Chain stores taking over, warns shop owner

A SMALL antique shop off Grafton Street has closed its doors and its owners have warned that small shop owners can no longer compete with chain stores.

Antique Prints was set up in 1977 by Hugh and Anne Iremonger, selling specialist prints and lithographs in South Anne Street just off Grafton Street.

The shop, which was originally located in the Dandelion market, now the St Stephen's Green shopping centre, survived the worst of the recession, but could not survive a five-year rent review.

"Our landlord has seen the rents they are getting across the road from Grants and Hacketts [two British chain stores specialising in men's clothing] and he wants the same," said Anne Iremonger.

"All the shops locally feel the same way. Every city you come to will have the same global retailers and little shops like ours will not be able to compete. Nobody seems to be aware of it, but it has already happened in Britain.

"We survived the ups and downs through the 1980s, but it is much more difficult for us now."

Recent figures have shown that nearby Grafton Street is one of the most expensive retail streets in the world.

Retailers in Grafton Street are paying an average of €605 per square foot, making it the sixth most expensive shopping street in the world. The most expensive in the world is Fifth Avenue in New York.

It has been reported that some of the biggest names on Grafton Street, including Bewley's and McDonald's, have faced rent reviews that have doubled the payments to existing landlords.

The Antique Shop closed its doors at 5pm yesterday. Among the bargains to be had were a Pablo Picasso edition-of-3,000 unnumbered lithograph at €165 and a lithograph by French artist George Rouault for €295.

The couple now intend to set up a website to sell their wares. "We used to have a percentage of tourists. That was when the dollar was higher, but now they are mostly local people and especially younger people who have grown up and recognised these big names. They are our best customers now," Anne said.