Smell off us?

Is having an Argos Extra and an Iceland that much a badge of honour?

I heard a councillor in waterford on Matt Cooper a while ago. I forget the topic but he was saying that they deliberately resisted building shopping centres on the town outskirts, in favour of trying to develop the town centre and encourage business there. There are pros and cons either approach, at least you can say his heart is in the right place. It would have been easy to let developments pop up all over the place and collect the dev. fees.

I know in Carlow they have 3 or 4 shopping centres on the outskirts of town, which has sucked the business and atmosphere out of the high street and town centre

yeah but kilkenny dont have a tescos:D

we've got 5 tescos.......maybe we could swap one for one of their all irelands:p

Lamph wrote: »

Whinge whinge.

(That's a summary of what is to come... If you don't like that kind of post, don't read on!)


Ok, so here's the thing...

Wexford has Argos extra.
*Clonmel* (ffs) has Iceland.
And today I was up in Kilkenny, and discovered this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-d8eWk9Mr8

...deadly shopping centre that pretty much kicks City Square's butt!

Is there a smell of us here in Waterford or what?! lol
Historically, we're one of Ireland's 5 main urban centre's. I wonder where we stand in the pecking order today!

This is just whinging for the sake of whinging. There is nothing there that is not already in Waterford and Iceland is coming. Waterford city centre is holding out its own in face of very difficult conditions. Its tourism offering has come on by leaps and bounds over the last few years. The night life area of John’s St will have another night club opening soon to add to its offering. We also have a strong restaurant sector. It’s not all about retail you know. Which in itself is not massively out of line it just needs the spruce up of a new shopping centre to modernise it. Hopefully something will happen in terms of the Newgate Centre as it is a viable development unlike a lot of things that were built during the Celtic tiger years. If it does Waterford’s city centre will be in a very strong place.

Creamsoda wrote: »

I can't decide if this one or war child's one about every thread turning into Dublin bashing is worse.

That's also a contender yeah. This one will be locked very soon though thankfully, all this "Kilkenny is not a city" rubbish is strictly forbidden now thank God.

Once the sun is shining, anywhere is brilliant. When it's raining, everywhere is a hell on earth.

Aussie logic

Support the shops we have in the city centre already. More will follow when they determine the business is there. There is no use going to Kilkenny, Clonmel and buying everything there if the same product is available here. Wexford run a great in shop Windows, "Shop in Wexford" supporting xxx many local Jobs, also "Shop Local" "Buy Irish". We already have Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Pennys, Buy Lo, loads of Ladies clothes shops, menswear shops, a great Viking triangle, tourist trade. Why are we a pack of whingers, always looking for what others have, far away fields being greener etc. Be happy with a great Waterford city, tell everyone about it. be positive. Rant over!

Solair wrote: »

Iceland ?!?

You're really not missing much to be perfectly honest. It's not somewhere I'd be rushing to go to.

They're only starting to roll out stores in Ireland. So far a few in Dublin and Carlow, Ashbourne and Clonmel.

They're not even open in Cork.

I have heard they are having a very hard time getting a foothold in the market. That's Why they haven't opened in Waterford/Cork.I could live without them being honest.

A regular theme on here is the old Marks and Sparks type argument, the city is doing crap cos we dont have Iceland, M&S whoever.

The UK went down this route years ago with the result that every town is the same. Currently the UK government are spending millions trying to "save the high street". Mary Portas was recruited to work on this strategy and one of her main conclusions was more independent shops ( not big name stores).

Take Kilkenny Macdonagh Junction effectively killed Market Cross SC which now has a very low occupency.

We need some big name to create a critical mass but we also need boutiques selling one off goods. Ask any lady what they would rather wear, a dress from M&S that half the country owns or a one off piece that is unique.

We need to offer something different not the same old dross.