Is Penneys on route to Tallaght?

HAS Tallaght bagged Penneys?

This week, fresh reports emerged that Penneys is finalising a deal to take over the vacated Debenhams unit in The Square.

While speculation on the fashion retailer moving into the former Debenhams store have been circulating locally for months, the Sunday Times last weekend reported that Penneys is finalising the terms on the spacious, Level 1 unit.

For anybody living in Tallaght, this is massive. It’s been a long wait.

It was more than 20 years’ ago that Penneys was first linked to The Square, with speculation of the retailer’s highly anticipated arrival in Tallaght continuous over the past two decades.

However, a recession and stalled proposals for the expansion of The Square heralded challenging times for the local shopping centre – as new retail centres opened along the M50 corridor.

Despite challenges, The Square has continued to adapt and look forward, with plans for a substantial €100m expansion of the 30-year-old shopping centre granted permission in July 2020.

Alongside enhancing the leisure, recreational and community aspect of The Square, the expansion also hopes to build on the shopping centre’s retail offering – creating larger units that are more suitable and attractive to big name retailers.

It was initially speculated that Penneys may have found a new home in one of these units, but reports suggest that the former Debenhams space could now be in its sights.

When contacted by The Echo this week, Penneys did not confirm or deny reports that a Tallaght store is in its plans.

A spokesperson for Penneys said: “Penneys long-term and ongoing commitment to retail in Ireland means that we continually review opportunities for growth and expansion.

“However, we can’t comment on current speculation about when or where we may open our next stores.”

Rumours are also in motion that a new operator is finalising a deal to take over the cinema on Level 3, which was vacated by IMC Cinema in July 2020.

Watch this space…