Singer’s Corner seeks new tenant at €40k a year in one of Cork’s iconic retail spots

A 200-year-old Grand Parade landmark, once home to Singer Manufacturing, is seeking new tenants after decades of continuous trade

Singers Corner on Grand Parade, Cork File image   Denis Scannell

Hoping to sew up a swift letting deal at one of Cork City’s most iconic retail locations, Singer’s Corner, is estate agent Sam J. Kingston.

He is quoting a rent of €40,000 per year for the opportunity to trade on the ground floor of the 200-year-old building at the corner of Grand Parade and Washington Street.

Built in 1827, the landmark city-centre property was acquired by sewing machine makers Singer Manufacturing as its headquarters in 1870. 

It was later purchased by a private owner in 1960, with a garment alteration business operating continuously until March this year, when the decision to close was announced.

Casey & Kingston is seeking new tenants on a five-year lease at the much-loved building for €40,000 annually, noting that it includes 935 sq ft on the ground floor with first-floor storage space. 

The upper floors of the BER-exempt building, with its distinctive facade  repainted in 2014  replicating vintage Singer sewing machines in gold curlicues on black, are used for other purposes.

Grand Parade, including The Capital retail and apartments and Singers Corner in Cork City. Picture: Larry Cummins

Adjacent to the former SoHo bar and restaurant complex on pedestrian Tobin Street — now called Seventy Seven after a multimillion-euro sale — Singer’s Corner faces the Capitol development, anchored by Homesense, near the English Market.

On the opposite corner stands the redeveloped Finn’s Corner, refurbished over the past five years to include seven apartments overhead and a ground and first-floor café. 

Singer's Corner on Grand Parade, with Finn's Corner (since upgraded internally) also in image and available at €70,000 pa for cafe use

The café space is currently available to let through Cushman & Wakefield, with €70,000 per annum sought.

Also nearby is Bishop Lucey Park, now in the final stages of an upgrade as part of a multimillion-euro public realm investment in the Grand Parade/Beamish & Crawford Quarter, which is expected to reopen by late 2025 or early 2026.

DETAILS: Casey & Kingston 021 4271127