Pretty vacant

Pop-ups are bringing new life to shopping streets around the country, writes ALANNA GALLAGHER

From the side streets of central Dublin to the high streets of the country’s towns and cities, empty shops – many built during the boom and not yet let – sit like scars on a battle-weary retail landscape. While Dublin’s prime shopping streets have maintained a low vacancy rate, elsewhere the figures make for grim reading, with more than 18 per cent of retail units left empty in Athlone, more than 16 per cent in Limerick city and 13 per cent in Cork city. But it’s not all doom and gloom.

The rise of the pop-up shop is helping reclaim the high street and putting the theatre back into retail, with vacant shops offering short-term opportunities to enterprising individuals. The concept, setting up a temporary shop for a few weeks, is a savvy way to experiment in business and works for established names and newbies alike.

There are two ways to work a pop-up shop, according to Michael Harrington, head of retail at commercial property adviser’s CBRE. “One is to set up a temporary shop to test a retail location by selling as much stuff as you can. This is generally done as a Christmas lease. Or a pop-up is done as a brand initiative, to promote awareness of a product or service.”

The Kilkenny Shop, which popped up on Grafton Street, is a good example of the former, testing a location with a high pedestrian volume before committing to a longer lease. Maoliosa Murray, who last month set up a temporary shop selling fashion and furniture not on sale in Ireland, in a Georgian building on Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2, is an example of the latter.

“The attraction of a pop-up is its originality,” she says. “Nine out of 10 times they are secreted away in hidden locations to take advantage of brilliant spaces. It’s an exciting way to test the market and get a brand out there in a finite amount of time.”

There are pop-up clubs and restaurants, too. Joe Macken’s pop-up eateries – Crackbird in particular – have been well-documented. Pichet’s Stephen Gibson will present a night of fine dining at Tattersalls Country House, in Ratoath, Co Meath, for one night only in February. And farther afield, Silencio, the louche Paris lounge of filmmaker David Lynch, opened a pop-up club at the Delano Hotel at Art Basel Miami Beach in Florida.

Is there any sign of the phenomenon abating? Owen O’Doherty, deputy city architect at Dublin City Council, thinks not. “It keeps the streets active, increases footfall and prevents the urban blight of empty shop fronts.”

Between now and Christmas there are plenty of temporary shops to pop into. Here are our favourites (all end December 24th unless otherwise stated).

Christmas Boutique – 12 Days in Ranelagh

Ranelagh Arts Centre, 26 Ranelagh Main Street; klickity.ie

Run by Elizabeth Fingleton, the business brain behind the design house Klickity, this pop-up sells Arty Smarty jewellery, Brook and Shoal candles, jewellery by Filip Vanas and Karl Sweeney, accessories and stationery by Ursula Celano, Per Dozen Design dishes and Headbangers helmet covers for children. Open 11am-6pm from Wednesday until December 23rd, with late opening until 8pm on Thursdays. See Facebook for more.

Maoliosa Murray

Ebony and Co showroom s

1st Floor, 39 Fitzwilliam Street Upper, Dublin 2; tel: 087-9114946; maoliosa.com

Selling fashion by New York-based Irish designer Daryl K and Kara Ross; interiors by the Rug Company; and furniture by David Linley and Jonathan Adler. Open 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday, until January 5th.

Design Corner, Park House

Georges Street, Dún Laoghaire (opposite the entrance to the People’s Park);

[ facebook.com/thedesigncorner ]

Buy Red Rufus sock dogs, Cathy White’s decorative evening bags, jewellery by Ali Nash and Rebeka Kahn, millinery by Kate Betts and tableware by Slated. Open 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday; 11am-6pm on Sundays; 10am-2.30pm on Christmas Eve.

The Cat’s Miau

74 Francis Street, Dublin 8

Tel: 086-6695940;

[ facebook.com/thecatsmiau ]

A rotational mix of vintage clothes, vinyl and props from film and television, as well as styling sessions in vintage hair and make-up by Locks and Lashes ( facebook.com/ locksandlashes) all under the one roof. Open 10.30am-5.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and noon to 5pm on Sundays.

Makers and Brothers

The Shed, Abbey Court, Abbey Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin; tel: 01-6638080; makersandbrothers.com

A corrugated shed that houses a diverse collection of Irish-made delights such as Max Lamb crockery, Donegal wool socks, Studio Donegal tweed cushions and Kathleen McCormick wicker bicycle baskets. Open 10am-6pm daily.

Damn Fine Dublin

Block B, Haymarket, Smithfield Square (behind Third Space cafe); tel: 01-5351014; damnfineprintstudio.com

Dublin Flea pops up in Smithfield from December 14th to 16th and includes Damn Fine Dublin, who are selling the perfect present: prints by well-known Irish illustrators such as Chris Judge, Mark Garry and Steve Simpson. Each design is an edition of 30 and costs €30. Open noon to 7pm next Friday and 11am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Irish Design Selection

Westbury Mall, Dublin 2; Tel: 087-2376938.

