Boots flagship store set to create 50 jobs in Cork letting coup

INTERNATIONAL pharmacy chain Boots is to make a giant, acre-sized footprint in Cork city centre, and promises 50 new jobs as a result.

The company has this week committed to a major 40,000sq ft new flagship store in developer Owen O’Callaghan’s Half Moon Street development, at the corner of Paul Street and Emmet Place.

The letting coup – one of the biggest non-food retail moves in the city in years – comes at a time of general retail slump. The deal will see the pharmacy and beauty company trade over two of the four floors they are leasing in the Wilson Architecture-designed building.

Boots has over 2,500 stores internationally, with a pedigree dating back to 1849. It has 55 Irish outlets, with seven in Cork including Patrick Street and Merchants Quay, as well as Douglas, Mahon, Wilton and several county towns.

Boots is advertising this week for 50 new staff for its new store, seeking team managers, shop assistants for healthcare photo services, beauty and its No7 cosmetic brand. It plans to keep both its Patrick Street and Merchants Quay stores open.

According to estate agent Peter O’Meara of Savills, Boots will occupy nearly 50% of the Half Moon Street development (with pure retail on just 16,000sq ft of the 40,000sq ft they have committed to). Boots’ major new location – their second largest Irish store – will be at the old Matthews Centre corner, linking into the former Irish Examiner garage site.

According to Savills, other flexible sizes are available in the Half Moon development, while confirmation of several more deals on the adjacent Opera Lane development along Academy Street are imminent.

Developer Brian O’Callaghan of O’Callaghan Properties said: “Obviously, this is tremendous news. For such a world class name as Boots to be taking space of this scale speaks volumes for the location and the potential of retail in Cork. Boots’ decision confirms the basis for our own belief in the Half Moon Street and Opera Lane projects, even in the current difficult climate, and we will be announcing further major names for both locations in the coming weeks.”