Huge queues, traffic gridlock, but happy people all round for the opening of the 20th Irish M&S store in Clonmel today.
Some people stood in line for up to 4 hours to visit the retailing giant’s new store at the Showgrounds development, on the Davis/Waterford Road.
Following 2 years of “will they, won’t they” rumours, the launch today was extremely successful and has to be a boost to the town. Up to 100 people will be employed at the new store.
Although controversial, in that some (the writer included) think that the development will take from the town centre, the extra traffic that a retailer such as M&S will bring may compensate.
If the crowds today are any indication of the future popularity of the store, then it will be good for Clonmel as a whole.
Opening hours are Mon-Wed and Sat 9-7, Thurs-Fri 9-9 and Sunday 10-6.
The real question is what will the long term footfall of the store be and what will suffer. Clonmel now has, yet again, all the major players in terms of supermakets. One has to ask how are they all sustainable in the town in the current economic climate?
ReplyDeleteAs for traffic gridlock a lot has to do with the design of the roundabout to the entrance of the development.