Late finish puts Clarendon Street store back on market

UK Multiple Sofa Workshop is not to open its first Dublin store at Clarendon Street. The company, which has 32 outlets in the UK, originally agreed to lease 4,500 sq ft at basement and ground floor level in a building under construction at Clarendon Street. Because of delays in completing the block by the September deadline, the UK trader availed of an opt-out clause in the lease. Sofa Workshop was due to pay a staggered rent, which would reach £100,000 after five years. However Larry Brennan of letting agents Hamilton Osborne King expects to secure a higher rent because with the arrival of French Connection and Karen Millen at Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, the profile of the street had changed quite significantly. The first floor of the building will be used as a wholesale fashion outlet while six apartments are being developed on the two top floors.