Cummins Sports exits Cork's North Main St as store goes on the market for €1.2m

The game plan going forward is for Cummins Sports to focus on its shopping centre stores and regional outlets, as well as its online business

Cummins Sports. North Main Steet, is available to buy or to rent. The sale guide is €1.2m. The lease is €100,000pa. Picture: Larry Cummins

WELL-KNOWN family-run Irish sports retailer Cummins Sports has put its flagship Cork City premises on North Main St up for sale with a guide price of €1.2m.

The store is also available for lease, for an annual rent of €100,000 per annum.

The move ends a 30-year relationship with the busy city centre street as the retailer concentrates on its high-performing shopping centre and regional locations, at Douglas Court, Blackpool Shopping Centre, Fermoy and Midleton.

The North Main St store, a landmark presence in the city’s retail core for almost three decades, is a substantial commercial building of 8,100sq ft over two floors. It has the bonus of a large yard to the rear, accessed via Cornmarket St, with parking for approximately 14 cars.

The store opened in 1996 in an expansion of the brand’s city centre presence — its first store opened on Princes St in 1971.

Cummins Sports in earlier times

 The business was co-founded by GAA star and onetime captain of the Cork minor hurling team, Kevin Cummins, who captained the team to All-Ireland victory in 1964. The business has always been closely tied to its GAA heritage.

With deep roots in Cork’s sporting life, Cummins Sports has been repositioning strategically in recent years, switching focus to suburban shopping centres and rural towns, as well as investing significantly in expanding its e-commerce platform. It withdrew from No 7 Princes St in 2023 and has now put its North Main St premises up for sale or for lease.

Cummins Sports said the move from North Main St “represents the next stage in the company’s growth and development”.

It added: “Cummins Sports remains proud of its legacy in Cork City and confident in the continued strength and future direction of the business”.

From its North Main St base, Cummins Sports consistently led market trends in brands, stock, and retail presentation. The location played a central role in building the strength and reputation of the Cummins Sports brand.

The store became synonymous with innovation and leadership in sports retail — renowned for hosting live DJ events during trading hours and creating a dynamic shopping experience.

Joint selling agents Philip Horgan of Cushman & Wakefield and Cearbhall Behan of Behan, Irwin, Gosling said the premises was “a rare opportunity to acquire or lease a substantial commercial premises... in one of the city’s most established and vibrant trading locations”.

The property includes a large open-plan ground floor retail unit of approximately 4,054sq ft, with strong street presence and impressive ceiling heights of 3.86m, while the 3,941sq ft first floor has recently been used for storage, and features solid concrete floors, canteen and toilet facilities, and convenient access via a rear stairwell. Rates are €21,181pa.

The agents said a “standout feature” is the vehicular access from Cornmarket St, which, along with parking, allows direct delivery, “an exceptional advantage for a city centre premises of this scale”. Moreover it offered development potential.

Mr Behan said they expected good interest from both owner-occupiers and investors, while Mr Horgan said the open-plan layout and extensive floor-to-ceiling height “will be particularly appealing to retailers”.

North Main St has high foot traffic and acts as a link from North Gate Bridge to Washington St, and a thoroughfare to St Patrick’s St.

Nearby occupiers include , Mr Price, Eurogiant, Murphy’s Pharmacy, and the Vicarstown Inn.

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