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‘Shop local’ is the message from Douglas Village merchants today as the ignored mall reopens a year and three months after a fire ripped through the building’s parking lot, rendering the structure unstable and leaving merchants without access to their stores.
Due to Covid-19 level five restrictions, not all downtown stores are able to reopen today.
However, Tesco lifted the blinds today and the Bank of Ireland will reopen on Monday.
Tesco invested € 1.5 million in renovating the Douglas store and making improvements to other Cork stores this year.
30 new jobs have also been created at the Douglas shop, and 100 employees who worked there before the fire will return.
“We are delighted to reopen our store at Douglas Shopping Center today. The reopening under Level 5 restrictions is certainly a very different event than we could have planned. I am pleased to say that we have been able to provide a safe and easy experience for our customers. they come back, “said Dermot Hever, store manager.
“I must congratulate and thank our colleagues who were temporarily reassigned to our sister stores in Cork, and I know they are all delighted to be back at the Douglas store to serve the customers they know so well.
“We are also very grateful to our clients for their patience and support as we all work to respond to Covid-19.”
The Bank of Ireland branch of the Douglas Village shopping center will reopen on Monday. The head of the Bank of Ireland in Cork City, Sean Byerley, said the bank has been waiting for the branch to reopen since the fire.
“Douglas is a thriving residential and commercial center adjacent to the city of Cork and having customers finally return to the new branch will be a welcome sight for all Bank of Ireland staff there.”
The other merchants are eager to open their doors on December 1 to welcome their loyal customers just in time for some holiday shopping.
Vicki Creber from Itso boutique tells me that seeing the mall reopen was like coming home.
I had a pop-up store at St Patrick’s Woolen Mills in Douglas in September, but it’s closed now.
“I’m getting ready to reopen my facilities at the mall on December 1. I can’t wait to go back inside and open the doors, just to feel at home.
“I’m very excited, seeing the mall open today made me very excited. It’s been a long 15 months, it was a long process, but it’s a very happy day.”
She says a lot of work was done behind the scenes and seeing it all come true made it a good day for her.
Ms. Creber added that local shopping is on everyone’s mind and she believes that local people will come out and support Douglas Village merchants.
“We’ve been through a lot with the fire and the pandemic. That’s the message to go out, buy locally, support merchants. If we don’t have local stores, we won’t have local jobs.”
Seán Ó Riordan, president of the Douglas Business Association, said it was a good day for the people. He runs an accounting firm in Douglas.
“I wish the merchants the greatest success. They have had a really torrid time, moving past the floods, fires and pandemic.”
“I hope they get their business back. I think people will come back and buy locally to support them. It will also bring business to the village of Douglas.”
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