What's missing from Limerick City Centre

whitesheep

I work for a property management company and I rent out space.

It's pretty ok to get residential accommodation rented out. Office space I find is fine might take time to find someone but once you get a client they generally last.

Retail is a whole other ball game. We can get Tennant's pretty easily but getting them to last is a different story.

From what I've rented out over the years services seem to last like shoe repairs, barbers & charity shops. Retail shops don't seem to last cafes are touch and go. I will have 4 small retail units available in the coming months.

Just wondering can anyone think of anything that's very obviously missing from the city centre that's not in Limerick. And I'll try and find that type of tenant.

Thanks is advance

closifer

We are missing a toy shop. There really isn't any in town. There are some lovely small toy shops in other cities that sell wooden type toys. They have them in Galway and Kilkenny and they seem to do well. Nothing like that here

Jimbob1977

A cinema.

Mc Love

closifer wrote: »

We are missing a toy shop. There really isn't any in town. There are some lovely small toy shops in other cities that sell wooden type toys. They have them in Galway and Kilkenny and they seem to do well. Nothing like that here

There's a toy shop on Catherine st, its tiny though

Eire-Dearg

A Five Guys :pac:

dashoonage

Monorail!

un5byh7sqpd2x0

M&S

martyc5674

Residents... that’s what we are missing, sort that and the rest will follow.

johnmolloy554

martyc5674 wrote: »

Residents... that’s what we are missing, sort that and the rest will follow.

Residents with disposable income.

Insect Overlord

Is there anywhere in town to play pool or snooker? I can't think of anything since The Vic closed.

callaway92

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Is there anywhere in town to play pool or snooker? I can't think of anything since The Vic closed.

There's one beside Ladbrokes/Sodalicious on Cecil St for Snooker and Pool.

St. Kevins I think it is. Good pool tables there in particular.

EDIT: Things look a little different now (this was 2017), but it's still there.

black & white

closifer wrote: »

We are missing a toy shop. There really isn't any in town. There are some lovely small toy shops in other cities that sell wooden type toys. They have them in Galway and Kilkenny and they seem to do well. Nothing like that here

There's one in Ennis as well.

Gary Owen

callaway92 wrote: »

There's one beside Ladbrokes/Sodalicious on Cecil St for Snooker and Pool.

St. Kevins I think it is. Good pool tables there in particular.

EDIT: Things look a little different now (this was 2017), but it's still there.

That’s st. Michaels

callaway92

Gary Owen wrote: »

That’s st. Michaels

Doesn’t really matter what the name is tbh

brianregan09

Less scumbags and tappers on the streets and more Guards

JupiterKid

M&S is a glaring omission from the Limerick retail mix, as are small, independent boutiques.

Limerick is sadly the very worst case of the “doughnut effect” of most retail activity in suburban shopping malls and a moribund City Centre. It was a complete and utter disgrace how this was allowed to happen. Galway, Cork and even Waterford have thriving Central Business Districts in comparison to Limerick.

I also heard on good authority that M&S HQ didn’t believe that Limerick was wealthy enough to support an sizable M&S store.

un5byh7sqpd2x0

JupiterKid wrote: »

I also heard on good authority that M&S HQ didn’t believe that Limerick was wealthy enough to support an sizable M&S store.

And Clonmel is?? Come on now...

JupiterKid

Alexia Abundant Mail wrote: »

And Clonmel is?? Come on now...

Yes, I know. It’s just what I heard.

Cookiemunster

JupiterKid wrote: »

Yes, I know. It’s just what I heard.

I couldn't care less if M&S ever came to Limerick. I honestly don't get the clamour for a UK chain store. But Limerick people on average have the highest disposable incomes in the country after Dublin, so that's BS.

martyc5674

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I couldn't care less if M&S ever came to Limerick. I honestly don't get the clamour for a UK chain store. But Limerick people on average have the highest disposable incomes in the country after Dublin, so that's BS.

Absolutely... M&S used to have a certain attraction but that gap has long been closed by pretty much all the opposition.
What we need in limerick are people living in the city Centre and more local businesses. Can’t believe people are pushing for the likes of 5 guys etc. These are just corporate food chains that will steal any bit of soul left in the city that the council haven’t already managed to sell for office space.

Mrcaramelchoc

callaway92 wrote: »

Doesn’t really matter what the name is tbh

It does if your asking directions to it.

Granadino

I saw someone comment online, which I thought was funny, that any place that has "shopping" in its top five activities is ****.

Cherrycoke

Another pet store. I used to love Petcrafts and Aquatics across from Tom Collins.

I know there's one in Foxes Bow, and a few in shopping centres on the outskirts, but it would be great to have one in town with a bit more variety.

Pets are big business.

