€200k revamp for Cork's Electric Bar and Fish Restaurant
However, it’s just for three days, for a €200,000 revamp and freshening up in time for Valentine’s Day.
A builders’ crew headed up by Michael O’Shea — whose firm O’Shea’s built the then-innovative steel and concrete-framed South Mall structure in 1930 — goes on site on close of business at 11pm on Sunday, and will work around the clock until 5pm on Wednesday, says owner Ernest Cantillon.
O’Shea’s were also involved in converting the former ACC bank branch at 41 South Mall in 2010, after it was bought for €1.65m, and redeveloped at an overall cost of €3.3m.
Subsequently, €550,000 was spent on the rooftop Fish Bar, and a further €80,000 in fitting out the Sugar Cube on the adjoining Peace Park by the Lee’s south channel and Grand Parade.
Next week’s changes at Electric will include a new kitchen — which may have to be craned in — new furnishings, and repainting outside and inside.
“It’s freshening up, really. You have to do a certain amount of work every year to stay ahead, but we spent the last few years opening the Fish Bar and Sugar Cube, so now it’s time to go back on Electric,” said Mr Cantillon, whose extensive bar interests also extend to Dublin’s Sober Lane by the Aviva Stadium.
He also recently set up a catering business recruitment firm, BTS Recruitment with partner Denis O’Mullane.
No 41 was built in 1930 by O’Shea who returned to Cork from Chicago after the 1929 Wall Street crash, and was one of the city’s first Art Deco buildings, done in what was then an ‘experimental’ steel and concrete frame.
“We’ve seen a few recessions since, as well as trade wars and world wars,” says builder Michael O’Shea, as he steps back into a building which just keeps on giving business.
