Top US cosmetics brand to open on South William Street

BRIEFS:Dublin's South William Street is to get a major boost with the planned opening of a top US cosmetics business in a prominent shop formerly occupied by Combridge Fine Arts. That company has ceased trading after more than 100 years in business.

Benefit Cosmetics, the prestigious global beauty brand owned by LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), has agreed letting terms on the extensive store which is opposite the Dublin Civic Museum.

The rent agreed for the three-storey building including over 110sq m (1,184sq ft) at street level is understood to be in the region of €80,000 per annum.

The San Francisco-based business already sells its products through no fewer than 2,000 outlets in 30 countries, including Dublin department stores Brown Thomas and Arnotts.

The company also operates “brow bars” – a boutique specialising in shaping eyebrows – around the world. Most of its products are sold in quirky packaging.

The former Combridge building is owned by the Dublin-based Cox family and originally sold bar fittings, including corks.

€350,000 for former O’Connor Jewellers raided by ‘The General’

The former O’Connor Jewellers workshops and showrooms at Harold’s Cross Road, Dublin 6w, which goes on sale today on the instructions of a liquidator, was at the centre of a major robbery in 1983 when gangster Martin “The General” Cahill raided the premises and stole gold and diamonds valued at €2.55 million. Manus Agnew of agent Quinn Agnew is seeking offers over €350,000 for the complex which overlooks Harolds Cross greyhound track. The main building is 680sq m (7,319sq ft), while ancillary premises is 150sq m (1,614sq ft). It is for sale by tender at the request of liquidator Padraic Bermingham.

€600,000 for former Quinn building

Agent CBRE is seeking in excess of €600,000 for the former Quinn Insurance retail building close to O’Connell Bridge at 9 Lower O’Connell Street, Dublin 1. If a buyer does not emerge, the agent will consider letting the building at a rent of €70,000 per annum.

The five-storey over basement mid-terrace building (below) on the east side of O’Connell Street has a net internal floor area of 560sq m (6,027sq ft) including 71sq m (764sq ft) on the ground floor. The upper floors are mainly fitted out as offices.

Offices and warehouse at Park West

Agent HT Meagher O’Reilly is quoting €325,000 for a warehouse with two-storey offices at Canal Bank in Park West, Dublin 12.

The mid-terrace building extends to more than 642sq m (6,912sq ft) and is adjacent to the Cherry Orchard and Park West train station.

If a buyer is not found, the agent is willing to lease the building at €32,500 per annum.