Three new retail outlets to create up to 50 jobs

UP to 50 new jobs will be created in Clonmel with the arrival of three new retail outlets in the coming months.

The new shops, which include the 40th store opened by Argos in Ireland, will be at the Showgrounds Shopping Centre close to Clonmel’s town centre and are due to open early in March.

As well as Argos, the Showgrounds will also be welcoming a branch of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Luigi’s Fresh Fish and Chip shop.

The shopping centre opened late in 2008 on Clonmel’s Davis Road and current tenants include Marks & Spencer, Golden Discs and Jack & Jones.

According to centre manager Julian Smith, Argos chose the location because of the Showgrounds’ success to date and the area “offered them the right mix of consumer accessibility and retailer serviceability that was so important to this major retail brand”.

Meanwhile, fashion retailer The Edinburgh Woollen Mill is continuing its expansion here with the announcement of its sixth store for the Showgrounds in March.

The new 4,000sq ft store in Clonmel will include fashion lines, leisure wear and golf ranges.

Mr Smith said he hopes the arrival of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill will be “the first of several” additional fashion stores opening during 2011.

The Luigi’s Fresh Fish & Chips shop will be the group’s third outlet to open in Ireland, with other branches located in Clare and Dublin.

“It shows that Clonmel remains attractive to major businesses and is continuing to develop its retail offer throughout the town and especially here at the centre,” Mr Smith said.