Cherrycoke

A children's clothing store. Especially for gifting, and more occasional wear, like a boutique. Even better if they sold wooden toys etc. like someone else mentioned previously. I find that I have to buy this type of clothing/toys/gifts, online.

There's so many Instagram/online stores doing a huge trade on this. Lots of people want more unique items for special occasions, that you can't find in Next, Penneys, etc.

kilburn

callaway92 wrote:

Doesn’t really matter what the name is tbh

Course it does

John_Mc

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I couldn't care less if M&S ever came to Limerick. I honestly don't get the clamour for a UK chain store. But Limerick people on average have the highest disposable incomes in the country after Dublin, so that's BS.

What does it being a UK chain store have to do with it? Nearly all of our high street stores are UK chain stores. Pennys being the main exception.

Can you share the reference source for highest disposable incomes in the country please. It's not believable give the state of retail in Limerick city and county.

Cookiemunster

John_Mc wrote: »

What does it being a UK chain store have to do with it? Nearly all of our high street stores are UK chain stores. Pennys being the main exception.

Exactly. So what's the clamour for another one?

John_Mc wrote: »

Can you share the reference source for highest disposable incomes in the country please. It's not believable give the state of retail in Limerick city and county.

Highest disposable incomes outside of Dublin. As per the CSO.

https://www.wdc.ie/changes-and-trends-in-disposable-incomes-in-western-region-counties/

https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/revealed-county-by-county-breakdown-of-areas-with-most-disposable-income-37979337.html

https://lovin.ie/lifestyle/the-average-disposable-income-for-every-county-in-ireland-has-been-revealed

John_Mc

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Exactly. So what's the clamour for another one?

Choice maybe? Nice food and reasonably priced good quality clothes and homeware.

Why wouldn't you want it as an option?

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Highest disposable incomes outside of Dublin. As per the CSO.

https://www.wdc.ie/changes-and-trends-in-disposable-incomes-in-western-region-counties/

https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/revealed-county-by-county-breakdown-of-areas-with-most-disposable-income-37979337.html

https://lovin.ie/lifestyle/the-average-disposable-income-for-every-county-in-ireland-has-been-revealed

Absolutely remarkable when you walk the streets of Limerick city. They can't all be spending their money in the crescent. Just goes back to my point about Limerick people being tight.

Cookiemunster

John_Mc wrote: »

Choice maybe? Nice food and reasonably priced good quality clothes and homeware.

Why wouldn't you want it as an option?

They're nothing special and their business model is losing money hand over feet in the UK.

John_Mc wrote: »

Absolutely remarkable when you walk the streets of Limerick city. They can't all be spending their money in the crescent. Just goes back to my point about Limerick people being tight.

There you go again insulting a whole county with your BS. The Crescent is the biggest and busiest shopping center in Munster. There are multiple other busy shopping centers and retails parks dotted around the outskirts of the city. That's why the city center is dead. Not because Limerick people are tight. Get more people actually living and working in there and more stores will open there.

osarusan

I went for a walk in the city centre the other night, and was on the Strand Hotel side of the river, walking along the 'three bridges walk'.

What struck me was just how many 1 or 2-storey houses there are so close to the city centre. Along O'Callaghan strand you have those 2-storey buildings, and behind them is just a housing estate. Along Clancy's strand it's even worse I think - near the Curragower there is an estate of bungalows ( I think).

A series of 5-6 storey office buildings or apartment buildings in those areas would make so much sense, but I suppose the fact that the 1-storey or 2-storey houses are still there so close to the city centre shows that the demand for those buildings just isn't there - if there was the demand for them, and enough money to be made from them, they'd already be built.

John_Mc

Cookiemunster wrote: »

They're nothing special and their business model is losing money hand over feet in the UK.



There you go again insulting a whole county with your BS. The Crescent is the biggest and busiest shopping center in Munster. There are multiple other busy shopping centers and retails parks dotted around the outskirts of the city. That's why the city center is dead. Not because Limerick people are tight. Get more people actually living and working in there and more stores will open there.

The OP of this post was from someone letting premises to businesses which consistently and repeatedly closing down. People aren't spending money no matter what is offered - despite the disposable income.

Call it whatever you want and convince yourself that the crescent is some jewel of a shopping centre but the underlying problem is still there.

I'm not going through this again with you.

Cookiemunster

John_Mc wrote: »

The OP of this post was from someone letting premises to businesses which consistently and repeatedly closing down. People aren't spending money no matter what is offered - despite the disposable income.

Call it whatever you want and convince yourself that the crescent is some jewel of a shopping centre but the underlying problem is still there.

I'm not going through this again with you.

