SuperValu store closed due to fire is to reopen
By Mary Dennehy
THE SuperValu store in Fortunestown, closed since November 2016 due to a fire, is expected to reopen by the end of the year.
In early November 2016, a fire broke out in the local supermarket which, employing 38 people, engulfed the shop.
The store in Fortunestown
As reported by The Echo at the time, the quick action of staff and security resulted in everybody in the shop being evacuated safely, with no injuries reported.
Since the fire, the supermarket has not re-opened its doors.
However, Musgrave, the company behind SuperValu, has confirmed to local TD John Lahart that it hopes to have the store reopened before the end of the year.
In a response to Deputy Lahart, Musgrave said that once all the legal requirements have been completed that they plan to commence fit-out works with the “objective of having the store re-opened before the end of the year”.
The store will reopen as Jordan’s SuperValu and according to local businessman and shop owner Alan Jordan, himself and his team are looking forward to getting back to serving the local community.
Is a big draw
Speaking with The Echo, Deputy Lahart (Fianna Fáil) said: “A shop like SuperValu attracts a lot of custom into the area, and since it has closed there’s not as many people passing.
“A retailer like SuperValu creates a significant footprint and is a big draw for a shopping centre.
“Lots of people about also helps everybody and makes the area less attractive for thieves and anti-social behaviour. . . shoppers provide passer surveillence.”
He added: “Hopefully this is good news for the community. . . having a supermarket in a local shopping centre is very important.
“SuperValu has had a positive reaction to this, and I’ll keep in touch with them and really try to keep them to the [end of year] timeframe.”
