MORE THAN 50 traders have pitched for five shops that are to open alongside the new headquarters of Dunnes Stores at the corner of South Great George's Street and Stephen Street in Dublin 2.

The high level of interest in the newly refurbished retail units underlines the resurgence taking place in the area because of the huge mix of food stores, restaurants and bars now trading most of the day and late into the night.

Dunnes Stores operates its busiest convenience store on South Great George's Street and over a year ago also opened a large home furnishings outlet as part of its new headquarters.

Since then demand for shops in the area, particularly buildings with a large volume of space, has greatly strengthened, according to George Ross of Jones Lang LaSalle.

He said much of the demand for shops of 139-185sq m (1,500-2,000sq ft) was coming from Irish operators of international franchises.

Many shops along Exchequer Street and Dame Street have changed hands in the past two years while two outlets on Drury Street are also about to get new traders.

The area between South Great George's Street and Grafton Street is now seen as a popular recreation area, a safe alternative to the more boisterous Temple Bar.

The largest unit offered for letting by Dunnes on South Great George's Street is to be let to American coffee multiple Starbucks.

It is likely to be paying an initial rent of over €90,000 for a ground floor area of 74.45sq m (801sq ft) and a further 186sq m (2,002sq ft) on the first floor.

Two of the other units have been reserved by (yet another) hairdresser and an international health food operator.

In all cases the agent secured more than the quoted rent.