Business as usual for Krispy Kreme in Cork despite planning refusal
The American doughnut chain opened its Patrick Street branch last April. Picture: Cian O'Regan
Krispy Kreme has said it will be business as usual for the moment in Cork, despite a refusal issued by City Hall on planning permission for its Patrick’s Street branch.
The retailer had sought retention permission from Cork City Council for a change of use from previous retail use to a cafe, as well as the retention of shopfront and signage at its branch on 42 Patrick’s Street.
The American doughnut chain opened its Patrick Street branch last April to great fanfare, as it eyed further expansion around the country.
It took out a 10-year lease on the ground floor only of Porter’s, which closed in October 2022 ending its 46-year presence on the street. The lease terms include a break clause, at year five, and annual rent of €90,000 per annum, exclusive of VAT.
However, a council inspector examined the latest planning and said that the proposed use by Krispy Kreme would be contrary to the Cork City development plan.
“As the premises is located within the ‘Core Retail Area’ of the city centre, the existing cafe use would be contrary to policy objective 10.5 which is to ‘support the function of the core retail area as the primary location of comparison shopping in the region’,” the inspector said.
The inspector also determined that the existing signage on Krispy Kreme’s shopfront would have a “visual adverse effect on the architectural conservation area”, which is separately in contravention of the city development plan.
It was recommended that permission be denied on these grounds, and Cork City Council issued a decision late last week to this effect.
Accounts published last year showed Krispy Kreme’s revenues in Ireland had topped €10m for the first time.
The doughnut maker has a plethora of retail locations in the capital, which includes the Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre in north Dublin, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, The Square Shopping Centre, Dundrum Town Centre and One Central Plaza, Dame Street which opened in August 2022.
The business has steadily expanded despite the impact of covid-19 following the opening of its record-breaking doughnut-selling store in Blanchardstown in September 2018.
Despite this planning refusal in Cork, it remains open to Krispy Kreme to appeal the matter to An Bord Pleanála.
A spokesperson for Krispy Kreme Ireland would not confirm if an appeal would be lodged, but said: “Krispy Kreme is currently reviewing the documents but have no further update at the moment. Krispy Kreme will continue trading as normal in Cork and look forward to welcoming customers as usual.”
