Mexx to open in Dundrum Town Centre

THE AMSTERDAM-BASED clothing chain, Mexx, is to open a new store at Dundrum Town Centre in south Dublin.

Its arrival is expected to further strengthen Dundrum’s broad appeal at a time when it is already bucking the trend by attracting increasing numbers of shoppers in spite of the recession.

Figures for the first three months of the year show that visitors to the centre are 7.5 per cent higher than in the same quarter of 2009.

Mexx will be paying a rent of €380,000 for the former Lacoste outlet which has a floor area of 210sq m (2,260sq ft) on level one opposite the House Of Fraser. The new rent is understood to be around €160,000 higher than that paid by Lacoste.

The owners of the centre are expected to seek general rent increases of up to 60 per cent when the first five-year review gets under way shortly.

Mexx was founded in the Netherlands in the 1970s and is now a leading international brand with stores in over 65 countries. In 2001 Mexx was bought by the US fashion company Liz Claiborne for $264 million.

In recent years Mexx has struggled to keep up with trendier fashion chains such as Zara and HM.

Dundrum has also attracted three more food outlets. A Mexican-style restaurant, Cortina, is to begin trading in a unit of 213sq m (2,300sq ft) between Harvey Nichols and Hamleys. The rent will be €130,000.

The Belfast-based China Buffet King has opened a restaurant of 445sq m (4,800sq ft) in the former Bennigans store. The rent will be €240,000 per annum. Later this month, Teddys Grill Bar will open a unit of 162sq m (1,750sq ft), paying a rent of €105,000.