Three new tenants move into Cork's Winthrop Arcade

With impeccable timing, three new tenants are moving into Cork’s city’s gem-like boulevard, the Winthrop Arcade, via agents Lisney.

The arcade has an entrance onto award-winning Oliver Plunkett Street, blessed in the past week as the best retail street in Ireland and the UK.

The recognition came as the city’s second retail thoroughfare celebrates 300 years of trading, an award by the Academy of Urbanism for its mix, shops of surprises and community spirit.

New tenants are East, an eastern-inspired falafel and fresh food cafe being set up as a second Cork eaterie by Jack Crotty and Simone Kelly of Rocketman salads, adding to their presence on Princes Street and at farmer markets.

Rocketman was one of 12 restaurants along, and just off, Oliver Plunkett Street to organise a street banquet for 400 on the street during the Midsummer Festival, which may have whetted their appetite to trade directly onto the street at the 1920s Art-Deco/Tudoresque Winthrop Arcade.

East takes over the corner Unit 2, 160 sq ft by the GPO, previously occupied by a flower shop - and, now, another flower shop is to book-end the historic arcade’s entrance on Winthrop Street.

Florist owner of Best of Buds, Carole Horgan, is the first to start trading, opening in an enlarged 630 sq ft Unit 11/12 this week with lots of arcade/street frontage.

She started Best of Buds in the depths of recession six years ago, on South Mall, but “I’ve always loved the Winthrop Arcade: I got a fabulous watch here from a jewellers, I got my shoes from Skallys when I was a child, and I got my First Communion dress here, but don’t tell anyone,” she recalls.

Joining the mix now as a new tenant in Unit 8, and keeping some continuity with previous types of uses, is jeweller Michael Wall, who will do bespoke jewellery, vintage watch restoration, valuations and appraisals.

Lisney sold the part-timbered niche, L-shaped arcade with over 4,500 sq ft at ground level for receivers KPMG last year to a Wicklow-based purchaser who has started refurbishment works

Other traders include Monreal, Salingers Bespoke, Madison and Golden Scissors. It’s noted for its striking Tudor-revival street gables, glass covered arcade, indoor architecture and brass shop window frames. Rents for the new units ranged from €12,000 pa to €26,000 pa, says agent David McCarthy.

DETAILS: Lisney 021-4275079