12 Feb 2019400+ new jobs expected with the opening of 'Clerys Quarter'
For 165 years, it was an iconic landmark of Dublin's city centre - before it closed its doors in 2015. Now Clerys department store will be returned to its former glory.
The building has remained all but empty over the last three years, following a controversial sale and closure which left a hole in the capital's shopping thoroughfare.
But the O'Connell Street site will spring back to life as new owners, the UK-based Europa Capital, unveiled its plans for the famous building.
It promised the historic building and its famous clock will be restored and the development "will regenerate Dublin's landmark street".
Building is due to begin before March and finish late next year.More than 400 jobs will be created with the opening of what will be called 'Clerys Quarter'.
Another 750 temporary construction workers will be hired to work on the project that will include a 176-bedroom four-star hotel, its new owner Europa announced.
There will also be retail outlets, office space, a panoramic rooftop restaurant, cafés, restaurants, and a market.
In a statement, Europa and its partners Core Capital and Oakmount, said the historic store will be restored into a "new city centre destination".
"Key to the development will be the sympathetic transformation of the listed Clerys building into a world-class retail, office and leisure destination," they said.
"This will include the restoration of Clerys iconic features, including the colonnaded facade, internal staircases, columns and ceilings and the famous Clerys clock."
Clerys original restaurant and bar, the Tea Rooms, will be fully refurbished.
Former workers have demanded the new owner live up to an agreement to ensure the northside community benefits from the job opportunities.
"Myself and my colleagues expect this agreement to be fully respected by the new owners," said Justice for Clerys Workers spokesman, John Finn.
"We look forward to ensuring that this development is one that works for business, those who are employed in it and the surrounding local communities."
Workers were given just 30 minutes to leave when the department store went into liquidation in 2015, and the building was sold to the Natrium Investment Group.
The new owner said new employment opportunities will be available on completion, anticipated in late 2020.
It said there will be positions in retail, leisure and hospitality.
Europa acquired the development in October last year and got planning permission to extend the buildings from 212,000 sq ft to 344,000 sq ft.
There is a tendering process under way and construction is expected to start in the first three months of this year.
The plans include, 92,100 sq ft of office space across two buildings and 60,000 sq ft of retail space,
An 18,762 sq ft panoramic rooftop restaurant, bar and events venue, are also planned.
A former warehouse will become the new hotel at Earl Place Market. It will be close to a new Moxy Hotel.
The owners said they are in talks with a number of occupiers for the retail, office and hospitality areas.
Meanwhile, a Siptu spokesperson said it will seek clarity from the owner on an agreement reached after Clerys closed to boost job opportunities in the area.
"I was interested to see that the owners didn't refer to the community benefits scheme that was formally agreed under Dublin City Council, and is part of the planning process," he said.
"To the best of our knowledge, they haven't engaged with that process yet and we expect them to as soon as possible but it looks like they may have to be contacted."
He said the scheme meant the owners should be in touch with local representatives and training institutes in the north east inner city to ensure locals were trained for the various roles.
A spokesperson for Europa Capital said it was "fully committed to providing the jobs, and training".
She said the jobs will be advertised among the local community, and in the mainstream media.
Clerys dates from 1853 but the current building was constructed in 1922 after being destroyed in the Easter Rising.
