Inside Dublin’s new Clerys Quarter

At this time of year, before its closure, staff at Clerys’ flagship facility on O’Connell Street in Dublin would have been preparing for the annual December 8 influx of shoppers from across the country. Meanwhile, Santa and his elves would have already been dealing with a line of children snaking around the corner from Sackville Place to Marlborough Street.

But, as with so much in 2020, this year is completely different, as the new owners of the old department stores move forward with their plans for their transformation into Clerys Quarter.

Despite the new challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, Oakmount from developer Paddy McKillen and his partners Core Capital and Europa Capital are still on track to deliver a major mixed-use scheme on the Clerys site that they hope will help to restore O’Connell Street as the city’s main thoroughfare.

For those curious about what will be in store once development is complete, which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022, the promoters of the Clerys Quarter have produced a short video to showcase its various elements.

The development will comprise 8,600 square meters (92,600 square feet) of new Grade A office space in two buildings, 5,575 square meters (60,000 square feet) of premium retail stores, a 1,670 square meter (18,000 square feet) panoramic rooftop restaurant square), a bar and event venue, five new food and beverage units, including newly renovated tea rooms, and a new 213-room four-star hotel.

Those still feeling sentimental for the Clerics of yore will be pleased to see their grand staircase, which is being restored to its original condition to provide the centerpiece of the project’s ground floor shopping area. The store’s famous tea rooms will reopen in 2022.

These proposed works are described by Clerys Quarter architects Henry J Lyons as a “key element” in the plans for the building, the original design of which had been based on Selfridges’ flagship store on London’s Oxford Street.

While Clerys Quarter leasing agents have yet to make an announcement regarding the scheme’s office and retail occupants, Paddy McKillen and Matt Ryan’s Press Up Entertainment Group will operate the development’s boutique hotel, which will be known as The Clery, and its rooftop bar and restaurant.

A spokeswoman for the Clerys Quarter promoters said: “We are in advanced discussions with various office occupants and retailers and look forward to making announcements on this in the coming months.”