Dunnes Stores sued for not reopening its Merchant's Quay store in Cork

The court heard that Dunnes removed all its stock from the unit which has left it in “an obviously vacant state which is unattractive” for both customers and for the smaller tenants in the centre

Shopping centre owners Phyluma claims that notwithstanding the permanent lifting in May 2021 of the Covid-era prohibitions on non-essential outlets, Dunnes has "failed without meaningful explanation" to re-open its Merchant's Quay outlet.

A dispute over Dunnes Stores' alleged failure to re-open one of its anchor stores after the lifting of the pandemic closure rules for non-essential retail outlets may be resolved later this month, the Commercial Court heard.

Phyluma Ltd has sued Dunnes Stores (Georges Street) Unlimited Co. claiming it is in breach of a "keep open" clause with regard to its anchor tenancy for a Dunnes clothing outlet at the Merchant's Quay Shopping Centre in Cork. Dunnes denies it is in breach.