Jackie Lennox’s: A new chapter begins for Cork’s legendary chipper

The chance for another business to put its own name over the doors of legendary chipper, which served a city and wider diaspora over decades, has come to pass — the Bandon Road business with an inter-generational 74 year trading pedigree is for lease.

“It’s ready to trade, everything is here, all you need is a float for the tills and fresh product,” say Brian Lennox and Frances Lennox who say no private offers have been made in the run up to going to the open market.

The property goes up this week with estate agent Michael McKenna, seeking proposals from intending new operators, with a preference in the Lennox family to lease the immaculately-kept food premises and elaborate back kitchens, with all fully-owned equipment included.

Rent likely to be sought is €200,000 a year, or €4,000 a week, for a well-oiled, cash turning business that employed 47 at peak, down to 30-plus last year. In the months running up to the decision to close in October, it had its turnover heading back up to pre-pandemic levels, with more than 20,000 students at nearby UCC, it’s stated.

Mr McKenna anticipates interest in Lennox’s from other experienced operators, both existing city based and national brands, given the ready-made, ready-to-serve business in top order.

Might it suit as a Dino's or an O'Reillys? Kiely's, a SuperMacs? or a hungry Dublin operator like a Beshoffs (previously in Cork) or a Burdocks?

The Lennox family’s last weekend serving food back in October saw queues numbering many hundreds of fans stretch around three sides of a block at Bandon Road and Noonan’s Road, in spilling rain at times, in a moving tableaux like a cross between the flight from Egypt and the Last Supper.

That ‘Last Supper’ line reference was used in local, national, and even international media coverage, print, TV, and online, with hungry souls flocking from all over Cork city, county, and further afield with some flying in for a last visit to the shrine, with its two constant queues and ringing tills.

Lennox’s was a must-visit for locals after major sports and entertainment events, as well as for visiting celebrities and sports stars: as it shut, Taoiseach Micheál Martin branded it “an iconic institution”.

At times, Lennox’s could do a tonne of chipped potatoes in a day and night, fresh, always fresh, peeled and chipped in a back room, after being delivered on pallets and taken to the extensive prep areas on an internal lift.

The family know their onions, and Frances knows her potatoes, skilled in the art of selecting the best in any one season or month for chipping.

“The Spanish were the best, you’d get them for six weeks in the year. But that went down to just two weeks, due to climate change,” she notes, one of the minutiae of changes seen in her 55 years behind the scenes, having started there aged just 15. Siblings Brian and  Duncan also had 45 years service apiece on the batterlines.

Closing brought “a mix of emotions, to be honest. There’s definitely some sadness: it’s been my life’s work for so many years, but also a sense of gratitude,” says Frances, adding she’s grateful “for the people I’ve met, the memories we’ve created here, and the community we’ve built together”.

“It’s hard to say goodbye, but I’m at peace with it.

“Memories? We didn’t realise how many memories were created at Jackie Lennox’s for our customers until we received such a response from them, those queues outside the door, messages on the website and the beautiful cards and letters we received, all with their own stories about their time spent in Jackie Lennox’s,” says Frances, adding she was mortified when customers asked her to autograph their ‘souvenir’ Lennox’s chip bags.

She reveals she spent the last several months acknowledging them, if well-wishers had signed and left an address: the parallel with mass cards is perhaps apt, for the end of an era.

The many framed photographs which lined the walls of Jackie’s have been carefully taken down, are being copied, and will be put up on Facebook so those for whom they hold special memories (group shots of happy summer camp kids visits from Greenmount, anyone?) can access them.

And, as the gleaming business premises goes to market (Brian was Brassoing the doorstep plate when the Irish Examiner arrived) they say they really want to take the chance to acknowledge their customers’ loyalty and affection.

“As we retire, we reflect with gratitude on the memories, relationships and experiences that have shaped out business. We want to thank our loyal customers, long-serving staff, and everyone who has supported us along the way, as well as our suppliers,” they say. Frances mentions just a few of the dozens, including cash and carry MP O’Sullivans, Richard Noonan for wrappings, Catering Suppliers, Cork Bar Services, Cappoquin Chickens, electrician James Catchpole for safety and service, and, then, quite literally at the top of the heap, Stephen Landon Potatoes for moving mountains of spuds.

“While it’s bittersweet to close, this chapter had to come to an end, we cherish the moments we had, the people, the conversations, the laughs, and those moments where you know you made someone’s day just a little bit better: that’s been the heart of it for me.”

Frying tonight? Next...

DETAILS: McKenna Property 021-4279368