THE HEAVY investment by the Cosgrave Group in converting WestEnd in Dublin's Blanchardstown area from a retail park to a fashion enclave is paying off.
The group has just reported that there has been a year-on-year increase of 29.5 per cent in the number of shoppers visiting the park which adjoins the equally successful Blanchardstown Town Centre.
WestEnd has attracted a formidable list of fashion and lifestyle retailers, including anchor tenant Next which trades out of a store of 3,716sq m (40,000sq ft).
The line-up in the larger than usual stores also includes Burtons, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Laura Ashley, Jean Scene, Pavers Shoes, Champion Sports and Ladybird.
Leading global lifestyle fashion retailer Esprit has been the latest arrival in the park where, in partnership with the Ark Retail Group, it took a 25-year lease on a store of 650.3sq m (7,000sq ft).
Kamran Khan, CEO of Ark, said they had closely followed the evolution of WestEnd over the past few years and could see its growing potential. The new Esprit store was one of its largest in Europe and the first of its kind in a retail park.
Other traders pulling in the shoppers include Heatons, Argos Extra and Classic Furniture. A new plaza area was created to accommodate Costa Coffee.
Also moving in early this summer will be mobile phone operator 3G which has taken a 20-year lease on a unit of 33.3sq m (358sq ft). Rents for most tenants are running around €484 per sq m (€45 per sq ft). Savills HOK is the letting agent.
Ronan Rooney of the Cosgrave Group said the deal with Esprit marked the completion of a phased programme of fashion lettings. "WestEnd's focus on fashion and lifestyle, combined with spacious store formats and a 650-space free car park, means that it has become the destination of choice for an increasing number of shoppers in and around Dublin."
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