THE CONVERSION of the Omni shopping centre in Santry, north Dublin from a local to a district shopping complex is now virtually complete with the arrival of two more high profile UK traders; Boots and Argos Extra.
Argos Extra, which opened last April, is paying a rent of around €314,000 for a unit which has 929sq m (10,000sq ft) of space.
Meanwhile chemist Boots will be paying in the region of €205,000 for a shop with 760sq m (8,180sq ft) of space.
Both stores have been developed on part of the extensive space formerly occupied by DIY retailer Homebase before it relocated to Gulliver’s Retail Park nearby.
Two fashion chains interested in part of the remaining 2,415sq m (26,000sq ft) of space are in discussions with letting agent Jones Lang LaSalle.
The recently developed fashion mall has been bucking the trend by attracting big numbers of shoppers to stores such as New Look, Jack and Jones, Tempest and Vera Moda.
External boardwalk shops have also let quickly to companies such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Meteor and Halifax.
George Ross of Jones Lang LaSalle said that, in an increasingly difficult retail climate, new lettings of the calibre of Boots and Argos Extra were “an encouraging validation” of the strength of the improving Omni centre.
Ross said that, with uncertainties on the timing of a number of proposed mixed-use developments planned for areas such as Ballymun and the proposed redevelopment of the Northside shopping centre, Omni was likely to be the only centre providing additional large open-use retail accommodation in the area over the coming years. Both Boots and Argos Extra were represented by DTZ Sherry FitzGerald.
