Hipster flirter Urban Outfitters to set up shop in Cork city centre 

The store closed following the collapse of the Arcadia retail group, headed up by disgraced British businessman Philip Green. The group closed more than 550 UK stores shortly after the pandemic hit and Irish stores were also affected. The group owned Dorothy Perkins-Evans, Evans-Wallis, Topshop-Miss Selfridge, Topshop-Topman and Wallis.

The store at No 101 had fallen into disrepair, but this week workmen were busy giving it a facelift in preparation for the new arrival. Fitout specialists were also at hand.

The 6,000 sq ft, four-storey, bow-fronted premises, which is located between men’s wear store Gentleman’s Quarters and Dunnes Stores, had been on the market with letting agents Savills, featuring a rent of €230,000pa. However the Irish Examiner understands it was bought from its investor owner by financial advisory firm MC2 on behalf of clients. The sale price is thought to be between €1-€2m.

The arrival of new retail blood of the calibre of Urban Outfitters is more good news for “Pana” which suffered badly during covid with the closure of yet-to-re-open flagship store Debenhams. Over the past two years, high street fortunes have improved with the arrival of well-known chains such as fashion retailer Flannels (at the former Eason store), JD Sport (formerly A-Wear), outdoor wear specialists North Face, UK footwear retailer Dune, fashion jewellers Lovisa at the former Game Stop shop, Carrolls Irish gift shop (formerly Oasis), Krispy Kreme doughnuts (formerly Porter newsagents), and more recently, jewellery sellers Neve/Diamond Direct, at No 22, the former Cudmore’s, under the banner of Austen & Blake.

Opera Lane has seen signings too, with new tenants Mountain Warehouse due to arrive at the former Topshop unit, returning the shopping street to full occupancy for the first time in five years.

Back on St Patrick’s St, Savills are also looking after a unit vacated by French Connection, where Cornwall-based fashion retailer SeaSalt is expected to open this year.

Meanwhile Spanish fashion retailer Mango - who took a 10-year lease on the former Quills store near the Savoy in 2023 after it had been vacant for almost 10 years - was recently named ‘Best Retail’ at the Cork Better Building Awards 2025.

Across the road from Mango, behind-the-scenes activity is underway at Debenhams, with a Spanish chain rumoured to be interested in taking space.

The premises at Nos 12-17 St Patrick’s St has been closed since April 2020 and was bought in May 2023 for €12m by investors connected to the Intersports/Elvery Sports retail chain, with the sale handled by Cushman & Wakefield. Cushman & Wakefield were also responsible for two recent signings on Opera Lane: Victoria Secrets (formerly clothes store GAP) and Bath & Body Works (formerly clothes store Only) Meanwhile a couple of blocks up from Debenhams, fast-fashion retailer Penneys is due to move on its planned expansion shortly.

The move will deliver a near 50% expansion of its flagship St Patrick’s St store on a block that Penneys has spent 10 years assembling, with the help of O’Flynn Construction.

Directly across the road, Urban Outfitters will have a very different offering, catering for “trend-aware tastemakers and aspirational teens”. The US chain, which already has two Irish stores, one in Dundrum shopping centre and the other in Templebar, offers a blend of clothing, home goods and accessories for men and women.

The arrival of the American brand to Cork is a good news story at a time when US-induced trade wars are set to brew up a storm.