Athlone Towncentre reveals five new stores

Athlone Towncentre has this week announced the opening of five new stores to complement the current 60 stores within the centre. The new additions will see the creation of approximately 25 jobs in the local economy. Athlone Towncentre is already one of the largest employers in the region with over 750 people in fulltime employment. The addition of these local and international retail brands is a significant boost for Athlone Towncentre and for consumers in the Midlands in general. Over the past number of weeks, despite the challenging economic conditions, the lettings team at Athlone Towncentre has identified a variety of retailers expressing interest in the scheme. Aidan Grimes, director of managing agents Bannon commented: "The new lettings are another major endorsement of Athlone Towncentre. It shows that there are retailers with confidence in these times to put their trust in the scheme and the local people who support it." The latest five retailers to be added to the mix at Athlone Towncentre include 'Dress 4 Less'; Japan; 'Da Mad Hoor' restaurant; Lucaffe and Change lingerie store. 'Dress 4 Less' stocks sophisticated ladieswear with plus size selection. This is Liam Hyland's second store in Athlone in Unit 48 at Athlone Towncentre. Already trading with 'Vibe', an established operation in Golden Island, Liam saw the potential for growth and a gap in the market in Athlone. His recently opened 'Dress 4 Less' stocks sophisticated ladies fashions catering for sizes 12-26. He has expanded this concept from Navan Shopping Centre where he also trades under 'Dress 4 Less' after seeing the success of the brand there given its value-led fashion offering. The Japan store opens in Unit 43 on the upper level of Athlone Towncentre, directly opposite Topshop, and offers the latest high street fashions at affordable prices, catering particularly for the female 16-30 years market. With the unit about to begin its fit out, it is anticipated that it should open its doors in early August. Japan is a well known Dublin based value-led retailer. Located in Unit 1 at Civic Plaza, Da Mad Hoor is a gourmet burger diner operated by Brendan Cleary, one of the entrepreneurial family members behind the renowned Glenisk brand, famous for its organic yogurt and milk products. The diner will offer a range of gourmet burgers in funky and contemporary surroundings and will remain open outside of centre trading hours to cater for after hour's business. Terryglass man, Conor Brannigan, has recently acquired the franchise for the Lucaffe brand, which has opened in the balcony style Unit 66 overlooking the foodcourt area in Athlone Towncentre. Lucaffe is renowned for its fine coffee, which uses only the best beans and a traditional artisan slow roasting process to produce its smooth coffee flavour. This is complemented with a range of made to order wraps, bagels, paninis and sandwiches together with fresh pastries and cakes. Terms have also recently been agreed with Change to open its first store outside of Dublin in Unit 12 in Athlone Towncentre. Change is a leading Scandinavian lingerie retailer and offers customers the best possible combination of design, functionality and price in lingerie and beachwear. Change products are made from carefully selected materials from around the world and the brand is renowned for the quality and professional service provided by their highly skilled staff. The addition of five new retailers to Athlone Towncentre is seen as a major boost for the scheme, which is the largest in the Midlands. The centre boasts many brand names which are not available elsewhere in the Midlands and West of Ireland, including leading retailers such as H&M and Zara. The introduction of brands including 'Dress 4 Less' and Japan underpins the concept of value led fashion which is offered in Athlone Towncentre. Joint agents Bannon & Carberry Chartered Surveyors are also in advanced negotiations with a number of other retailers for space within the Athlone Towncentre at the present time.