Issues affecting retail

Limerick city centre is just an unattractive urban space. O'Connell St is the latest in a long list of purely executed public realm design projects that has compounded the uglification of the city centre over the last 20 years. Not that it was a shining light before then but people don't need to contend with ugly car centred streets when they can stroll around in peace in a shopping centre or just shop online.

The problem is the large shopping centres on the outskirts of the city. It’s going to be very difficult to reinstate the city centre as the core retail area of Limerick. Maybe if there had not been two councils competing for rates the likes of the crescent wouldn’t have been allowed.

I don't have issue with the outer retail parks or cresent (I say that but never go out there as i hate it !!) every good city needs these type of places, the problem was they were left expand without any development happening in the city to counter them or improvements on units available .

The stagnation of projects just added to it, Patrick st. has been largely closed up for near on 10-15 years if not longer. too many building left unoccupied and near derelict for too log ,Small units should not cost a fortune, the likes cruise st. could work but not as a main shopping street, for the prices they charge (maybe that has changed)it has no appeal to retail to enter really.

We also don't see large scale refurbishment of units or premises like other big cities, where we either improve or expand on what we have, last time I remember any being done was 90's and latest early 2000's (o mahonys etc shows what could be done.) ?not really counting Speight's here but would be another example i suppose,

The beggers are a pain but its not the worst ,its the tugs that suffer no consequences for their actions or antisocial be-haviour and knowing nothing will be done. I've no problem with groups of teenagers messing and acting the twats.

We need some activities in the city a proper small time cinema large mid tier eateries ,(I've never felt the Belltable inviting in case its asked)we lost bowling in the savoy and while it was the most convoluted access it was at least in the city , no real venue /events place in the city either (I know dolans but its a bar)places think like the old old savoy ,nice urban spaces see next point

Traffic is terribly managed (We lack road infrustructure to move traffic out of the centre areas of the city easily)and we need more car parks dotted around the outskirts than parking on streets. everything feels disconnected, Arthur's quay park has turned out ok its a nice spot but it faces the back arse of ugly buildings with a busy road separating it from the town.

What is the parking situation though? There's dozens of multistoreys with hundreds of spaces, hundreds more on street spaces with parking for as little as 25c and free on Sundays. Tesco and Dunnes offer money off your parking when you shop in their stores.

I don't drive to town often as I walk or take the bus but I was amazed a few months back when I went to park in Charlotte's Quay to discover it cost me like €3 for 2 hours. You wouldn't get a cup of coffee for it.

Not having them doesn't really solve much these days.

Talk to Galway people and they all say we have a way better selection of shops in Limerick. That's sadly because of the shopping centres. If they didn't exist it looks more likely that the shops in the Crescent would abandon Limerick rather than move to the centre.

I always think the parking issue is just an excuse from people who wouldn't go to the city centre anyway.

There is an awful lot of "I used to go in to the city centre a few years ago (actually the 90/00's) but now I don't because xyz"

What really happened was you were young and free and now you are a middle aged or older suburbanite. It usually coupled with resentment for anyone who actually likes Limerick or has an answer for their complaints.

The parking situation is that there was a lot more on-street parking a few years ago. We reduced them in favour of bus and cycle lanes which we then didn't connect up together. The price is a factor but the availability is as well. I think overall we are one of the cheaper cities to park in

General rule of thumb, if you reduce parking provisions you need to create an alternative method to get people into our city or they will go where they can park easier

What you on about there still periodic 2 parking lanes on William st at times,,😄

It might be worthwhile to list what types of businesses/ venues people see as lacking in the city centre .

A few from the top of my head -

Mexican/ Tex mex restaurant. Larger secondhand/vintage bookshop. Tapas restaurant. A ( small) artist/art market location or gallery).

So when I say we reduced them in favour of bus and cycle lanes you agree with examples but yet you disagree? I recommend you think before you post in future because that's a laughable argument

I'm not sure what 'vendetta' you refer to, you've said that to me a few times now without any real evidence.

Things that seem very popular in all other Irish cities and should be doable here are.

good quality Pizza slice places

Tapas bars (Also both our wine bars are absolutely shte)

A gourmet food shop where you can get milk market quality produce 7 days a week. We have that in bits and pieces from places like Rift and Eats of Eden but not the full range.

A proper cocktail bar (not some "girls night" type place selling fruity muck)

A modern bakery (I think we are getting one in Kranks at some stage)

*There is a small art gallery/shop across from Treaty brewery. Never been in so I couldn't say much else about it.

There used to be parking on o connell Street, correct, I'm not sure why you need to keep going on about it

I’m not saying Limerick isn’t good for food because we are spoiled for choice. However, when you take out the chains and the fast food restaurants, the offering is limited. I would love to see small style independent restaurants open but I don’t think we have the market for it at present.

Would love to see a proper tapas/small plates restaurant open in the city. Melody is a good substitute in the meantime.

This hits the nail on the head. Things are closing down because there is not enough focus on accomodation, in particular, apartments above businesses. I thought it was an April fools joke to see plans for a new shopping centre on Catherine Street. I'm sure Opera Square will look great, but it is rather laughable how such a large complex is purely commerical with no contribution to improving accomodation etc.

Completely agree that we need a cinema in the city centre! Apparently there used to be one (before my time) around the Savoy, complete with bowling etc? Where did they all go?