Ringing changes with new store

ONE OF Ireland’s oldest family-owned jewellers, John Brereton Jewellers, will open a new store in Dublin’s Grafton Street today. The opening was scheduled to coincide with February 29th – the date that comes around every four years when ladies traditionally ask men for their hand in marriage.

John Brereton Jewellers purchased the former West jewellers shop at 33 Grafton Street last year for almost €5 million.

More than €1 million has since been spent on the refurbishment of the four-story end of terrace building at the junction with South Anne Street. The new store will lead to the creation of 10 jobs, bringing to 35 the number of people employed by the company.

Breretons’ Chatham Street branch closed on Saturday and all staff will transfer to the new store.

John Brereton opened its first store in Capel Street in Dublin in 1916. In 1976 its second branch opened on Chatham Street, followed by an O’Connell Street branch in 1986.

Paul Brereton, general manager of the Grafton Street store, said the new store offers an exciting opportunity for the company.

“Grafton Street is an unrivalled location, and will offer huge opportunity in terms of extra footfall,” he said.

The new store, which is located directly opposite Boodles jewellery shop, offers more than six metres of frontage on Grafton Street and a further 10-metre frontage on South Anne Street, a key advantage of the site, according to Mr Brereton.

As well as three retail floors, the premises also has a workshop which will employ goldsmiths and other design staff.

West of Grafton Street was one of the longest established firms in the State. Founded in 1720 on Capel Street, it moved to 33 Grafton Street in 1965 and closed its doors in 2010.