Dublin firm to extend Kilkenny shopping arcade

Dublin property company Mel Corpo is to refurbish and enlarge Kilkenny Shopping Arcade after buying it from the Henderson family for around £1 million. The company, which is managed by David Lyons, has also acquired a number of adjoining sites which will allow the arcade to be extended on to James Street, where it will adjoin Market Cross Shopping Centre and the multi-storey car park. The 20-year-old complex was producing around £90,000 from 25 shops on two levels when it was bought. Adjoining tenants include Boots and Argos. Mel is also to fund improvements at the Superquinn Shopping Centre in Bray, which it has owned for some years. An additional 12,000 square feet of retail space is to be added to the centre. Mel and Superquinn, which owns its 18,000 square foot supermarket in the centre, will fund £500,000 to be spent on the car-park. Unit shopping accounts for 16,000 square feet.