Fresh blow for Limerick city centre as another retailer ceases trading

LIMERICK city centre has been dealt a fresh blow this Tuesday morning with the closure of a coffee shop outlet.

The shutters have fallen at Starbucks Coffee's branch at the junction of Thomas Street and Catherine Street.

A closure notice has been placed in the window, advising would-be customers that there is another branch of the coffee-shop giant five minutes' walk away in O'Connell Street.

When Starbucks opened at the Thomas Street retail centre in 2016, it was the coffee chain's second outlet in the city centre, joining a branch at the old Platform Five Cafe in Limerick Colbert Station.

The Thomas Street centre is home to the European headquarters of ride-sharing service Uber, one of the city centre's biggest employers, and Everise.

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As mentioned previously, a third branch of Starbucks soon followed in Limerick's main thoroughfare on the site of a former pharmacy.

And in the years since, several more of the Seattle-founded coffee chain have followed, across Limerick's suburbs, including notably at Parkway Shopping Centre, University of Limerick and in Castletroy Town Centre.

The closure comes amid concerns for the future of another well-known city centre firm.

Noel’s Menswear, which has branches at Bedford Row in the city centre, at the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle, and in Newcastle West, is a long-running family business, selling menswear and children’s wear for more than 40 years.

But its three branches have not opened since the start of the month, sparking concern and confusion among parents and schools who would regularly purchase school uniforms from the firm.

Wickham Properties, the trading name of Noel’s Menswear, is the subject of a winding-up petition.

Winding-up refers to closing the operations of a business, selling off its assets, paying off creditors, and distributing any remaining assets to the owners. A petition for winding up is usually based on the company's inability to pay.

A creditors’ meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, August 20.