German discounter opens in Coal Quay

Retailer Lidl is the first of two German discount chains to make a strong foothold in Cork city centre, opening today in Cornmarket Street, ahead of Aldi’s plans to locate in the ground floor of the Elsyian tower.

Becoming the second international retail anchor for the Cornmarket Centre, Lidl opens its 140th Irish store there, bringing 30 jobs to the basement level of Rockfell Investments’ Cornmarket Centre, which is now edging toward full occupancy. It means the multi-million euro shops and apartment scheme on the site of the old Guy & Co building now has two strong anchors — Lidl and TK Maxx — but, unusually, neither is at ground/ street level. TK Maxx opened upstairs in 2008, taking 45,000 sq ft of the centre’s total 130,000 sq ft retail offering.

Other occupants include designer jeweller Design Works, Fás, Dress 4 Less, and active clothing company 53 Degrees North, in the former converted church building facing on to Paul Street.