Mr.Price shop in Athlone confirms move

Photo: The Mr.Price store in the Diskin Centre, Golden Island.

Discount retailer Mr. Price is moving its shop from Golden Island to Cornamaddy, on the same site as its distribution centre.

A spokesperson confirmed they are moving to a building twice the size of their current home in Diskin Centre, Golden Island, adding that it was always in the plans to have a store on-site adjacent to the distribution hub.

The new Mr. Price outlet will open on Thursday, December 3 at noon in the former Nexans (Cable and Wire) premises in Cornamaddy.

On Thursday, the store known for their branded goods, also published a planning notice seeking retention of the change of use of a wholesalers/warehouse building to a shop use in Cornamaddy.

CORAJIO, trading as Mr. Price, is set to apply for the planning approval, the notice indicates.

Staff offices, a canteen, and changes to the external finish of the building, along with new door openings to the north, south and east elevations with car parking is also included in the proposals.

Back in 2018, the popular retailer announced €2.5 million plans to turn the former Nexans site into a nationwide distribution centre for its 51-strong retail network, bringing with it 200 new jobs.

While a spokesperson said the staff count in Cornamaddy including the new store quite a bit less than that, at 80, she explained that they are currently recruiting for more employees in the distribution centre.

“A big online expansion next year will mean even more jobs created,” the company told the Westmeath Independent.

Only established in 2010, the Irish-owned company purchased the long-vacant Nexans (Cable and Wire) premises over two years ago.

This saw the consolidation of three existing warehouses in Mayo, Tipperary, and Dublin into a new 155,000 square foot facility on the 15-acre site.

The firm confirmed at the time that the distribution centre would be a fully automated facility receiving stock from suppliers in Ireland, the UK, mainland Europe and beyond.