What on earth are you talking about? If Limerick people were tight as you seem to think then the Crescent wouldn't be the biggest and busiest shopping center in Munster and none of the other centers would be trading successfully either. That's a fact and whether or not you like the selection of stores located there is irrelevant.

There is no footfall in the city center because not enough people live or work there. That's why a lot of businesses don't survive in there while they continue to trade successfully in the out of town centers.

It's up to yourself whether or not you want to debate the point with me or not, but the fact is that you're talking out of your rear end because you refuse to see the bigger picture when it comes to historical planning decisions that have led to the situation that the city center is now in.

Cookiemunster

osarusan wrote: »

I went for a walk in the city centre the other night, and was on the Strand Hotel side of the river, walking along the 'three bridges walk'.

What struck me was just how many 1 or 2-storey houses there are so close to the city centre. Along O'Callaghan strand you have those 2-storey buildings, and behind them is just a housing estate. Along Clancy's strand it's even worse I think - near the Curragower there is an estate of bungalows ( I think).

A series of 5-6 storey office buildings or apartment buildings in those areas would make so much sense, but I suppose the fact that the 1-storey or 2-storey houses are still there so close to the city centre shows that the demand for those buildings just isn't there - if there was the demand for them, and enough money to be made from them, they'd already be built.

I'm open to correction, but I think a few of those buildings along Clancy's Strand are protected, so it would be difficult to redevelop them.

On O'Callaghan Strand the Strand development is of decent density and hopefully well see some mid to high rise residential going into the Cleeves site.

John_Mc

Cookiemunster wrote: »

What on earth are you talking about? If Limerick people were tight as you seem to think then the Crescent wouldn't be the biggest and busiest shopping center in Munster and none of the other centers would be trading successfully either. That's a fact and whether or not you like the selection of stores located there is irrelevant.

There is no footfall in the city center because not enough people live or work there. That's why a lot of businesses don't survive in there while they continue to trade successfully in the out of town centers.

It's up to yourself whether or not you want to debate the point with me or not, but the fact is that you're talking out of your rear end because you refuse to see the bigger picture when it comes to historical planning decisions that have led to the situation that the city center is now in.

I'm not debating the point, again, with you for a week and boring everyone on here to tears. There's more than shopping when it comes to disposable income and people spending money. Restaurants, cafes, bars - you don't go to the crescent for them do you.

Friday night is a ghost town in Limerick no matter what venue owners do- I know this for a fact because I worked in nightclubs and bars for years. That's a good indication of people spending money, or not as is the case.

That's my last post on the matter.

geotrig

The demand isn't there as house prices for the most part are "reasonable" throughout the city and any apartment that are being built if any really dont offer an attractive alternative and doesn't incentivise developers or buyers to setup at the moment , I also quiet like that the side of the river is mainly low level dwellings and is quiet nice and i would guess some are also pretected ?

Some of the shops suggested above have been and mostly failed and will keep doing so unless some key issues are resolved.

Rates /rents are always one of the main issues, the city has shrunk over the years but rates and rents the are somewhat unrealistic and killing business.
I know its laughed at (outside of a sign I'm not sure anything was ever really put in place )but grouping business and setting rates to benefit said buisness types in certain streets blocks .i.e fashion quarter might be a way forward.

Georgian houses and apt , needs to be looked at. there is a lot of good stock and without huge investment could transform the city but it just takes a few with the means to invest in it.Take upper glenworth street for example, row of crappily maintained apts one side and abandoned Athenaeum the other side a bit of investment and convert all thous back to houses or even 2 story apartments with again a long standing projects with the Athenaeum /teatre royal would transform the area
Obvious more business to locate in the centre.

1-2 more central plaza's type areas to just have nice places in the city along with better paths or proper paths !! and some proper street scaping.
The suggested plaza in the opera centre seems off to me at present, they should also look at the tourist building entering arthurs quay park it a bit of an eyesore

geotrig

John_Mc wrote: »

I'm not debating the point, again, with you for a week and boring everyone on here to tears. There's more than shopping when it comes to disposable income and people spending money. Restaurants, cafes, bars - you don't go to the crescent for them do you.

Friday night is a ghost town in Limerick no matter what venue owners do- I know this for a fact because I worked in nightclubs and bars for years. That's a good indication of people spending money, or not as is the case.

That's my last post on the matter.

Nightlife has changed since late bars where introduced if you ask me and when changes in our "culture" bars for the most part hadn't adapted, students drive alot of nightlife and most are kept outside the city.

geotrig

John_Mc wrote: »

The OP of this post was from someone letting premises to businesses which consistently and repeatedly closing down. People aren't spending money no matter what is offered - despite the disposable income.

Call it whatever you want and convince yourself that the crescent is some jewel of a shopping centre but the underlying problem is still there.

