Popular Moate retail outlet confirms it is to cease trading

A combination of factors has prompted one of Moate’s most popular retail outlets – Al’s of Moate on Main Street – to announce that it is to cease trading at the end of this month.

Owned by local businessmen, Peter Scully and Alan Conroy, Al’s was set up over four years ago and quickly became known right across the Midlands for its huge range of products at discount prices.

Selling everything from the proverbial ‘needle to an anchor’ the popular business sold light hardware, newspapers, sweets, toys, pet food, cleaning supplies and a wide range of stationery, cards and party decorations to suit all occasions.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, Peter Scully said “a combination of factors” had contributed to the decision to close the business. He cited the lack of parking in Moate, supply chain issues, Brexit and the proliferation of discount stores as just some of those factors.

“Unfortunately we found it was no longer viable to continue trading,” he said, “so we had to reluctantly take the decision to cease trading completely, and we are planning to close the store as soon as we have sold all remaining stock in our closing down sale.”

While Brexit has resulted in “huge supply chain issues” and the cost of shipping has risen considerably over the past year, Peter Scully says that a lack of parking spaces in Moate “is a huge issue, not just for our business, but for every business.”

Peter points to the fact that the establishment of a Covid Vaccination Centre in Moate Community Centre meant that many motorists who availed of off-street parking at the Community Centre were forced to park on Main Street. “That meant people who wanted to park near Al’s couldn’t do so, and a lot of them just continued on into Athlone and did their shopping there.”

With regard to supply chain issues, he said that Christmas stock he ordered early last year didn’t arrive into his shop until the second week of December, which was “far too late” and the cost of shipping a container load of merchandise has increased from €1,500 to over €6,000 in the past year.

Peter and Alan own and operate Peadar’sBbar in Moate and have taken over the lease on Gertie Brownes in Athlone and plan to concentrate their energies on those two business ventures going forward.

They announced their intention to close Al’s in a Facebook post on January 25 last, stating that it was with “a heavy heart” that they had made the decision. “The last 2 years have been very tough on all businesses due to Covid, Brexit & Supply Chain Issues. Unfortunately we find it no longer viable to keep Als trading” the post on the Al’s of Moate Facebook page read.

Both Peter and Alan thanked all their customers for their support over the past four years and also warmly thanked their staff, past and present, for their “dedication and hard work over the years.”