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Jervis Shopping Centre Owners Plan Leisure-Led Revamp of Vacant Anchor Unit
🇮🇪 Ireland /Economy & Trade

Jervis Shopping Centre Owners Plan Leisure-Led Revamp of Vacant Anchor Unit

From Irish Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Jervis Shopping Centre's new owners plan to convert a vacant anchor unit into a leisure and retail space.
  • The 3,562 sq m unit, formerly occupied by New Look, will be divided into a 2,180 sq m leisure facility and a smaller retail unit.
  • The leisure space is expected to include attractions like bowling alleys, mini golf, and arcade games, reflecting a trend towards combined shopping and entertainment.

Dublin's Jervis Shopping Centre is set for a significant transformation as its new owners seek permission to repurpose a large vacant anchor unit into a vibrant leisure and retail destination. The shopping center, acquired last year for nearly €115 million by UK-based Pradera and Connecticut-based Cross Ocean Partners, currently faces a vacancy rate of approximately 30 percent.

These plans are an exciting step towards creating new ways for people to shop, meet, eat and socialise right in the heart of the city, drawing on Pradera’s experience in transforming city-centre retail destinations.

— Maeve FoleyPradera senior director, describing the vision for the revamped Jervis Shopping Centre.

The latest plans submitted to Dublin City Council involve subdividing the 3,562 square meter space, which has been empty since fashion retailer New Look liquidated in February last year. One of the new units, spanning 2,180 square meters, is earmarked for an amusement and leisure facility, potentially incorporating retail, restaurant, and bar services. The remaining section will continue as a retail unit.

According to JSA Planning, acting for the center's owners, extensive marketing efforts for the unit in its original retail format yielded no offers. "There is limited market demand for a single anchor retail unit of this format and scale," the planning report stated, highlighting the difficulty in re-letting the space for its former use.

The proposed development reflects the wider shift towards places that combine shopping with leisure, food and social experiences while supporting a vibrant and commercially sustainable future for the centre.

— Maeve FoleyPradera senior director, explaining the strategy behind the proposed changes.

While the specific tenant for the leisure space remains undisclosed, plans suggest it could feature bowling alleys, mini electrical go-karts, mini golf, and arcade games. This move aligns with a broader industry shift towards creating mixed-use environments that blend shopping with entertainment and social experiences. Pradera senior director Maeve Foley emphasized that retail will remain the center's primary function, but these changes aim to enhance its appeal and ensure a sustainable future.

There is limited market demand for a single anchor retail unit of this format and scale, which has rendered the unit difficult to re-let in its former retail use.

— JSA PlanningOn behalf of Jervis Shopping Centre, explaining the rationale for repurposing the vacant unit.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Irish Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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