food it seems.

jsms88

jsms88 wrote: »

Ah good to hear. Always liked that spot.

Indeed, Jonathon iirc (owner) is a very helpful gent. Used to have a 911 done up in the OverDrive decals......... might still have it.

snotboogie

Augeo wrote: »

goochy wrote: »

going by what the main street in Douglas is like these days - Douglas is not the retail or food mecca is should / could be - its a middle class area but both shopping centres are a bit tacky - assume its Mahonpoints fault.

snotboogie wrote: »

If anything there is too much food in Douglas; 3 Indian, 1 Thai, 2 Asian Street food, 2 Chinese, 1 McDonalds, 1 KFC, 2 Piri Piri, 5 pub foods, 4 Italian, 2 chippers, 1 Burrito bar, 4 Pizza places....

The middle class love their cheap junk food it seems.

Haveli, Palmento, Golden Elephant, Eco's and El Vino are all good restaurants. Kubo and La Calavera are both quality fast food options. Too much junk food restaurants maybe but plenty of quality too.

the beer revolu

snotboogie wrote: »

Haveli, Palmento, Golden Elephant, Eco's and El Vino are all good restaurants. Kubo and La Calavera are both quality fast food options. Too much junk food restaurants maybe but plenty of quality too.

Eco's is a good restaurant?
ROFL

Lekrub

The guy in the car shop is dead on. Really helpful.

run_Forrest_run

Lekrub wrote: »

The guy in the car shop is dead on. Really helpful.

+1, he can be a bit grumpy at times but I suppose countless amount of kids coming in just to mess around with the model cars will do that to ya

pwurple

happyday wrote: »

Goods Fish Shop is still there. Another nice shop with very fresh fish and helpful staff. The new Vape shop is where the old pet shop was.

Good fish shop is a joke. The staff simply just put precut old fish in a bag... I don't know why they are dressed like fishmongers . i asked them to scale and pinbone and they looked at me like I had ten heads. Not one of them is trained or even has the right tools.

MMayweather

the beer revolu wrote: »

Eco's is a good restaurant?
ROFL

Bad experience there ?

goochy

Mod snip

GavRedKing

Not strictly related to Douglas court but there was roadworks going on there last night on the roundabout at the enterance, was stuck in traffic for a good few minutes as there was only 1 lane in action serving the shopping centre, road coming in from the Finger Post and the other road by KFC/Cinema.

Was painful enough at 9.30pm.

nlrkjos

Its a grand shopping center, nice and handy to park and take a quick run in for something, doing that in Village center would take the planning department of the US navy seals quick reaction force. The market on Saturday morning is missed there, it only moved to village when the center got half the road taken off the council, some planner or politician got a nice little backhander for that I'll bet. The guy in overdrive is dead on...if he hasn't got it he will find it for you, and call you.The only thing in DC that annoys me is the barbers...feckers would rob ya for a mickey mouse haircut.

goochy

goochy wrote: »

I thought guy in car shop has asbergers or something

He most certainly does not.

Sesame

It does have a weird vibe! I've lots of teenage memories there and the fact it hasn't changed since then gives it a nostalgic feel.

I am going there more than I used to lately as it has a great school shop for all books and lunch things. The people in most of the shops I go to seem to be friendlier than usual, maybe they have less customers and more time for chat.
The shoe shop on the way in and some of the boutiques are good.

I don't like New Look, its polyester city in there, but the clothes shop beside it is good.

I like the veg shop too and will miss the bakery.

Never any parking problems either.

two wheels good

goochy wrote: »

I thought guy in car shop has asbergers or something

It is not appropriate to make comments like this on a public forum. Even if you knew what you were talking about.

[EDIT[ Comment reported

Milly33

Called in to Douglas last week, shame to see the bakery gone... I much prefer the place to Tesco's but it could do with a little upgrading or something. Mind id still go there before Tescos anyway..Shame aswell to see the record shop has gone, I called into them in Tescos and he said that twas really the centre pushed them out of Douglas. Bad form as they are really good..

Dude in the car shop is lovely as always and very helpfull, as are the lads in Game stop really great staff there