Brooks stores to reopen in bid to find buyer
It is understood the High Court-appointed liquidator, KPMG’s Kieran Wallace, will reopen six of the 224-year-old Cork institution’s 11 national locations today for two weeks.
The units — at Togher in Cork City, Sandyford in Co Dublin, Bluebell in Dublin City, Tullamore, Co Offaly, Galway City, and Sligo Town — together account for about half of Brooks Haughton’s 225 staff.
However, the list means there is now no hope for jobs at Tralee, Co Kerry, Limerick City, Ballina, Co Mayo, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, or Waterford City.
The stores are re-opening on a short-term basis in an attempt to find a buyer for either the entire business or for individual, stand-alone facilities.
However, if no new owner emerges within the next fortnight, the entire enterprise and all shops — which went into High Court-ordered liquidation on Friday — will be closed for good.
Management took just 10 minutes last Friday to tell Cork branch staff the firm was being wound up as it was no longer considered financially viable.
The announcement came after Brooks and the related companies Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles were placed into High Court-liquidation after being in examinership since Feb 16.
The Harleston Group has purchased Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles, but not the Brooks operation.