Sells work by lighting designer Shane Holland, Shane Houston’s Chic Hens, Raymond Kingham’s ceramics and Jenny Walsh’s Time Flies clocks. Open 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday; Thursdays 10am-7pm; Sundays 11am-5pm. See Facebook page for more details.

Print Block Christmas Shop

The Culture Box, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 (across from Meeting House Square)

Tel: 086-8307294; printblock.tumblr.com

Print Block studios, of Cork Street, Dublin 8, have taken a space in Temple Bar to sell limited edition ideas for the home. Buy screen-printed fabrics by the metre, table linen, cool cushions and laminated trays by Irish designers that include Ruth Doorley, Jennifer Phelan and Liz Nilsson. Open 10am-6pm, Monday to Sunday, and 10am-8pm, Thursdays until the 22nd.

The Kilkenny Shop

11, Grafton Street, Dublin 2

(next-door to McDonalds);

Tel: 01-7645656; kilkennyshop.com

One of the best-known champions of Irish design will be on Grafton Street until the 31st. Shop for Patrick Francis’s angora accessories, Aine Knitwear’s lambswool hats and collars, Nicholas Mosse pottery, and handmade jewellery by Alan Ardiff, Maureen Lynch and Martina Hamilton. Open 9.30am-7pm, Monday to Wednesday; 9.30am-9pm on Thursdays;9.30am-8pm on Fridays; 9am-7pm on Saturdays; and 11am-7pm on Sundays.

My Shop . . . Granny Likes It

50 Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway

Tel: 087 9175069;

[ facebook.com/myshopgrannylikesit ]

This Galway showcase includes ceramics by Stephen Farnan, Cloonmore Pottery, Lisa Ryder printed scarves and gift ideas by wood turner Matt Jones. Open 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday.

Pew Pew Barney McGrew

4 Castle Lane, Corn Market, Belfast

Tel: 0044-7833974444; craftni.org

Ceramicist Stephen Farnan’s shop features fashion jeweller Lesley Frew, fine jeweller Fiona Kerr, glass artist Catherine Keenan, and ceramic studios Adam Frew and Red Earth Design. Open 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday.

Donegal Design Makers

Rathmullan House, Donegal;

[ donegaldesignermakers.wordpress.com ]

Works will be displayed in the interconnecting sittingrooms of this beautiful country house, where you can chat with the makers before indulging in Rathmullan’s famed Sunday lunch (no lunch on Saturday). Open noon to 5pm next Saturday and Sunday.

Made in Kilkenny

16, John Street, Kilkenny

Tel: 087-2327743; madeinkilkenny.ie

Ray Power, the potter behind Castle Arch Pottery, organises an annual pre-Christmas pop-up in Kilkenny. The boutique includes Moth to a Flame candles, Cushedale Woolen Mills and the work of numerous potters and jewellery designers. Open10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday, and noon to 6pm on Sundays.

West Cork Craft and Design Guild

66 Bridge Street, Skibbereen, Co Cork

[ westcorkcraft.org ]

Features the work of local artists and artisans, including baby chairs made from unseasoned hazelnut by Green Wood Chairs, beautiful knives for shucking oysters by master cutler Rory Conner, and felted rabbit egg cosies by Christina Jasmin Roser. Open 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday.

Lainey Keogh

20 Station Road, Dalkey

[ laineykeogh.com ]

If you missed Lainey Keogh’s recent sale in the Shelbourne hotel, there’s another chance to buy her cashmere knits at her Christmas pop-up shop in Dalkey. The shop will have gifts and accessories such as neckscarves, hats and cashmere hot water bottle covers. Visitors will be greeted by a wood-burning stove and a Santa bag, and 10 per cent of all proceeds will be donated to St Vincent de Paul. Open daily, except Sundays, until December 20th.

Stoneybatter Guild

The Yard, No 16 Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 (beside L Mulligan Grocer); tel: 087-9691845

Run by Olwyn Mannix, this pop-up is now in its third year, with art and photography by local artists, including broadcaster and DJ Donal Dineen, vintage gifts and natural foliage decorations. Everything on display is already beautifully gift-wrapped and ready to put under the tree. Open noon to 7pm, Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 4pm on Sundays until the 22nd. See Facebook for more.

Paula Rowan

63 Glasthule Road, Glasthule;

tel: 087-6680511; paularowan.com

Paula Rowan has popped up in two locations this festive season: Glasthule and Harvey Nichols, Dundrum Town Centre. Her best-selling glove this season is the Ronnie Wood, a black leather design, named after the Rolling Stone, who ordered a bespoke pair from her. The silk-lined glove has a studded cuff and costs €164.95. Kylie’s backing dancers wore Rowan’s gloves for her recent Strictly Come Dancing appearance. Open 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday; 10am-7pm on Thursdays; and noon to 5pm on Sundays until January 31st.

Celebrity Salon

55 South William Street, Dublin 2;

tel: 01-7071919; celebritysalonlive.ie

Enjoy the real life Celebrity Salon experience. Try Hairspray Extensions and Great Lengths Extensions, Shellac Nails and Coco Brown Tan, and public appearances from the television cast. Open noon to 9pm daily until January 4th.