I'm not going through this again with you.

well outside of whatever is spent in the city ,there is also jetland ,cresent ,coonagh, parkway,parkway retail ,limerick one ,city east ,castletroy as well as few other small retail parks areas that are all supported by the none spenders :rolleyes:

The city needs to be developed to have more people living in it that is all.

osarusan

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I'm open to correction, but I think a few of those buildings along Clancy's Strand are protected, so it would be difficult to redevelop them.

It wasn't so much the buildings on Clancy's strand itself I was talking about, rather the estates in behind. The estates in behind the Curragower for example, and the Priory Park estate in particular is the one I was thinking of - an estate of bungalows so close to the city centre.

callaway92

kilburn wrote: »

Course it does

I literally said it's on Cecil St. and gave a screenshot for it.

martyc5674

John_Mc wrote: »

I'm not debating the point, again, with you for a week and boring everyone on here to tears. There's more than shopping when it comes to disposable income and people spending money. Restaurants, cafes, bars - you don't go to the crescent for them do you.

Friday night is a ghost town in Limerick no matter what venue owners do- I know this for a fact because I worked in nightclubs and bars for years. That's a good indication of people spending money, or not as is the case.

That's my last post on the matter.

All it indicates is a lack of residents, the lack of residents means there’s little demand for evening cafes etc. and therefore little incentive for investment in such. We need to get more people living in the city and slowly the wheels of change will begin to turn.

Twoman Fullbackline

JupiterKid wrote: »

Galway, Cork and even Waterford have thriving Central Business Districts in comparison to Limerick.

Good ole fashioned Limerick catastrophism at its best. Waterford does not have a thriving CBD compared to Limerick.

Twoman Fullbackline

The one thing I often find myself missing is a decent IT/Tech supply store. It's hard to compete with the Harvey Normans and Currys of this world I guess, and I usually find myself out at those picking up bits and pieces. Maybe there's somewhere obvious I'm missing? Currys used to be on William St but are gone a good few years.

Mc Love

Twoman Fullbackline wrote: »

The one thing I often find myself missing is a decent IT/Tech supply store. It's hard to compete with the Harvey Normans and Currys of this world I guess, and I usually find myself out at those picking up bits and pieces. Maybe there's somewhere obvious I'm missing? Currys used to be on William St but are gone a good few years.

There's one on Henry St and there's FSV on Upper William St.

OfTheMarsWongs

Twoman Fullbackline wrote: »

The one thing I often find myself missing is a decent IT/Tech supply store. It's hard to compete with the Harvey Normans and Currys of this world I guess, and I usually find myself out at those picking up bits and pieces. Maybe there's somewhere obvious I'm missing? Currys used to be on William St but are gone a good few years.

Argos in Cruises St have a good range of electronics, SD cards, peripherals etc

Mango Joe

Was in Cork recently and it just feels pleasant to be around the City Centre.

You'd be more inclined to slow down and browse, maybe buy a coffee or sandwich and go home that bit later.

In Limerick there has always been too many Skanky Knackers menacingly hanging around, poor choice in the shops and it's just not as nice
a place to be as it should.

I've avoided the City Centre for decades unless absolutely necessary - I'll take any other option first.

Granadino

Mango Joe wrote: »

Was in Cork recently and it just feels pleasant to be around the City Centre.

You'd be more inclined to slow down and browse, maybe buy a coffee or sandwich and go home that bit later.

In Limerick there has always been too many Skanky Knackers menacingly hanging around, poor choice in the shops and it's just not as nice
a place to be as it should.

I've avoided the City Centre for decades unless absolutely necessary - I'll take any other option first.

I agree, but Cork seems a bit more run down in the centre as well compared to what it used to be like. More small shops closed etc. But it is pleasant to walk around there.
I just think the layout of Limerick, the grid system is horrible. The fact a wide river separates two sides of the city doesn't help either.

what_traffic

Granadino wrote: »

I just think the layout of Limerick, the grid system is horrible. The fact a wide river separates two sides of the city doesn't help either.

That is what sets Limerick apart from all other Irish regional Citys (live in Galway City).
Issue is what is done with the grid and the space, all the street space is used for Cars, vast on street car parking and one-way road system. Change that - change the City.
River is great, brilliant views along it. Compared to Euro Citys - we don't value the water on this little Island, maybe because so much of it falls from the sky so regularly.

godfrey

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Is there anywhere in town to play pool or snooker? I can't think of anything since The Vic closed.

The snooker hall in the St. Michael's building, above Sodalicious, and there's pool on the 2nd floor.

g

Louche Lad

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Is there anywhere in town to play pool or snooker? I can't think of anything since The Vic closed.

The Launch bar in John Street has a pool table.