Paired grocery shop and cafe in Durrus will sell on double

The Wild Atlantic Way is good for business along Ireland’s indented coastline, say the couple about to sell up a well-performing local shop and cafe/restaurant, which they’ve developed through the recession.

“You see far more cyclists and walkers in the past year, since the Wild Atlantic Way came along, and in the past few weeks you’d notice a lot more cars, as well, now that the schools in the UK are on holidays; there’s a good number of US and UK tourists doing some, or all, of the route,” say Eddie and Claire Ryan. And, they add ”we’ve wi-fi, and it’s remarkable. People flock in and they just can’t wait to catch up on Facebook, and other social media, making contact with the wider world.” Recovering tourism numbers aside, the shop is in a pivotal position on the Sheep’s Head peninsula, between Bantry and Schull, and serves a Sheep’s Head year-round population of 2,500, says Eddie Ryan.

The couple has just put their combined Durrus village businesses, Ryan’s Village Grocery and the Gateway cafe and restaurant, on the market, via agent John Hodnett, of Hodnett Forde, who cites a price of €700,000 for the entire, or he may consider selling the two elements separately.