Department store chain Guineys to open first store in Northern Ireland

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Aug 22, 2018

Guineys, a mid-market Irish department store specialising in homewares and clothing, is to move into a former BHS unit in Belfast city centre in its first foray into Northern Ireland.

After fit-out work and a six-figure investment, the budget department store chain will open at Castle Place in Belfast in November, it has been reported. The opening will create 20 new jobs.

Guineys, which has ten locations across the Republic of Ireland, agreed the lease for the 21,700-square-foot store with property agents Cushman & Wakefield. The space was part of a larger unit which was left vacant after the collapse of BHS in 2016.

According to The Irish News, the opening could be the first of several in Northern Ireland as the brand explores its options in the North.

“The size is perfect for us, it's a busy town and the location is great. The footfall is great, especially where the shop is. You couldn't get a better location I don't think. It was a good opportunity for us so we took it. It's our first shop outside of southern Ireland and we're excited about moving into Belfast,” managing director Gretta Guiney told the newspaper. "It's testing the waters, but I would hope it will be the first of many.”

In November, Guineys reported pre-tax profits of €2.45m, and a 10% increase in sales to €23.83m, driven by a “general improvement in economic activity in the economy”.