Penneys to close Rathfarnham store
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE Penneys shop in Rathfarnham Shopping Centre will close next February, with the store’s 35 employees being offered the opportunity to be redeployed to other Penneys shops in surrounding areas following the closure.
Penneys in Rathfarnham Shopping Centre opened 47 years ago in 1972, where they were one of the shopping centre’s anchor tenants.
Penneys in Rathfarnham Shopping Centre
Last Friday, staff in the store were informed that it would be closing in February 2020, however, staff have been offered the chance to be redeployed to Penneys stores in surrounding areas, including Nutgrove, Liffey Valley and Dundrum.
Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South-West, and Rathfarnham resident, John Lahart, told The Echo: “It’s a big store, and it’s a big draw to the area.
“My concern is that a successful and attractive alternative needs to be provided, or it will have an impact on footfall in Rathfarnham Shopping Centre.
“The loss of that footfall could put pressure on smaller tenants in the centre.”
When the Penneys store shuts its door, Tesco will be the only anchor tenant in the shopping centre.
A spokesperson for Penneys said: “In recent years, Penneys has invested in enhancing its customer offering and experience in six Dublin stores with new shop-floor refurbishment and refits, new visual merchandising, fitting rooms, access to free Wi-Fi, recharge areas and customer seating areas.
“Customers of the Rathfarnham store are well serviced by the Nutgrove store (also in Rathfarnham) which was completely refurbished in 2017, and nearby stores Dundrum and Liffey Valley, due to their close proximity.
“In light of these factors, and as the lease is due to expire in Rathfarnham, the company has made a commercial decision to close this 9,400 sq ft store.”
