Ciarrai76 wrote: » I just read on Facebook (on the Kerry's eye page), that Caball's toy and book shop in Bridge street will be closing down in June after 99 years in business! Its due to retirement, but it will be sad to see it go.
ongarboy wrote: » An old school Tralee shop from our childhoods. Sad to see it go but it is a sign of the times. Small independents struggle to complete with online or multinationals.
Pirates Ale wrote: » Thats a pity, its surprising nobody wants to take it over as a going concern, but maybe the owners dont want that. That will mean Smyths will be the only dedicated Toy shop in Tralee!
Forge83 wrote: » It’s surely that they don’t want that. I’d consider taking it on myself if it was available, even with a name change.
Erik Shun wrote: » You'd end up a very poor man
adam88 wrote: » That building and the building next door towards bridge st would be ideal to be redeveloped to bring some new life into the town.
Erik Shun wrote: » Quanes? That building is protected I believe ...can't be knocked or altered.. caballs and the bookshop would have to be totally gutted, costly job for someone taking it on
Forge83 wrote: » With the amount of vacant buildings in the town I would doubt that redevelopment at a very large cost would be viable or worthwhile.
ongarboy wrote: » Wasn't something similar done with Bridge inn/Sol travel? That was multiple units merged together for the new redevelopment underway now. Caballs gradually acquired 4 or 5 original shops which you can see from the footprint of the buildings. I had a friend whose family ran Husseys sweetshop in one of them years ago. They will have to be redeveloped as a combined unit as no modern retailer will trade out of individual tiny units...apart from maybe vape or cash for gold shops and we don't need more of them. On a separate note, did that little French shop that was in the old Gem newsagents close down. I saw it being gutted recently so not sure if they're refurbishing. I did wonder if it was a bit too niche for Tralee.
adam88 wrote: » Anyone want to talk about the elephant in the town that is the shopping centre. What an absolute waste of prime retail town centre space. Any business that sets up there doesn’t be long closing down. It opens onto three areas of the town. How it hasn’t been gutted is beyond me.
ongarboy wrote: » IIRC, one of the challenges there is that several of the units there are owner occupied as opposed to being rented which is the usual case with modern shopping centres that have an overall landlord so unless all occupiers agree to leave, nothing can be done as a whole with the site. I know a large chunk of units were sold in one go a few years back so I'd say that was some developer performing speculative acquisition. Agreed, it's a dead retail space in the centre of town. The units are tiny and not fit for 21st century retail purposes in their current shape. I only ever use it as a short cut if it's raining and for nothing else.
feargale wrote: » Is Tom Murnane hurling for Kerry this year or is he suspended? Thanks.
Erik Shun wrote: » Retired
g1983d wrote: » If they could combine it with the empty Dunnes init your ha e a serious town centre retail space, move shaws in there then and level their building to open the town centre up to the denny site
feargale wrote: » Thanks. Not that old, is he?
Erik Shun wrote: » He had at least 10 years at intercounty level, retired a few months before he picked up his ban at club level
Pirates Ale wrote: » And who pays for all this?!
Erik Shun wrote: » Abrakebabra has closed down permanently, had been shut since last weekend, but officially confirmed this morning
bobdcow wrote: » any reason for this? I didn't visit often but I have fond memories of my 1st taco fries there!
