Book chain for Westend retail park

RetailParks:  The Westend retail park in Blanchardstown is taking yet another change of direction.

Three years after the Cosgrave Group decided to buy out many of the leases and switch it into a fashion enclave, the company is now to let one of its largest units to an American book chain.

The announcement that Borders is to move into a store of 2,000sq m (21,528sq ft) has come as a surprise given that Cosgraves have had little difficulty in finding high profile fashion companies for Westend.

The latest arrival, the Arcadia Group, has just opened a store of 1,672sq m (18,000sq ft) where three different brands - Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Burton - are available.

Next up will be Ladybird children's wear which is due to open a new 500sq m (5,382sq ft) store next August. It will be the company's first outlet in a retail park in Ireland and its range will include toys, books and cots, as well as children's clothing.

Mid-summer will also see the opening of Costa coffee in the plaza area where outdoor seats will also be available. It will be in direct competition with Starbucks which is moving into part of the mezzanine in the Borders store. The book store will be paying a rent of around €430 per sq m (€40 per sq ft) when it opens next October, according to letting agent Bernadine Hogan of Hamilton Osborne King.

Westend has as its anchor Next which trades out of a building of 3,716sq m (40,000sq ft) with an option on half that space again. There are two further remaining units available, both with 5,000sq m (53,820sq ft) with a rent tag of €230,000.