New shop to open as former Limerick bakery gets new lease of life

A NEW shop is opening in Limerick’s medieval quarter in the spot where a popular bakery once traded from.

Retail giant Gala is opening a branch in Nicholas Street, in a unit which up to 2022 was occupied by Tracey’s Shop and Bakehouse 22.

Signage has been erected outside the unit promising locals that Gala is opening soon.

The move will provide a boost for people living in the shadow of King John’s Castle and elsewhere on the Island.

One of those who will benefit is Limerick Leader local notes correspondent Maureen Sparling.

"For the last five years since Tracey's closed, if you didn’t have a pint of milk in the morning when you got up, people would need to go to Tesco if they didn’t have a car, or out to [Supervalu] Corbally for your messages,” she said.

She said the opening of Gala, which has been contacted for comment, represents “huge news, particularly for me”.

"It's a well wish for me personally going through any winter from now on. Older people have hard times getting out to Supervalu and Tesco,” she told Limerick Live.

Former councillor John Costelloe, who runs an antique shop in Nicholas Street has given his backing to the new store.

He said: “The local community have cried out for a store like this for the last couple of years. Its a great boost to the street and the progress and confidence is high uin the business sector in selecting such a prime location steeped in history and awesome potential. It’s another piece of the jigsaw in place to provide a much needed service for the locals and the wider community.”

Prior to Tracey’s opening in that unit in 2016, it had been a branch of Mace.#

The Tracey family had been associated with the area for many years prior to that though, with a shop in operation in Castle Street before the move to Nicholas Street.

The decision taken by the family to close and sell the unit in 2022 came amid rising costs and a decline in trade over the years.

There are five branches of Gala across Limerick: at Abbeyfeale, Adare, Patrickswell and Kilfinane.

At the moment, there’s just one outlet in the city centre, in Parnell Street near Limerick Colbert Station.

Headquartered in Kildare, Gala Retail has more than 230 stores across Ireland.

It was founded in 1998 by a group of wholesalers who wanted to develop a convenience retailing brand centred on local communities.